Malaysian Insider (http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/church-leaders-condemn-christian-convert-insulting-islam/)
Church leaders condemn Christian convert insulting Islam, 29 September 2010
by Debra Chong
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 29 – The Council of Churches Malaysia (CCM) today applauded Putrajaya’s probe into a man believed to be a Christian preacher said to have insulted Islam in a series of videos aired on YouTube.
“The so-called preacher had acted as an individual representing his own views and not the official views of the churches in Malaysia,” it said in a media statement today, drawing a thick line between its member churches and man portrayed in the videos.
The umbrella body, founded in 1947, represents the mainstream Protestant churches and Christian societies and is one of the three members of the larger Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM).
The CCM slammed the man named as Benjamin Stephen for being doubly “irresponsible” in uploading the recordings of him preaching in a Sarawak church – believed to have been taken on March 25, 2006 – on the popular video-sharing website, where it is accessible to millions around the world.
“The churches leave it to the authorities to act on this matter in such a manner that it will help to diffuse emotions and sustain peace and harmony enjoyed by all religious communities in this country,” it added, rallying around Information, Communications and Culture Minister, Datuk Seri Utama Rais Yatim.
The Umno minister had quickly ordered the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to thoroughly check the videos after they were highlighted two days ago by upset Muslim groups, and prepare a report for action against the man.
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