The Star Online (http://www.thestar.com.my)
(1) Chua: It’s good to establish ties with Vatican, 20 July 2011
KUALA LUMPUR: The setting up of bilateral relations between Malaysia and the Vatican is welcomed, said MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.
“Put aside politics, religious emotions and prejudices. Having diplomatic ties between Malaysia and the Vatican City is a good move.
“It's a good start to strengthening relationship between moderate Muslims in the country and people of the Christian faith. It will augur well for the future,” he said after the party's central committee meeting at Wisma MCA here yesterday.
Dr Chua added that if other Muslim nations had long established ties with the Vatican, there was no reason why Malaysia shouldn't.
He said MCA fully understood that there were many issues involving the Christian community that needed to be resolved.
“Regular meetings between church leaders and the Government must be held as committed by the Najib administration,” he said.
Dr Chua said the Prime Minister believed there was too much ill feelings among sections of society, and all should be open to embracing understanding and trust among fellow beings.
However, he said, religious issues should not politicised for the interest of any party.
“As I always say, God up there is politically neutral and he will not side any political party.
“Any political party which claims that God is on its side is behaving more like God.”
© 1995-2011 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd (Co No 10894-D)
(2) Links with the Vatican hailed as a boost to religious harmony, 20 July 2011
by MARTIN CARVALHO (mart3@thestar.com.my)
PETALING JAYA: The establishment of diplomatic ties between Malaysia and the Vatican has been hailed as a step in promoting moderation as a means to resolve issues faced by the country's multi-religious society.
Council of Churches general-secretary Rev Hermen Shastri said the move would promote inter-religious dialogue to achieve peaceful co-existence in such a society.
“It is hoped that as a result of this development, serious attention will be paid to questions of religious freedom and the promotion of inter-religious dialogues,” he told The Star yesterday.
He added that the Government should pay heed to past concerns raised by both the Vatican and the council on issues faced by Christians.
The leader of the country's oldest Catholic community at Malacca's Portuguese Settlement, Regedor (headman) Peter Gomes, said the ties would reflect the 1Malaysia concept of tolerance and unity.
“It shows that the Government is moving in the right direction under 1Malaysia as it recognises communities of different faiths,” he said, adding that moderation and dialogue would better resolve issues.
“Today, we see many countries torn by violence. It will be better if opposing parties talk, rather than fight,” he said, adding that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had “walked the talk” with regard to his 1Malaysia concept “His actions speak louder than words.”
Gomes described Najib's RM480,000 special allocation to the 1,200-strong community last December for a chapel as an example of moderation in practice.
Editor of the Catholic weekly The Herald Father Andrew Lawrence said the ties marked the evolution of 500 years of cultural and educational relationship between the country and the Holy See.
“The first Malay-Latin dictionary was published by the Vatican in 1531. The formalising of ties between Malaysia and the Vatican is an evolution of this relationship,” he said.
He said Malaysia was also a good model of moderation from which the global community could learn.
Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism president Rev Dr Thomas Philips said the ties should bring about positive development, particularly for the non-Muslim communities.
“One way is to provide a channel for these communities to air their views and needs to the Government directly,” he said, adding that this could be achieved with the creation of a ministerial post to handle such issues.
・1995-2011 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd (Co No 10894-D)
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