1. Christian Post (http://www.christianpost.com)
Malaysia's Premier Meets Christian Leaders After Plot Accusations, 13 May 2011
by Alison Matheson, Christian Post Correspondent
Malaysian Premier Najib Razak moved to defuse tensions between Christians and Muslims by meeting with Christian leaders on Thursday.
(Photo: Reuters / Mick Tsikas)
In this file photo, Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak speaks to Reuters during an interview in Melbourne March 4, 2011.
“We had a very good session and good exchange,” Council of Churches of Malaysia President Bishop Thomas Tsen told Agence France-Presse. “It was a good start.”
The meeting came after a government-linked newspaper ran a front-page story suggesting that Christians were plotting to make Christianity the official religion in the Muslim-majority country.
The accusation that Christians had floated the idea during a recent dinner with Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng was originally made on two blogs but it was then reported in a front page story in Utusan Malaysia, a Malaysian daily owned by the ruling party.
The dinner was organized by the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship, Global Day of Prayer, Marketplace Penang and the Penang Pastors Fellowship.
Lim denied the claims and his party, the Malaysian Democratic Action Party, has lodged a complaint against the newspaper with the police.
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“We have never asked for Malaysia to become a Christian, Hindu or Buddhist state,” he said.
Christian leaders present at Thursday's meeting said they were “disturbed” by the accusations in the newspaper and insisted that the only issues discussed during the meeting had to do with corruption in the marketplace.
Tsen said Christians respect the constitution, which enshrines Islam as the country’s official religion.
“It’s unfortunate that this has happened. It’s not helpful at all toward a multi-religious relationship," he stated.
Tsen felt the meeting this week helped ease tensions between Muslims and Christians.
According to the official Bernama news agency, Najib was also pleased with the outcome of the meeting. He said church leaders had assured him that they respected the position of Islam and that it was their intention to work towards harmony.
“I am glad to inform that Christian leaders have given two very important and meaningful undertakings,” he was quoted as saying by Bernama news agency.
According to daily newspaper, The Star, a letter of caution has been issued to the Utusan for publishing news that is “alarming to the public.”
2. The Star Online (http://thestar.com.my)
Caution not enough, we want a full investigation, says Chua, 14 May 2011
by NG CHENG YEE (chengyee@thestar.com.my)
KUALA LUMPUR: The MCA regards as inadequate the caution given to Utusan Malaysia over the controversial article that questioned if Christianity would take over from Islam as the country's official religion.
Party president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said the police needed to investigate the issue further to ascertain if there was any basis to the report.
“If there are certain quarters politicising the issue by sensationalising the report, the writer or writers as well as the editors of the newspaper should be suspended.
“(This would serve) as a warning to show that the Government is concerned over those who play up religious issues,” he said at a press conference at Wisma MCA here yesterday.
Dr Chua said if the report was false, the masterminds behind the claims should be made to face the music.
However, he added, if the report is proven true, investigations should be carried out on those who were responsible.
“If the report is true, those who are responsible should be exposed,” he said, commenting on the letter of caution sent by the Home Ministry to the paper on Thursday following the nationwide outrage over the daily's front-page article last Saturday, headlined Kristian Agama Rasmi?
Home Ministry deputy secretary-general for security Datuk Abdul Rahim Mohd Radzi said Utusan Malaysia group chief editor Datuk Abdul Aziz Ishak was called to the ministry to explain the article.
He said the ministry issued the letter of caution to the paper for publishing news that was “alarming to the public.”
On whether the printing permit of Utusan Malaysia should be suspended if the report was untrue, Dr Chua said the MCA would leave it to the Home Ministry to decide.
Asked if he thought the report was slanderous, Dr Chua said: “We leave that to the police and the Attorney-General's Chamber to decide.”
On whether the MCA would boycott Utusan Malaysia, Dr Chua said: “That was a statement made by one of the MCA leaders.
“I am not saying that it is not the party's stand but it was never discussed in the party.”
Recently, MCA central committee member Loh Seng Kok called for a boycott of the newspaper after it supported a call for a “1 Melayu, 1 Bumi” movement.
© 1995-2011 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd (Co No 10894-D)
3. The Associate Press (http://www.google.com)
Malaysia urged to punish paper over religion rumor(AP), 14 May 2011
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia's government reprimanded the country's top Malay-language newspaper over an article alleging a Christian plot to supplant Islam as the official religion.
Opposition and ruling party politicians called Friday for sterner action including suspending Utusan Malaysia or its editor for stoking ethnic and religious tensions.
Allegations by two political bloggers about a conspiracy by church leaders received little attention until Utusan reported it on its front page last Saturday under the headline "Malaysia a Christian nation?"
Christian leaders slammed the accusation as a lie intended to create suspicion between ethnic Malay Muslims and religious minorities. Several Muslim groups have filed police complaints demanding investigation into what they consider a threat to the position of Islam.
The Home Ministry on Thursday issued a letter of warning to Utusan, owned by Prime Minister Najib Razak's Malay ruling party, for publishing news "alarming to the public" but didn't censure the newspaper or its editors.
Chua Soi Lek, who heads the Malaysian Chinese Association, the second largest party in the ruling coalition, said a mere warning letter was insufficient and called for Utusan's editor to be suspended and action taken against the two bloggers if the report was indeed false.
"We hope that the government will not compromise and should uphold justice and send the message to Malaysians that religion should not be used in the political battle," Chua said.
Opposition lawmaker Teresa Kok urged the government to revoke Utusan's publication license to show its commitment to stem ethnic and religious provocation as the country marked the 42nd anniversary of deadly ethnic riots on Friday. At least 200 people died in the May 13, 1969, riots that erupted amid tension between ethnic Malays and minority Chinese.
Utusan legal adviser Mohamad Jeffery Daman said the newspaper would await the results of a police investigation but declined to say if it stands by the report.
A string of religious disputes in recent years, often involving minority complaints of discrimination, has triggered persistent feelings of insecurity among both Muslim Malays and minorities about their religious rights in a country that prides itself on multiethnic peace.
Tensions surged briefly last January when 11 churches suffered firebomb attacks and vandalism amid anger among some Muslims over a court verdict allowing minorities to use "Allah" as a translation for God. Some Muslims say the use of "Allah" in Christian literature could be used to convert Muslims, who comprise nearly two-thirds of the population.
The Utusan report said dozens of pastors were believed to have prayed at a recent meeting with opposition leaders to install a Christian prime minister who will make Christianity the official religion. Christian groups say they held a meeting to honor some Christian pastors and discuss regular religious issues, not politics.
Christians comprises about 10 percent of Malaysia's 28 million people. Most of Malaysia's Christians are ethnic Chinese while most Muslims are of Malay ethnicity.
The warning to Utusan followed Najib's meetings with Muslim and church leaders. He has said Christian leaders respected Islam's position and pledged to work toward harmony.
Copyright © 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
4. Free Malaysia Today (http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com)
(1) Many quizzed over ‘Christian plot’ reports, 13 May 2011
by Teoh El Sen
Police are using the Sedition Act to investigate the 'Christian plot' issue.
KUALA LUMPUR: Police have given “top priority” to the controversial “Christian plot” report, launching an investigation under the Sedition Act aimed at quickly resolving the issue, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar said today.
“Please be patient. We need a little time. Wait for our investigations which will be comprehensive and fair,” he said at a press conference at Bukit Aman federal police headquarters here.
Khalid urged the public to stop playing up the touchy issue, saying that police hope to finish the investigation as soon as possible.
“This is a dangerous issue, it is very sensitive. We cannot allow it to be played up,” he said.
Khalid added that police received a report concerning the issue in Penang at about 8.50am today.
He said that the report contained “several variations” from the previous reports, but Khalid declined to devulge more details.
He said “many” people have been questioned and more would be summoned to provide statements.
Yesterday, the home ministry issued a letter of reprimand to Utusan Malaysia over its front-page article on May 7, titled “Kristian Agama Rasmi? (Christianity the official religion?)”.
The article alleged that a group of pastors had participated in a gathering in Penang recently, together with DAP elected representatives, where they discussed a plot to turn Malaysia into a Christian country and install a Christian prime minister.
‘Don’t splash acid on him’
Meanwhile, on the sex video implicating Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, Khalid said that the police have never said they were identifying the person in the video.
“I have never said that…,” he said.
Khalid added that the latest development was that police have received a report from foreign experts that further strenghtens the local experts’ view that the video was authentic. It is learnt that the experts are from the United States.
“This would mean it is not edited and is genuine. We are trying to find out if the video was pornography,” he said.
Khalid added that those who uploaded the video, including several bloggers, would be called in.
On the spate of acid-splashing incidents occurring around the city in the past week, Khalid urged the public to help the police.
“(If you see him), catch him and hand him over to us, that’s my advice. Don’t splash acid on him,” he said, adding that the police are clueless about the perpetrators’ motive, which seemed random.
Khalid said that so far 23 reports have been received on the “acid splashers” including a new report lodged today in Wangsa Maju.
“Please be careful; they target ladies but we find there’s no specific time they do this evil act, ” he said.
In the latest case, a woman in her 30s was splashed with corrosive liquid when she was in her car near Section 10 this morning.
(2) Are we Umno’s prisoners of irrational fear, 13 May 2011
by Mariam Mokhtar
Umno is bereft of conviction and hampered by weak leaders and their only course of action is to remind us of the possibility of another May 13.
Utusan Malaysia’s headline, ‘Malaysia Negara Kristian?’ (Malaysia a Christian state?), was a subtle Umno plot to warn us, that the consequences of voting for the Opposition might trigger another ‘May 13’.
The Utusan article bears all the tell-tale signs– sowing the seeds of discord and exaggerating our fears. Ever since the May 13 riots of 1969, Umno has relied on scaremongering and threats, to make Malaysians prisoners of irrational fear.
It is in Umno’s character to employ cynical tactics because it faces defeat in the 13th General Election. The opposition has captivated the electorate as seen by its successes in Sarawak and to make matters worse, PAS has rejected Umno’s overtures. Umno has run out of ideas and vision. It lacks momentum and motivation. It has reached the end of the road.
In June 1969, the young Mahathir Mohamad cut his political teeth by penning a letter urging Tunku Abdul Rahman to resign as Prime Minister and Umno chief. Mahathir blamed Tunku, for the Alliance’s general election losses and May 13.
The Umno council expelled Mahathir from Umno in September 1969 but two years later, he was welcomed back into the party. By 1973, he was appointed senator. The year after, Mahathir became the Minister of Education. Bizarrely, Mahathir became prime minister twelve years after May 13 and his expulsion from Umno.
Extremist Malays probably considered May 13 a Ketuanan Melayu triumph. In addition, the 70s saw the age of ascension of the new Malay capitalists who sought to undermine the aristocratic Malays, of which the Tunku belonged.
The arrogance of Mahathir can be illustrated in how he boasted during campaigning in 1969, that he could retain his parliamentary seat without any need for support from the Chinese electorate.
The NEP was borne out of the May 13 riots. Umno was given carte blanche to implement their agenda for political and economic dominance through the NEP.
Umno’s masterplan at work
In a further horrific move, all the institutions which were left us by the British were slowly and systematically dismantled to assist Umno in its masterplan for complete domination of our mind, body and soul.
Our judiciary, the police, the military, our civil service and the education system, were some of the region’s best, but which have all been exploited by Umno.
Malaysians are not convinced by the Umno ‘experiment’. What have we to show for the past 54 years of Umno domination? So what if we have twin towers of concrete, steel and glass that reach out to the sky when our morals have sunk to terrible depths?
What use have we of an astronaut who ventures into space when the poor Penan can’t even send his daughter to school without the risk of being raped? What is the point of mono-culture when you deprive the Iban or Orang Asli of his ancestral land or of the general populace of much needed acreage for the cultivation of food crops?
Umno’s governance has been a wasted opportunity of historic proportions. Why should we believe that Umno was elected fairly when we hear of the various ways Umno is ‘creative’ at election rigging?
Umno was well-placed to change this country for the better. But its succession of leaders has failed the country.
There were flaws which undermined the project to make Malaysia an economic phenomenon.
First is that we threw money at the Malays without making them understand the true value of how to appreciate it. The second was that we did not include the non-Malays in the restructuring of the country.
The Malays were sold a dream but that dream has turned into a nightmare. Industrialisation meant they moved out of their kampungs to the towns for they were told the streets were paved with gold. The loss of the close family unit and community network plus the inadequate housing, have created its own social problems.
The Ibans too feel the same disappointment and frustrations as the Malay. Whole longhouses are vacated as the Ibans migrate to the urban areas with the loss of their NCR lands. But the longhouses are not empty for they have been colonised by the Indonesians who now work as the cheap labour of the massive plantations in Sarawak.
The non-Malays, like the Indians and Chinese, would like to share in the Malaysian dream but are forbidden from doing so. They are ‘pendatang’ and are treated as second class citizens even though Malaysia is the only place they call home.
Led by weak leaders
When all that is familiar is eradicated, these races feel a sense of loss. Without an identity, how can they possibly build a future together?
Given all this, it is not surprising that the opposition has managed to capture the imagination of the voters to build a nation based on the contributions of each and everyone of us.
The possibility of a united stable Malaysia under the opposition is what scares Umno and so they try one last tactic to influence the Malays.
Umno, via Utusan and its contentious article – tells the Malay that he will be robbed of his faith, possibly even be converted to a Christian, because subversive elements are trying to change the official religion to Christianity.
Umno is bereft of conviction and hampered by weak leaders. Their only course of action is to remind us of the possibility of another May 13. But why should we allow them to make us prisoners of irrational fear?
・Mariam Mokhtar is a political observer and an FMT columnist.
(3) Utusan Malaysia does not enjoy legal immunity, 13 May 2011
by G Vinod
Even though it is Umno's mouthpiece, it should toe the line when reporting controversial issues, say political party leaders.
PETALING JAYA: The consensus is that Utusan Malaysia does not and should not enjoy immunity for its irresponsible reporting. Political party leaders feel that what the paper ran could have caused religious discord.
A common stand among the party leaders is that a mere warning to the paper is not enough.
DAP’s assistant national publicity secretary, Teo Nie Ching, said this was because its headline could have triggered a religious discord among Malaysians.
“(Prime Minister) Najib (Tun Razak) should prove to the public that Utusan Malaysia does not enjoy legal immunity for its irresponsible reporting,” Teo said in a statement.
On Saturday, Utusan Malaysia carried a front-page article headlined “Kristian agama rasmi?” (Christianity the official religion?), claiming that DAP was conspiring with Christian leaders to instal Christianity as the religion of the federation instead of Islam.
The report drew criticisms from the public, prompting the home ministry to issue a warning letter to its editor-in chief Aziz Ishak yesterday.
Teo, who is also Serdang MP, said many other dailies suffered worse punishment from the home ministry for lesser offence.
“Last year, China Press was slapped with a two-week suspension over the daily’s ‘inaccurate report’ on the resignation of then-Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan, even after the daily published an apology on its front page.
“Similarly, Sin Chew Daily’s senior journalist ,Tan Hoon Cheng, was arrested under the Internal Security Act in 2008 for reporting a speech by Bukit Bendera Umno division chairman Ahmad Ismail during the Permatang Pauh by-election, where he referred to the Malaysian Chinese as immigrants,” she said.
Teo reminded the home ministry that the damage done by Utusan Malaysia was serious enough to compel Najib to meet the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) yesterday.
“Yet, Utusan was let off the hook with a mere a warning from the ministry,” she said.
Yesterday, Najib met CFM chairman Bishop Ng Moon Hing to speak about the matter and reportedly said the Christians have pledged to respect Islam as the religion of the federation.
Teo criticised Utusan Malaysia for reporting news based on unsubstantiated blog postings by two pro-Umno bloggers, without even trying to verify the details.
“They even accused Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi of being in cohoots with some pastors to turn Malaysia into a Christian nation. Worse, Utusan did not even seek clarification from DAP on the matter,” she said.
PAS Youth leader Nasrudin Hassan called Utusan Malaysia a daily which was “possessed” in reporting wild and provocative news without thinking of the consequences.
“It is clear that Utusan wants to show that it works as a mouthpiece for certain quarters so badly that it is willing ignore basic jounalistic principles,” said Nasrudin.
‘Only for Umno members’
Accusing Utusan Malaysia of demeaning itself, Nasrudin was disappointed that the daily’s management which was highly regarded in the past had lost its maturity and rational thinking.
“Utusan Malaysia has now become Umno’s mouthpiece. I suggest the daily indicate on the front page that it is solely for Umno members .
“Sooner or later, Utusan Malaysia will lose its readership and other Malay dailies will take its place,” he said.
Meanwhile, Gerakan vice-president Mah Siew Keong praised Najib for holding a meeting with Christian leaders to discuss the controversy.
“His immediate response had reduced tension to a certain level. It shows that the premier is a moderate leader who is fully committed to the spirit of 1Malaysia,” said Mah.
He also said that a mere warning letter was insufficient and urged the government to wield the axe against Utusan.
“Many non-governmental organisations have told me that a reprimand letter is too mild in view of the seriousness of the problem,” he said.
(4) A chance for PAS to showcase its strength, 13 May 2011
by Hawkeye
The muktamar next month gives PAS the opportunity to show it has the will and capacity to lead the country forward.
SUNGAI PETANI: The PAS muktamar (general assembly) next month will be an important platform for the Islamic party to prove that it is a force to be reckoned with and not just a bit player in the political landscape.
“People are watching us closely. PAS leaders must not only be mindful of the internal presssure of its members but also the external pressure of the public, including the non-Muslims,” its central committee member Mujahid Yusof Rawa said.
Since 2008, PAS, as a partner of Pakatan Rakyat, has come under the microscope of many Malaysians, he added.
Therefore, the party must rise beyond the current level of politics to prove beyond reasonable doubt that it is a strong political force, he said.
This muktamar can be seen as a suitable platform for it, Mujahid added.
When the 1,000-plus delegates enter the hall at the party’s training headquarters in Taman Melawati, Gombak, from June 2, they are likely to be gripped by three external issues, which may influence the voting patterns for its office-bearers.
The three are the sex video scandal which allegedly incriminates Pakatan leader Anwar Ibrahim, the issue of pastors allegedly praying for Christianity to be the country’s official religion and an offer by Umno for PAS to join forces for the sake of Malay unity.
Like it or not, the delegates would likely address the three controversial issues, but Mujahid is confident that they have the “maturity” to handle them and close ranks after the party election.
Initial feedback from the nomination process in its 179 divisions shows that a battle royale is shaping up for the post of deputy president where the incumbent Nasharuddin Mat Isa may be challenged yet again by party strongman Mohamed Sabu.
Both have indicated a desire to contest the post but with contrasting styles – Nasharuddin prefers a low-profile approach while Mohamed is openly canvassing for support.
There are indications that the posts of vice-presidents – currently held by former PAS Youth head Sallehudin Ayub, Pahang PAS commissioner Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Mat and Pokok Sena MP Mahfuz Omar – would also see a jostling for the three slots.
Mujahid said that PAS must acknowledge that the public and many of its own members have high hopes that the party can give birth to a new culture of strong political principles instead of the present “gutter politics”.
Showing the new political culture
The party also needs to convincingly quash attempts by Umno to get PAS to join forces for the sake of Malay unity, he said.
Mujahid said that there was some public phobia about the PAS political struggle, with the impression given that the Islamist party is orthodox.
This is where Mujahid hopes the party can break the barrier and show the people during the muktamar that it has the will and capacity to lead the country forward instead of just being labelled as an opportunist, winning only when Umno is weak.
“We must show that we are better than Umno through a new culture of politics instead of dwelling on just race, religion or slander.”
“The question now for PAS is whether there is credibility in Umno pushing for Malay unity,” he said.
Mujahid said that PAS has to turn down Umno’s overtures of unity as the Malays generally do not want to be associated with a party tainted with corruption, spreading slander or, exploiting the media to extol polarisation.
“Umno is the cause of many things going wrong in the country. PAS must avoid falling into Umno’s trap. We cannot allow Umno to drag the country down; so we must be a strong alternative.”
He expressed confidence that the delegates would make the right choices for the party and choose the right issues to champion.
(5) Right wing’ Umno won’t tango with Najib, 14 May 2011
by Tarani Palani
Utusan Malaysia's contentious headline is a 'ploy' by right wingers within Umno for Najib Tun Razak to take a hardline stand on Malay issue, says a political analyst.
PETALING JAYA: The latest Christian Malaysia controversy propagated by Malay daily, Utusan Malaysia, whilst merely a “wayang” involving religion brings to light the cracks in Umno’s internal politics, according to political analyst Ooi Kee Beng.
Ooi said that the Christian Malaysia ploy had appeared out of nowhere and from unsuspecting quarters.
He believed the issue further showed that the right wing section in Umno was pushing for party president Najib Abdul Razak to take a more hardliner stand.
“The whole issue came from nowhere, who would have ever imagined that the Christians (who are a minority) could stand to think of such a thing?
“It reflects more that it has something to do with Umno’s internal politics.
“I think some elements within Umno are just trying to be funny and trying to sow mistrust,” he told FMT.
Former Utusan senior journalist Hatta Wahari told FMT, earlier this week, that top Umno leaders held weekly meetings to set the agenda for the daily, which is the party’s mouthpiece.
According to Hatta, Najib and deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin also attended the meetings in which it was decided that the paper will run an issue for three days before dropping it completely.
The strategy, thought to be ‘clever’, foresaw the other media picking up teh issue and milking it leaving Utusan free to flog another issue.
More vocal
But Ooi however does not not believe that Najib per se was behind the controversial headlines that Utusan spewed, only because ‘he stands to loose’.
“But the right wingers on the other hand, stand to gain from the unsettled situation the headline creates,” he said.
Ooi, who is the co-ordinator of the Malaysia study programme at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, said it was typical of political play.
“This is politics, when someone bleeds, there is always another party that stand to gain.
“An extreme position cannot stand to gain from a calm environment.
“It stands to gain an audience when there is an extreme environment,” he said.
Ooi said that over the last two to three year, a split within Umno’s support group had surfaced and the right wing was now more vocal.
“In a multiracial country you can decide if a sensitive issue is the agenda if you are loud. The agenda is being set now by the right wing section as they are becoming more loud,” he said.
Ooi declined to name the Umno leaders behind the right wing group but it is widely speculated that Deputy Prime Minister Muhyddin Yassin is behind them.
The right wing group is seen as more pro-Malay.
Alientated right wing
Concerns over Najib’s softline approach and inclusive policies such as the 1Malaysia initiative aimed at wooing back moderate Malays is said to have rattled and alienated the right wing section within Umno.
Ooi reminded people that Najib had inherited a much weakened Umno, following the 2008 general election, and as such the emergence of a right wing group was a natural process.
The right-wing section, he said felt that Najib was not taking a hard enough stand and this gap is filled by “lesser polished” right wing groups such as Pembela and Perkasa.
“Umno was weakened suddenly, so some would be in battle mode. These groups are taking over the traditional role of Umno Youth which usually propagates hardliner stance.
“Under (Youth Chief) Khairy Jamaluddin, it (Umno Youth) is playing a very untraditional role of being very quite these days, one also wonders why is that so,” he chuckled.
Ooi said Najib indulged the right wingers and is now partly to be blamed for the current problems with the Christian community.
“Najib can be blamed for allowing this situation to arise for not being hard enough to the right wingers,” he said.
Ooi said that history showed that the Christian community in Malaysia had always been “careful” and refrained from “provoking” anyone.
“Christians have been very moderate until recently. They have been provoked I think,” he said alluding to the controversy over the use of the term “Allah” in the bible and in the Malay version of the Catholic weekly, The Herald.
Recently the Home Ministry had detained 50,000 copies of the Malay language bible, Al-Kitab, which was to have been distributed to followers in Sarawak.
The issue of freedom of religion was among several matters that were flogged by the opposition in the recent Sarawak state election.
Mounting fears over the Umno-led Barisan Nasional government’s interpretation of the Constitution in relation to religious freedom has unsettled both Sarawakians and Sabahans especially where Christianity is widely practiced and is likely to rear its head in the 13th general election.
(6) Emotionally mature’ leaders put Najib to shame, 14 May 2011
by Jeswan Kaur
Why did Najib pressure the leaders to give their pledge when Christians have never been disrespectful towards Muslims and Islam?
‘Rakyat diutamakan’ or people first tagline parroted by current prime minister Najib Razak is an out and out lie.
If the people are indeed Najib’s priority, he would stop discriminating one race from the other.
The Umno-owned Malay daily, Utusan Malaysia has once again stirred the hornet’s nest through its May 7 article alluding that Christianity would soon oust Islam as the official religion of this country.
Needless to say the report, which Utusan lifted from postings by bloggers, heated up the already tense racial-relationship between Malaysians of different faiths.
And what does Prime Minister Najib do? He continues playing politics, asking the Malays to give their undivided loyalty to Umno so that the party is able to continue its lordship over Malaysia.
That done, he demands a pledge from local leaders of Christianity that they will respect Islam as Malaysia’s official religion.
The leaders were also made to give an undertaking that they will never challenge the provision enshrined in the Federal Constitution.
Why did Najib pressure the leaders to give their pledge when Christians have never been disrespectful towards Muslims and Islam?
No respect
If all that was not enough to mislead the rakyat, Najib also made the Christian leaders give their word – that they will nurture peace and harmony between the various faiths to ensure peace and prosperity never deserted the country.
Such a cowardly act and one that can only come from premier Najib.
Najib has failed the rakyat many times and this May 7 Utusan Malaysia episode takes the cake.
Letting Utusan Malaysia off the hook with a mere warning is evident that Najib refuses to respect the sentiments of the non-Malays, in this respect the Christians.
Why has the Home Ministry stopped short of revoking Utusan Malaysia’s publication permit, for this is not the first time this Malay daily has gone to town with its dubious and slanderous article?
Obviously, as Utusan Malaysia is Umno’s propaganda mouthpiece, the government i.e. Najib will albeit shamelessly be biased towards this newspaper.
But for how long?
Najib’s folly
The idea that pressuring Christian leaders to profess their undivided respect to Islam is going to help appease the Malays is Najib’s folly.
The non-Malays have never deliberately disrespected Islam even when the churches and the Sikh gurdawara or temple were vandalised.
The Hindus were hurt beyond measure when a group of unhappy Muslims severed the head of a cow and stomped on in a show of anger.
The Muslims know the cow is regarded as a sacred animal by Hindus but still…
And just what did Najib’s government do?
The Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein had no qualms siding with the Muslims who stomped on the head of cow.
Where was Hishammuddin’s objectivity then as a Minister in restoring calm?
Is Hishammuddin like deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin telling the rakyat that he is a Muslim first and then the Home Minister?
Perhaps Hishammuddin and Muhyiddin can ask Najib’s extravagant think-tank Apco for some advice on how to refrain from displaying their racist streak to the very people who voted them in place.
Or perhaps they can take a cue from the leaders of Christianity who in spite of such tribulations, carried themselves with great emotional maturity, putting premier Najib to shame over his unwillingness to punish the real culprit behind the ‘oust Islam’ drama.
Never ending lies
Najib, who is president of ruling party Umno, is already busy galvanising party members to stay loyal to Umno, which as reality goes, has long deviated from its true purpose of uniting the Malays.
As always, making fraudulent claims has come easy to Najib. This time it was the claim that Umno still retained its “high quality brand” among the voters due to its superb track record.
High quality brand? Superb track record? Who is Najib trying to fool?
As far as memory serves the non-Malays, they will always remember the many threats Umno leaders have made and keep making in safeguarding Malay privileges, in particular the episodes concerning the Malay dagger called ‘keris’.
The manner in which Najib and Hishammuddin dealt with the Utusan Malaysia article defaming Christianity hardly point to any superb track record.
Cousins Najib and Hishammuddin have closed an eye to Utusan’s bigotry and instead decided that is the bloggers who must be punished.
Does this newspaper enjoy immunity, the kind that has left it swollen headed and highly irresponsible?
When the country’s racial ties are far from harmonious, there is no room for arrogance for Umno to bask in.
To get the police to issue traffic summonses to cars parked along Jalan Bukit Nanas in Kuala Lumpur by patrons attending mass at the St.John’s Cathedral church reflects Umno’s disinterest in ensuring relationship between people of different races in the country flourishes.
Pathetic revenge
By the way, was the move to issue traffic summonses a way of punishing the church leadears for making police reports against Utusan Malaysia’s racist and sleazy reporting?
If it was, what a pathetic way to seek revenge. What happens when the Muslims in their rush to attend the obligatory Friday prayer park their cars haphazardly, causing great inconvenience to other road users?
Why is there no police in sight to issue the mosque goers summonses for illegal parking?.
Why this double standard, premier Najib?
And you keep claiming that rakyat diutamakan.
The truth as the people know is otherwise, is it not?
5．Malaysiakini(http://www.malaysiakini.com)
(1) Still awaiting Najib to meet Utusan, 13 May 2011
'Najib should haul those responsible in Utusan to his office to give them a good tongue lashing for their seditious articles.'
Scepticism abounds over PM-Christian group meeting
David Dass: What is the purpose of the meeting? To reassure the Christians that PM Najib Razak is on top of things? Will that not be better achieved by taking firm and decisive action against those who created the problem in the first place?
Meeting all sides of the current divide and allowing them to ventilate behind closed doors will not solve the problem. In fact, it may even exacerbate the problem by giving those who are clearly in the wrong the impression that they were justified in their actions or simply feeding the fury of those who think that they are righteously reacting to a baseless allegation.
It may even give others the impression that the PM is quietly admonishing the Christians about their alleged wrongdoings. The Christians have done no wrong. Their behavior has been exemplary. It has never been the Christians who take to the streets and demonstrate and hurl threats at others when they are wronged. It is not their way.
Is it beyond the PM to enforce the rule of law?
FairMind: This meeting is nothing but a public relation job by Najib in view of the coming snap general election. Don't expect him to solve anything which would disadvantage him with the loss of Malay votes in the coming election.
Ace: Why attend this meeting and let him have the luxury of a public relations exercise which may con some less informed Christians and non-Christians.
This guy is a proven hypocrite through and through and we are sure he will do nothing concrete or productive except issuing nice sounding but meaningless statements to hoodwink the rakyat - statements which he himself has absolutely no intention of following.
Anonymous_4031: One exception we should make about a past PM was Tun Hussein Onn. He was an upright man who feared no one. When faced with a strong Umno Youth leader who was also a menteri besar, the PM did not care and went ahead with the corruption case.
He stood his ground and allowed the court to determine the case. When the strongman went to jail, the PM did not lose any sleep. Such a firm leader is rare. We can only respect leaders who are willing to march to the end of the road and do what is right, even preparing to lose the control of the party or lose power.
All the rest are just weaklings. To them, positions are nothing but material trappings of office. Character and integrity are virtues worth more than silver coins. So, the PM or home minister must take firm action to show that he means business and that you do not play with fire.
Patriot: I would not say the meeting was a waste of time or that it was for show only. What is important is that there is still dialogue and the channels to present one's concerns and fears are still open though the items in the agenda may not be completely handled or resolved.
The meeting can be held as often as necessary and hopefully each time, there is some progress made. Religions basically teach love, peace and tolerance and if this cannot be practised abundantly then do not blame your people for getting disillusioned with the teachings.
The authorities after taking into consideration the many complaints and concerns of the Christians, made some compromise on the 'Allah' and Bible issues but some Christians turned them down and were not willing to relent. Sometimes I feel emotions rule instead of logic.
Utusan Malaysia is digging its own grave and will shout even louder to gain attention and followers but one day it will destroy itself.
Black Mamba: By not acting against the offenders, Najib can achieve nothing. The Christians minority were skeptical of this meeting as it would come to nought except for exchanged of pleasantries over coffee and snacks.
Najib has to get real or his Talent Corp would have to reverse its role to plug the exodus of the talented Christian community instead of wooing for their return. Once they leave for the promised land there will be no turning back, perhaps maybe to return as tourists to visit their ancestors' graves.
If this pool of minority should one day return, it would be as a highly skilled expatriate much needed by the country adding to Malaysians cost of living. Skilled talented expats greatly sought after don't come cheap.
Ghkok: In my opinion, the issue is not about religion, it is about politics. Utusan is owned by Umno - that is the crux of the issue. Umno is answerable, not Utusan.
Utusan is a tool of Umno. It makes no sense to point your finger at the tool. At the end of the day, the reasonable question is - why did Umno instruct Utusan to print that article? And the reasonable answer is - because that article can potentially trigger a feeling of insecurity and anger amongst the Malay voters ... and feelings of insecurity and anger can best be translated into votes.
Therefore Utusan is a tool to further the agenda of Umno - which is to hold on to power at all cost. The right way to counter a propaganda machine is to create another machine to monitor Utusan on a real-time basis and counter its lies and propaganda - consistently, repeatedly, speedily, widespreadly (if there's such a word).
Nik V: The Christian leaders should have gone to the meeting with a list that must be followed through at a stipulated time. Then reset a meeting for exactly one year later to see if the points are met.
Otherwise all you have done is fallen into Najib's public relations effort with his government-owned media covering the "make BN look good" meeting with beautiful photos and smiles. Don't be so naive to fall for this BN propaganda effort.
・The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. Over the past one year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments.
(2) Gov't complicit in rumour mongering, 14 May 2011
by Steve Oh
I believe many of the problems that arise can be nipped in the bud if the government practices a policy of 'zero-tolerance' of conduct that is subversive of the country's racial and religious harmony and acts, without fear or favour to quell the potential threats and make those responsible accountable.
The latest allegation that Christians are trying to make Christianity the official religion of Malaysia is not only absurd but insane. There is no motive for the allegation than one motivated by scaremongering and utter irresponsibility.
While I believe in freedom of speech, incitement to hatred is a different matter and unless society is protected from those who say untrue things about others and damage their reputation and cause social unrest, trouble brews. The troublemakers should be taken to task along with those who act on such false allegations and spread the false rumour.
A few days ago many Egyptians were killed when a false rumour was spread that a Christian woman who wanted to convert to Islam was being held in a Coptic Christian Church. An angry mob torched the church and violence between the Coptics and muslims ensued. Soldiers were brought in to quell the riot which saw both sides hurling rocks at each other.
In contrast only months before, Christians and Muslims stood hand in hand against a repressive government and that resulted in the downfall of Hosni Mubarrak.
Some reports allege subversive elements were involved in spreading the false rumour. In Malaysia Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor stressed the importance of verifying third-party information and admitted that the recent Christian-state controversy was ill advised, according to Malaysiakini.
But it is not the first time nor will it be the last time this government was ill-advised, and unless it acts swiftly to quash all false rumours and make those who originate them and spread the poison accountable, expect more of such morally reprehensible conduct.
A strict policy of rumour-quashing was adopted during the days of Konfrontasi and Emergency where rumour-mongering was taken seriously by the government, and citizens who indulged in spreading false rumours were arrested by the police and dealt with accordingly.
A false rumour of a religious nature in Malaysia has a sting to it because it touches the people's sensitive nerve and psyche, especially those of the Muslim faith, some of whom it seems falsely think that mob violence is the only defence of their religion.
Fuelled by ignoble political motives the fire can spread wildly and people run amok and hurt others and damage property. It is a proven fact we have seen from the incident of torched churches over the Allah issue and the cow's head incident.
The former Perak mufti caused a stir in front of a Catholic Church in Ipoh when he spread the false rumour that Muslim children were to be baptized there. A false rumour of conversions to Christianity has almost become routine and those who spread the rumour are not taken to task.
Religious extremist groups falsely accuse Christians of besieging them when they are merely asking for their Constitutional rights to be recognised to right previous wrongs. Those who make false allegations are unworthy of Islam and should take a long hard look at themselves because making slander against another is a serious sin in Islam. You can't be serious about your religion by acting against its teachings and that includes everyone - Muslim or non-Muslim alike.
The government has not reined in the offending newspaper that appears to be fanning racial and religious animosity with its unverified reports. Such misplaced tolerance makes the government culpable if anything untoward results from all the false rumour-mongering and instigating by irresponsible and subversive media reports.
The idea that Christians want a Christian state is as silly as saying that Mickey Mouse wants to become the next American president. It is absurd. Christians hardly ever get involved in politics vis a vis Muslims let alone think of Malaysia becoming a Christian state.
What next?
The truth is Christians have long separated church from state and unlike Islam, Christianity does not need official status to exist and exert its influence. The Kingdom of God to the Christians is not of this world, not about political power, but a spiritual concern. In fact if Muslims stop believing the lies they are told about Christianity and other religions they may have nothing to fear and will find much common ground for an upright society among people of different faiths. After all who wants to live in a corrupt and unfair society?
Christians are more concerned for Malaysia becoming a righteous state than a Christian one. They are more concerned that the government is not corrupt or unfair than having a Christian flag fly over Putrajaya. Many Christians in politics may yet be the salt of the earth if they can stay true to their Lord's teachings and love and care for the needs of all Malaysians especially those among the rural and urban poor and remain incorruptible by the prevalent moral evil. It is all about personal piety not political coercion.
That is why Christians can be found working with anyone who subscribes to right conduct and even those who are corrupt because they believe that ultimately each one of us will give an account to God, notwithstanding they support civil governments and politicians that practise good governance. Otherwise they will have to leave this planet if they cannot live in an imperfect world and try to change everything to suit themselves. They subscribe to the idea of 'live and let live' and that they are to love the sinner while hating the sin.
For this reason Christians are instructed to pray for all governments and all those in authority so that those God-ordained institutions can carry out their work to ensure peace in society. Ironically if the critics of Christianity think they believe in a false God why do they worry that their prayers will be answered? Why should they even try to control prayer?
The safeguard against religious misunderstanding is more openness among the diverse religions and above all the recognition that people will switch in and out of religions according to their whims and fancy and personal needs. God decides who gets to Heaven, not political parties, mosques, churches or temples or any self-appointed defenders of religion who do more harm than good to society by their unreasonable demands and unfounded fears.
If God does not strike anyone down for not believing in him, why should anyone try to play God and coerce others to comply with their dictates? Islam does not teach coercion and no other religion does either, but rascals and troublemakers that make up the fanatics will impose their will on others and go about it forcefully. They think that religion is like a mafia gang that imposes its will through force, often destructive. We have seen such unrest abroad not only between Muslims and non-Muslims but Muslims themselves. These people give their religion a bad name.
The safeguard against false rumours is the truth and leaders who promote it. If a religious leader is incapable of playing the gatekeeper of peace and harmony by not creating false rumours or allowing them to spread, but instead will quash all falsehood and irresponsible conduct that creates social unrest, he is morally unfit to lead. Unless you have leaders of impeccable character in religious roles, you are really courting disaster when the unscrupulous fan the flames of religious fanaticism and hatred.
Until there is openness about religions and Malaysians are made to understand other people's religions they will be victims of ignorance and false rumours. Religion need not be divisive if people understand their own religion as well as those of others. To love is of God, to hate is of the devil, to understand is the privilege of being human.
Spreading false and malicious rumours must be considered a serious crime but the failure of the government to quash the rumours and bring those culpable to account is reason why some people even dare to produce and distribute a fabricated sex video to destroy a high profile politician, and why the stirrers get away with it every time.
As a saying goes, 'unless a wrongdoer is punished quickly, other troublemakers will be emboldened to do more wrongs.' Wrongdoers will do wrong but it is worse when those responsible for safeguarding our peace appear complicit by their failure to act against the wrongdoers. The government must act decisively or be damned for its sin of omission.
6. The Malaysian Insider (http://www.themalaysianinsider.com)
What I have said about Christians and Muslims worshipping the same God/Allah is confirmed by the Quran!, 14 May 2011
by N.H. Chan
Why I decided to write on why the Deity Allah is not owned by Muslims only.
I wrote the series of articles on Allah to put forward the Christians’ point of view on why they are entitled to use the word Allah in their Malay-language bibles. I felt it was unfair for the people in power to use governmental clout to prevent Christians from calling their God Allah. And when these myopic politicians started to desecrate the Christians’ holy book that became the catalyst which really drove me to write so as to inform the public that it is not anyone’s right to claim ownership of an Arabic word which was in use by the Jews and the Arabs since the time of Abraham and his descendants, or even much earlier i.e. from the time of the descendants of Shem the eldest of the three sons of Noah who were regarded as the ethnic group of peoples known as the Semites or Shemites who spoke a Semitic language. And Arabic and Hebrew are two Semitic languages. The Arabic word Allah meaning “The God” had been used by God’s people for thousands of years before Jesus was born and before Mohammad’s Call, the legendary revelation of Allah in 611 AD.
But then there are certain people who think that to mention that Christians worship the same God as Muslims do is sacrilege
It looks like there are some Malay-Muslims, and some other people of unknown faiths, who maintain that it is heresy to say in my articles that Christians worship the same God as Muslims do. They say Muslims worship only one God and that is Allah but Christians worship three persons called the Trinity.
But do these misinformed Muslims know what they are talking about when the word “trinity” is not found in the Bible? Can they tell us why they say that Christians worship three persons when this is not even mentioned in the Bible? Or are these people just paying lip service to keep up with the Joneses to upstage the Christians’ faith without knowing the reason why they are doing that?
I think it is mean, unseemly and unbefitting of such narrow-minded Malay-Muslims to decry the Christians, who believe in the same God as Muslims, that Christians are polytheistic by relying on a baseless assumption that Christians worship three persons. But how can anyone say that when there is not even a tittle of evidence to support such an unfounded assumption? In truth Christians are as monotheistic as Muslims. Indeed both faiths worship the same deity who is God or Allah depending on whether your Bible is in English or in Malay or Arabic.
I find it most disconcerting as an observer, who is neither Christian nor Muslim, to see those narrow-minded followers of Islam defy their own Allah by not accepting the followers of Jesus who, according to the Quran, was created by Allah to receive His revelation and be His prophet.
The Quran says that Jesus was made by Allah to propagate the teachings of Allah
When the Quran has acknowledged that Jesus was created by Allah to deliver the teachings of Allah, who are they — I am referring to the narrow-minded Malay-Muslims — to object to the Christians calling their deity Allah? They should not assume that all Christians are English speaking! Many Christians in this country, especially those in east Malaysia, can only read the Malay Bible. English, which is a foreign language, is quite unfathomable to them. A rudimentary knowledge of English is not good enough to understand the Bible because the King James Bible is not an easy read.
I quote below from the Yusuf Ali Translation:
The Holy Quran (Yusuf Ali Translation)
Surah 19, Maryam (Mary)
27. At length she brought the (babe) to her people, carrying him (in her arms). They said: “O Mary! truly an amazing thing hast thou brought!
28. “O sister of Aaron! Thy father was not a man of evil, nor thy mother a woman unchaste!”
29. But she pointed to the babe. They said: “How can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?”
30. He said: “I am indeed a servant of Allah. He hath given me revelation and made me a prophet;
31. “And He hath made me blessed wheresoever I be, and hath enjoined on me Prayer and Charity as long as I live;
32. “(He) hath made me kind to my mother, and not overbearing or miserable;
33. “So peace is on me the day I was born, the day that I die, and the day that I shall be raised up to life (again)”!
34. Such (was) Jesus the son of Mary: (it is) a statement of truth, about which they (vainly) dispute.
35. It is not befitting to (the majesty of) Allah that He should beget a son. Glory be to Him! when He determines a matter, He only says to it, “Be”, and it is.
36. Verily Allah is my Lord and your Lord: Him therefore serve ye: this is a Way that is straight.
37. But the sects differ among themselves: and woe to the unbelievers because of the (coming) Judgment of a Momentous Day!
38. How plainly will they see and hear, the Day that they will appear before Us! but the unjust today are in error manifest!
39. But warn them of the Day of Distress, when the matter will be determined: for (behold,) they are negligent and they do not believe!
40. It is We Who will inherit the earth, and all beings thereon: to Us will they all be returned.
41. (Also mention in the Book (the story of) Abraham: He was a man of Truth, a prophet.
The above is what the Quran says about Jesus; verse 34: “Such (was) Jesus the son of Mary: (it is) a statement of truth, about which they vainly dispute.” and verse 35: “It is not befitting (to the majesty of) Allah that He should beget a son. Glory be to Him! When He determines a matter, He only says to it, ‘Be’, and it is.” From this it is clear that Jesus was created or made by Allah to be His prophet to perform a specific task which is to spread the teachings of Allah.
In these verses of Surah 19 of the Quran, Jesus said:
30. … “I am indeed a servant of Allah. He hath given me revelation and made me a prophet;
31. “And He hath made me blessed wheresoever I be, and hath enjoined on me Prayer and Charity as long as I live;
32. “(He) hath made me kind to my mother, and not overbearing or miserable;
33. “So peace is on me the day I was born, the day that I die, and the day that I shall be raised up to life (again)”!
Thus it is proclaimed in the Quran that Jesus the son of Mary is a statement of truth. The Quran also says that Jesus is a servant of Allah who gave a revelation to him and made him a prophet. So those who doubt, namely the aforesaid uninitiated Malay-Muslims, the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament should hold their tongue for it is unbefitting of them to dispute what is said in the Quran!
So that when Jesus spoke to the eleven disciples after he rose from the dead; see the New Testament, Matthew 28: 19:
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Those misinformed Muslims should not doubt this statement of Jesus even though they may wish to doubt and imagine that Jesus was saying there are three persons to be worshipped in the Godhead. Those who doubt the teachings of Jesus should be careful of offending Allah for disputing what is said in the Quran that Jesus was created by Allah to propagate His teachings to all nations.
“In the name of the Father” means “In the name of God” because God is also called Father in the Bible.
Just as Allah is also referred to as “Lord” in the Quran; see e.g. verse 36 above: “Verily Allah is my Lord and your Lord”.
“In the name of the Son” means “In the name of Jesus” because Jesus is also known as the Son of God in the Bible.
Just as in the Quran Jesus is the “son” made by Allah because Allah cannot beget a human son: see e.g. verse 35 above: “It is not befitting to (the majesty of) Allah that He should beget a son. Glory be to Him! when He determines a matter, He only says to it, ‘Be’, and it is”.
“In the name of the Holy Ghost” or Spirit. In the Quran this is “an angel”; see e.g. verse 17 above: “She placed a screen (to screen herself) from them; then We sent her our angel, and he appeared before her as a man in all respects”. The continuing verses in Surah 19 of the Quran should be read as they are quite revealing:
18. She said: “I seek refuge from thee to *1 Most Gracious: (come not near) if thou dost fear Allah.”
19. He said: “Nay, I am only a messenger from thy Lord, (to announce) to thee the gift of a holy son.
20. She said: “How shall I have a son, seeing that no man has touched me, and I am not unchaste?”
21. He said: “So (it will be): Thy Lord saith, ‘that is easy for Me: and (We wish) to appoint him as a Sign unto men and a Mercy from Us’: It is a matter (so) decreed.”
22. So she conceived him, and she retired with him to a remote place.
So there you have it, convincing proof from the Holy Book of the Muslims that Christians worship the same God/Allah as Muslims!
About the Trinity
However, since there is so much confusion among the uninitiated, I think I should try to explain what the word “trinity” is meant to convey. It is a term which is sometimes used by Christians to explain the Oneness of God. But for sure trinity does not mean three persons to worship, and it is not a word which is found in the Bible.
Christians worship only one God who is sometimes described by them as “God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost or Spirit” and these three are one. This is the most likely passage in the New Testament where I think the phrase comes from: Matthew 28:19:
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost
Matthew 28 speaks of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. After Jesus rose from the dead he spoke to the 11 disciples:
16Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.
17And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.
18And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
But where does it say in the Bible that Jesus is part of the Godhead?
1 John 5: 7 says:
For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
And for proof of the deity of Jesus Christ, see John 1: 1:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The Word is clearly identified in John 1: 14:
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
And 1 Timothy 3: 16 states:
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
It is quite obvious that “God was manifest in the flesh” above refers to Jesus.
Actually, if you know your English well, you will know that the expression Trinity or Holy Trinity does not mean the worship of three persons: God, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost. I have already explained in a previous article that the word “Trinity” is a euphemism for God. But it looks like I have been casting pearls before swine because the critics of Christianity in this country are unable to understand plain English. Anyway, I am digressing. The fact remains that the expression “trinity” or “the trinity” is not mentioned anywhere in the Bible. This is because Christians do not worship three persons. They worship only one God who was the God of Abraham, and who is the same God the Jews and the Muslims worship.
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication. The Malaysian Insider does not endorse the view unless specified.
(End)
*1:Allah
