1. Council oc Churches of Malaysia (http://www.ccmalaysia.org)
(1) CFM Condemns On-going Attacks on Places of Worship
The Christian Federation of Malaysia unreservedly condemns all attacks on places of worship since 8 January 2010.
We are aghast at the on-going desecration of places of worship by acts of arson and vandalism the latest of which affected the two suraus in Muar which occurred yesterday.
We urge the police to investigate and swiftly bring to justice such perpetrators of violence upon all houses of worship be it churches, temples, gurdwaras, mosques and suraus.
We call on all Malaysians to be watchful of suspicious people hanging around places of worship and report them to the police.
We are very glad for the show of solidarity amongst people of different religious faiths as they support each other through these days of crises wrought by such despicable people who plan such actions and carry them out.
Let us remain calm and not allow the forces of evil to destroy the peace and harmony which we all share as Malaysians.
The Church remains committed to praying for peace, harmony and the well-being of the nation. It is our hope that a reasonable resolution be found in the near future.
Bishop Ng Moon Hing
Chairman and the Executive Committee
Christian Federation of Malaysia
22nd January 2010
(2) CFM Outraged By Continued Violation Of Sacred Places
27th January 2010
The Christian Federation of Malaysia is outraged that the violation of places of worship continues unabated as has happened this morning to two mosques along Jalan Klang Lama in Petaling Jaya.
We are angry that there are some who want to foment enmity and strife among Malaysians for political mileage or for mischief.
These violent acts can divide Malaysians and so we call on all citizens not to fall into such a trap.
We believe that the police will bring swiftly to justice the perpetrators who have done these evil intentioned acts.
Let us be vigilant against all suspicious activities around all our places of worship and report such to the police.
As Christians we continue to pray for the peace and well-being of our nation in these troubled moments.
Bishop Ng Moon Hing
Chairman and the Executive Committee
Christian Federation of Malaysia
(3) Inflaming Religious Emotions
The Heads of the Council of Churches of Malaysia (CCM) who are presently attending a retreat in Kota Bahru, Kelantan were shocked to receive news of people trying to inflame religious emotions in the country.
The Council of Churches strongly condemns the despicable act of placing of heads of pigs in the compounds of Masjid Taman Datuk Harun and Masjid Taman Sri Sentosa both in Petaling Jaya, by irresponsible elements intent on creating unrest by inflaming religious emotions.
The CCM is convinced that the majority of Malaysians will stand together to denounce and condemn any effort by such irresponsible people to upset the harmony in the country.
The authorities must act immediately to crack down on any such development and do everything within their means to bring to book those responsible of such unacceptable acts.
The Heads of Churches call for calm and invite all Christians to continue to pray for peace and inter religious harmony in the country.
REV. DR. HERMEN SHASTRI
General Secretary
28th January 2010
2. National Evangelical Christian Fellowhip (http://www.necf.org.my)
Response to Joceline Tan's article Two approaches to 'Allah'
Dear Sir,
The National Evangelical Christian Fellowship (NECF) Malaysia is disturbed by Joceline Tan's article Two approaches to 'Allah' that appeared in your paper, The Star, on January 27, 2010.
In her article, she stated, "An overwhelming majority of Malay-Muslims are very uncomfortable with the High Court ruling in allowing the use of the word "Allah" in The Herald..."
Firstly, we wish to know where she derived her statistics to get "An overwhelming majority of Malay-Muslims". Granted that the article was her personal analysis, we feel that as a responsible journalist, she should be careful in making such generalisations, for this can further worsen the delicate situation we are already in.
Furthermore, we feel her generalisation is rather inflammatory as it may stir up those who are opposed to the court ruling to believe there are many who share their conviction.
Secondly, we feel her claim that the majority Malay-Muslims are "very uncomfortable with the High Court ruling" is rather extreme. Her use of the adjective "very" may have given the impression that the Malay-Muslims in Malaysia are seething in anger.
As responsible citizens of the land, we should do our utmost to contribute towards national integration and racial harmony, taking heed of the words of our Lord Jesus, "Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called children of God" (Matt 5:9).
Sam Ang
Secretary-General
NECF Malaysia
3. The Star (http://thestar.com.my)
Two approaches to ‘Allah’ issue, 27 January 2010
by JOCELINE TAN (joceline@thestar.com.my)
Articles in the Wall Street Journal by Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim show their contrasting approaches and political styles.
DATUK Seri Anwar Ibrahim has been on the ceramah trail the past couple of weeks. The last time he was this busy was when making his comeback as Permatang Pauh MP more than a year ago.
His sodomy trial starts next Tuesday and all this political activity is a sort of pre-trial campaign to reach out to as wide an audience as he can.
The Opposition Leader’s oratory at these ceramah have assumed a certain pattern.
Apart from providing his take on the forthcoming trial, his chief target has been Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, the man who stands in the way of his political ambitions.
The PKR leader has also been at pains to explain his party’s stand on the controversial “Allah” issue and at times, has come across as rather defensive especially when the audience is Malay and rural.
An overwhelming majority of Malay-Muslims are very uncomfortable with the High Court ruling in allowing the use of the word “Allah” in The Herald and Anwar has been grappling with the Malay-Muslim sentiment on the ground.
But his stand would go down well with the Western liberals who want to see Islam in a way convenient to them.
This came across quite clearly in the Wall Street Journal which published two articles yesterday on the issue – one by Najib and the other by Anwar.
Najib’s piece was titled, “Finding Unity in Diversity” while Anwar’s carried the heading, “Muslims have no Monopoly over ‘Allah’.”
The articles were quite a contrast, not only in content but in reflecting the priorities and political styles of the two men.
The Allah issue has become very political and at the same time very personal to the religious beliefs of the various communities.
Najib chose not to take the political argument. He pointed out that citizen action and spirit had prevailed in helping to maintain calm and peace following attacks on places of worship.
There is no denying Najib has been under a great deal of pressure over this issue and he admitted there are passionate views on many sides and that this was a complex issue that the Government was trying to resolve .
He spoke about the reform path that his administration would take and said Malaysia’s society and the economy could only be built on that which unites rather than which divides.
His message was not about blame or justification but about unity, building bridges and looking forward.
As he put it: “I am determined that the vandalism of the places of worship and arson at the Tabernacle (the church that suffered the most damage) and the powerful response from everyday Malaysians can be transformed into a moment from which we can learn.”
Anwar, in his article, offered a concerted argument why Muslim do not own the word Allah.
But the politician in Anwar dominated in his article and he pinned the blame for what had happened squarely on reckless politicians, the mainstream media and NGOs linked to Umno.
He accused these quarters of fermenting fear to divert attention from controversial court decisions and missing jet engines.
It was the written form of what he had been saying at many of his ceramah, a political attack on his chief nemesis Najib and the ruling coalition.
He went beyond the Allah issue and pronounced this country as going down the drain because of corruption, incompetence and religious extremism.
He said the vision of Malaysia as a peaceful and stable location was in peril.
Anwar, some fear, is about to launch a repeat what he had done back in 1998 when he came under siege for charges of corruption and sodomy.
He blamed Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for his troubles and in his anger, he not only ran down the former Prime Minister but the system and the country on the international front.
Anwar, they say, should try to draw the line between his personal issues and his politics from that of the country’s interests.
There is no denying that race relations have been affected by what has happened. Malaysians of all races are concerned about the future.
Some are pessimistic, others more hopeful. But what everyone wants now are solutions rather than finger-pointing.
Everyone wants a peaceful and acceptable solution to the “Allah” issue and the politics of blame will not help.
© 1995-2010 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd (Co No 10894-D)
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