1. Micah Mandate (http://www.themicahmandate.org)
“Attack On Places Of Worships: A Sin Of The Highest Order”, 22 January 2010
by Administrator
At its meeting on 21st January 2010 in Kuala Lumpur, the Malaysian Consultative Council on Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) Executive Committee representing our five religious communities strongly condemned the desecration of two suraus in Muar, Johor.
These dastardly acts followed similar acts in the past weeks on Christian churches and a Sikh gurdwara.
MCCBCHST considers any violence on a place of worship and prayer of any religion a sin of the highest order and the perpetrators of such acts must be made to understand that their actions cannot be condoned or accepted in civilized society.
Far from being heroes or champions, they have shamed their own religions and cultures.
MCCBCHST calls on all Malaysians to draw closer to one another and with one heart resist the hatred and resentment these contemptible acts attempt to incite us with.
For MCCBCHST Executive Committee,
Rev. Dr Thomas Philips, President
2. Council of Churches of Malaysia (http://www.ccmalaysia.org)
Reports of Attacks on Churches
As reports come in of the various confirmed arson attacks on churches as a result of the High Court decision upholding the Constitutional right of Christians to use the word “ALLAH”, the Council of Churches of Malaysia (CCM) unreservedly condemns such irresponsible acts committed by people who are out to create terror and fear in the country.
At time like this we urgently call on the government to do everything possible to ensure the safety of Christians to worship freely. Firm action should be taken to apprehend these extremists.
The government must show zero tolerance for the use, threat or incitement, of violence as a means to pressure the decision of the court.
We also appeal to the King, the Council of Rulers and the Ulama to protect the safety of Christians against people who commit such acts in the name of religion.
Just as there are some extremists who are out to disrupt the peace and inter-religious harmony in our country, we know there are a great majority of people of all faiths who are willing to stand together and promote mutual respect, inter-religious understanding, and champion common values of love and peace, in the spirit of 1Malaysia.
To this end, the CCM calls on all Churches to remain calm and offer special prayers this month for unity and peace in the country.
CALL TO PRAYER:
“ In the midst of religious plurality, which can cause suspicion and hatred within communities, kindle your light O God, in the hearts of all peoples to honor each other as your children, born in your image, to respect each other’s beliefs, to end the use of religion to exercise political and social power, to stop discrimination and division based on religion.
In Your mercy, we pray your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
In Christ’s name - AMEN
REV.DR.HERMEN SHASTRI
General Secretary
8th January 2010
3. Council of Churches of Malaysia (http://www.ccmalaysia.org)
CCA Message of Solidarity
Dear Dr. Shastri:
The Member Churches and Councils of the Christian Conference of Asia join me in condemning the recent spate of violence and burning of church buildings in Malaysia.
The Asian churches call on the Malaysian Government to exert concrete efforts to restore peace and ensure the safety of civilians and to allow Christians to exercise their right to worship freely. We also urge that firm action be taken to apprehend the extremist elements responsible for acts of violence against the civilian population.
We support and offer our solidarity with the great majority of Christians and people of all faiths in promoting mutual respect, religious tolerance and in actively working for peace and justice.
We offer our prayers that peace, restraint and tolerance will prevail based on love for the common humanity we share.
Yours faithfully,
PRAWATE KHID-ARN
General Secretary
Christian Conference of Asia
15 January 2010
4. Council of Churches of Malaysia (http://www.ccmalaysia.org)
Greetings from EMW
Dear Rev. Dr. Hermen Shastri, dear Brothers and Sisters,
With deep concern we follow the violation of specific church buildings in Malaysia after the hot debate of the use of the Arabic term Allah for God. After the reasonable decision of the court that Christian may use - just as Muslims - “Allah” as a name for God, the protest against this decision from certain groups seems surprising and ignorant.
It is good to read that you reacted in a very wise and peaceful way stating that the faith of the people in Malaysia is bigger than these radical groups want to acknowledge.
We hope and pray that this incident will lead to more ecumenical awareness in Malaysia and the world and to more interreligious cooperation.
I am looking forward meeting you and the CCM during the General Assembly in Kuala Lumpur and maybe we do have time to exchange ideas on this issue even before or just after the GA.
I will be arriving in Kuala Lumpur 13.04. at 14:15 and my departure is 22.04. at 14:20.
May God bless your work in CCM and everything you are doing in this moment of interreligious tensions.
On behalf of the Associations of Protestant Churches and Missions in Germany (EMW)
Yours in Christ
Rev. Dr. Anton Knuth
Executive Secretary of Asia/Pacific-Desk
5. Council of Churches of Malaysia (http://www.ccmalaysia.org)
WCC expresses Solidarity with Churches under attack in Malaysia
In a 13 January solidarity letter to the churches in Malaysia, the World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit expressed deep concern and profound sorrow about recent attacks against church buildings in the country following a controversy over the right of Christians to use the term "Allah" to refer to God.
The controversy "generated by a small sector of Muslims" in the country is "very disturbing", Tveit said, especially as "Christians in majority Muslim countries all over the world, including [Malaysia's] neighbouring country Indonesia, have used the word 'Allah' for God for centuries".
Tveit expressed hope that "immediate action" is taken "by both the government and civil society to resolve the conflict, in order to avoid renewed hostilities and escalation of violence". He also found it heartening that "numerous Islamic organizations and leaders have publicly condemned these wanton acts of a small group of people".
Several church buildings have recently been attacked in Malaysia following a High Court ruling last month allowing non-Muslims to use the word "Allah" to refer to God. Muslim radical groups see this as a Christian subterfuge to win converts from Islam. The government has appealed the High Court decision.
About 9 percent of the Malaysian population are Christians, while Muslims amount to 48 percent. Most non-Muslims are ethnically Indian or Chinese.
6. NECF Malaysia (http://www.necf.org.my)
SCC Press Statement on News Report Putrajaya Concedes on Allah for Sabah & Sarawak
SABAH COUNCIL OF CHURCHES (Majlis Gereja-gereja Sabah)
P.O.Box No.444, 88856 Likas Post Office, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
SABAH COUNCIL OF CHURCHES PRESS STATEMENT ON NEWS REPORT PUTRAJAYA CONCEDES ON ALLAH FOR SABAH & SARAWAK
The Sabah Council of Churches (SCC) is unable to accept the concession proposed by the government that Christians in the two Malaysian Borneo states can continue to use the word 'Allah' for God in Malay print while at the same time prohibiting Christians in Peninsular Malaysia from using the word 'Allah' for God.
The view as expressed by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz in an exclusive interview with five journalists from the Borneo Post, Utusan Borneo and the Oriental Daily is illogical, inconsistent and untenable for East Malaysian Christians especially those residing in Peninsular Malaysia. The intended concession also goes against the spirit and intent of Prime Minister Dato's Seri Najib Tun Razak's 1 Malaysia concept of forging unity and harmony within all races and religion by mutual respect and acceptance.
The intended concession also impinges on the rights of the entire Christian community in Malaysia as it dichotomies and segregate the rights of Christians to worship, profess and practice one's faith on the basis of geographical location. To carry out such an intended concession is bordering on absurdity as there are many East Malaysian Christians from both Sabah and Sarawak residing in the Peninsula. This will only cause further strive and confusion amidst the Christians but also for the Muslim majority population in Malaysia. The intended concession is also in contravention of the provisions of the Federal Constitution for freedom of religion and is therefore illegitimate.
The SCC therefore calls the government to review such a move as we envisage it does not bring about any positive benefits and effects for the welfare and well being of the nation in the long term. We repeat the call of the Christian community in Malaysia for government to allow the use of the word Allah for all Christians in Malaysia irrespective of geographical location, language or cultural background.
Rev. Jerry Dusing
President,
Sabah Council of Churches
Dated: 16 January 2010
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