1. The Malaysian Insider (http://www.themalaysianinsider.com)
(1) Church council asks Christian ministers to raise Johor seminar in Cabinet, 1 April 2012
by Yow Hong Chieh
KUALA LUMPUR, April 1 — Malaysia's top church council has urged Christian ministers to bring up the Johor seminar issue in Cabinet so the issue can be put to rest in a manner that would show Putrajaya's commitment to inter-religious harmony.
The Council of Churches Malaysia (CCM) said Christian ministers should use their office to ensure Cabinet takes a stand on yesterday's seminar for Johor's religious teachers, which was originally centred on the "threat of Christianisation" to Islam.
Christian members of Cabinet include Datuk Seri Idris Jala, Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili, Datuk Seri Peter Chin and Tan Sri Bernard Dompok.
"They should be doing their part... Such topics are uncalled for in the official education system.
"The issue is not resolved even though as far as the government is concerned it is resolved," CCM secretary-general Rev Dr Hermen Shastri told The Malaysian Insider.
He said it was "sad and alarming" that teachers were receiving training on such topics, which he cautioned would breed more suspicion and intolerance between Malaysians of different religions.
CCM president Rev Thomas Philips urged Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to commit to his 1 Malaysia concept, which promotes unity, and "censure" the Johor education department for organising the seminar.
"All we are asking is that he lay down his rules and say 'I believe in 1 Malaysia' and not encourage people to cause these kind of distractions...
"Is it only rhetoric and a political gimmick where here you say one thing and then another thing somewhere else?" he said.
Philips, who is also vice president of the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST), added that Najib must make a "bold statement" on the issue if it was good for the nation.
"We believe in freedom of speech... but I think when it is out in the open that one group is organising an event to attack another group, it puts people on the defensive," he said.
Some 300 religious teachers from Johor national schools attended the seminar entitled "Strengthening the Faith: What is the Role of Teachers?" which was held in the state capital yesterday.
The seminar had attracted controversy among non-Muslims earlier for focusing on the alleged threat of Christianisation to Islam.
Its original title — "Strengthening the Faith: The Dangers of Liberalism and Pluralism and the Threat of Christianity towards Muslims. What is the Role of Teachers?" — was changed after much outcry from non-Muslim religious groups.
The seminar was organised by the state education department and the office of the Johor Mufti to ensure that Muslims will not be "confused" by alleged bids to convert them.
(2) Interfaith panel: Johor seminar issue ‘resolved’ with title change, 2 April 2012
by Yow Hong Chieh
File photo of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak hosting a muhibbah luncheon for members of the Cabinet interfaith committee in September 2010. Azman Amin is on the extreme right. — Picture by Choo Choy May
KUALA LUMPUR, April 2 — The issue of the Johor seminar, originally centred on the “threat of Christianisation” to Islam, has been settled after its organisers agreed to change its title, says the Cabinet’s special interfaith panel.
The Special Committee to Promote Inter-Religious Understanding and Harmony said it considered the matter “resolved” following the last-minute amendment on Friday, a day before the seminar took place.
Committee chairman Datuk Azman Amin Hassan told The Malaysian Insider that the Johor Education Department had agreed to the title change after the panel stepped in on Thursday.
“We made an intervention. I contacted the D-G (director-general) of Education before they agreed to change the names of the seminar and also the certificate of attendance...
“So to me, it has been resolved. For the future we should make sure we avoid (organising) such events,” he said when contacted yesterday.
Azman Amin commended the Education Department director-general for his swift response to the panel’s request, noting that the latter was in the US at the time.
“I called him (on Thursday) and I couldn’t get him, but I sent a message and that evening itself he got the state directors to change it...
“I hope no other groups will use titles which may hurt the feelings (of other religionists),” he said.
Some 300 religious teachers from Johor national schools attended the seminar entitled “Strengthening the Faith: What is the Role of Teachers?” which was held in the state capital Johor Baru on Saturday.
The seminar had attracted controversy among non-Muslims earlier for focusing on the alleged threat of Christianisation to Islam.
Its original title — “Strengthening the Faith: The Dangers of Liberalism and Pluralism and the Threat of Christianity towards Muslims. What is the Role of Teachers?” — was changed after much outcry from non-Muslim religious groups.
The seminar was organised by the State Education Department and the office of the Johor Mufti to ensure that Muslims will not be “confused” by alleged bids to convert them.
2. Malaysiakini (http://www.malaysiakini.com)
(1) Bishop lauds call to PM to end 'deafening silence', 1 April 2012
by Terence Netto
Bishop Dr Paul Tan Chee Ing praised an interfaith group for urging Prime Minister Najib Razak to end what the head of the Catholic Church in the Melaka-Johor said was the "PM's deafening silence" on pressing issues concerning inter-religious harmony.
The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) had yesterday urged Najib to be "the leader of a responsible government that practices what it preaches."
The call came as Christian NGOs and religious leaders remonstrated with the government over an education seminar in Johor yesterday that had for its theme the implication that Christian proselytisation of Muslims had reached ominous levels in Malaysia.
As a consequence, the Johor education department altered the initial theme of the seminar to one that was less provocative.
Bishop Paul Tan, who is president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei, had been skeptical of the value of Najib's penchant for hosting of luncheons for leaders of non-Muslim religions under a patina of fostering inter-religious harmony and dialogue.
"Those were delusive occasions giving rise to pious platitudes to the value of inter-religious harmony because every time a religious issue sparked in the national arena, the people who should show the most leadership turned out to be the most craven in a crisis," said the bishop.
The Jesuit-trained prelate was one of the founders of the MCCBCHST in 1984. Since its formation, the interfaith council has become the leading voice for the protection of religious liberty of non-Muslims in Malaysia.
"While we should not spurn the hand of friendship and hospitality offered by the political authority, we at the same time should not encourage them in the delusion that pious intentions are an adequate substitute for urgent action," asserted Bishop Paul Tan.
PM must match deed to word
He said by calling upon the PM to match deed to word on the "synthetic issue of Christian proselytisation of Muslims", the MCCBCHST was "bearing witness to the plain truth that ordinary Malaysians of various religions are tolerant of each other's beliefs despite the inflammatory machinations of frustrated politicians."
"Why should it be so difficult for those who mean well to say to those who mean ill that the latter are out of order?" asked Bishop Paul Tan.
"I'm glad the MCCBCHST has decided to tell the prime minister that the image he wants to foster as an exponent of moderation is under threat from his apparent passivity in the face of those who plainly mean ill," he asserted.
"It's hypocrisy for the PM to run with the hares while at the same time allowing religious hounds to hunt at will," said Bishop Paul Tan.
(2) Najib clueless about meaning of interfaith, 1 April 2012
‘Najib only has the elections in mind and will say anything to secure support, but he stands for nothing - not even his 1Malaysia.'
Walk your talk, interfaith group tells Najib
Onyourtoes: Obviously Umno-BN leaders are working on the assumption that they no longer need the support of non-Malays/non-Muslims.
I not only find the term ‘Christianisation' offensive, the way the word ‘pluralism' is used in the title of the Johor Education Department's seminar is also offensive to me.
They are effectively saying they see different races, cultures, languages and religions as a potential threat to their beliefs. Can't they see Malaysia is all about pluralism?
And what about the word ‘liberalism' in the title too? Surely liberalism is not free sex but freeing our people from serfdom, religious bondage, poverty and ignorance. How would anyone have any problem with that?
Sadirah: Come on PM Najib Razak, you talk big during the interfaith harmony week but you do not have the spine to take a stand.
Why should we support a PM who stands up for nothing, except giving money and conveying the perception that he is the prime minister for all Malaysians?
He only has the elections in mind and will say anything to secure support, but he stands for nothing - not even his 1Malaysia.
Just because his father was PM does not mean that Najib is also PM material, and what I have seen of him disappoints me.
He seems to be all things to all people and has no courage because his own hands are dirty and he has too many skeletons in his closet.
Gen2: Najib is speaking with a forked tongue and a straight face. This is a good example that Felda settlers should note before they sign the form pledging support for Felda Global Ventures Holdings' listing.
Disbeliever: Najib is the Father of Slogans. His visit to the Vatican was nothing more than eyewash and to project himself abroad as a liberal Muslim, and that Malaysia is a moderate Muslim country.
However, events that have been popping up time and again seem to be aimed at sowing the seeds of fear among the Muslims that Christianity is the No 1 threat and that Muslims should protect the sanctity of Islam at all cost.
Does God (in whatever form we perceive him to be) want us to be at war with our fellow brethren (whatever their religion) masked in the call of ‘jihad' (holy war)?
We don't hear of other religions, be it Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Sikhism, etc, that call on us to fear the other as a threat.
I believe Islam is a great religion but its followers are using God's name in vain by interpreting the holy book to suit their needs. In general, I would like to ask: is God a god of love or a god of war?
GXFC: This failed government needs a scapegoat, just like the Nazis blamed the Jews, Najib blames Christians.
Anonymous #35113156: I hope the Christians in this country (that makes up close to 10 percent) know what to do come GE13. My Christian brothers and sisters, it is time to step out of your passive and accommodating ways of thinking.
They have pushed us up against the wall with this accusation. Vote out this extremely racist and a religious bigot of a government.
Najib talks about 1Malaysia this, 1Malaysia that, but when something like this - which is very much against his 1Malaysia concept - emerged, he keeps quiet for fear of losing support and power.
That speaks volumes of the type of person he is, doesn't it?
Anthony Chan: All the parties in BN are responsible for this and other irresponsible acts of sowing discord among the Malaysian people for their own selfish benefits.
Only those who do not want to see cannot see, and those do not want to hear cannot hear. It's time for all Malaysian to wake up and vote for our future in the coming election.
Wanderer: Surprisingly or as expected, all the component parties in the BN coalition are stone silent. MCA president Chua Soi Lek, are you still drunk with hudud laws?
Tpn: The MCCBCHST should just say that they have no trust in the PM. Be firm. The other component parties of BN are of no use.
Jalal: To the members of the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST), you talk too much and you deserve to get what is coming to you.
You always like to suck up to the BN. You have no power to voice the matter, and your voice rouses no fear in the BN. If you want to be relevant, then make sure the government listens to your voice and fears your call.
Don't Just Talk: For the coming 13th general election, MCCBCHST should issue a statement calling on rational non-Malays to throw their vote behind Pakatan Rakyat and replace the rotten, corrupt Umno-BN government.
The non-Malays should have no fear voting for PAS as the Islamic party being a partner of Pakatan, have to listen to the views of PKR and DAP.
This is unlike Umno, the party that makes all the major/minor national policy decisions and have them rubber-stamped at the BN supreme council meeting.
That is the reason why MCA, MIC, Gerakan, etc, are known as toothless parties.
Anomnim: If Najib behaves like this before an election, you can only imagine what he will do to you after the election.
・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.
(3) Has Najib given up on the Christian vote?, 2 April 2012
‘Poor little rich Najib, he has nothing concrete to offer the Malaysian public, except a few meaningless slogans.'
Bishop lauds call to PM to end 'deafening silence'
Democrat: Prime Minister Najib Razak's bluff has been called. It is there for all to see that he has never been serious about his 1Malaysia, his ‘nambikei', his warm meetings with the interfaith group and his promises and all.
To the BN component party leaders - Pairin Kitingan, Bernard Dompok, Chua Soi Lek, Koh Tsu Koon, G Palanivel, S Subramaniam, Maglin Dennis D'Cruz, Idris Jala, Kenneth Eswaran, and all the other followers of Najib and Umno - can't you all see the impact of this silence from the PM regarding the seminar organised by the Johor Education Department?
You are all supporters of Najib and it is time to look into the mirror and ask yourself - are we being led by the nose?
Najib cannot prevent Utusan Malaysia, Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali and Jati chief Hasan Ali from spewing their venom, and that is why MCA, MIC, PPP and Gerakan have all lost in the elections.
Please wake up and stop this nonsense called 1Malaysia, which only favours the Umno thugs.
Anonymous_3f55: Interfaith group MCCBCHST (Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism) should just boycott Najib.
You should not attend any of his lunches or dinner invites. Whenever these meetings are arranged, they are just meant to be an eyewash.
The PM has no guts whatsoever to tell anyone off, that is why we have the likes of Ridhuan Tee Abdullah, Hasan Ali, Ibrahim Ali and the mother of all them, Utusan Malaysia, in particular the writers disguised as Awang Selamat.
Kgen: Has Najib given up the Christian vote? Does the PM knows that there are many Christians in his so-called safe deposit states of Sabah and Sarawak?
They don't even need the mainstream media to get the message, the message to vote against BN can be delivered from the pulpit.
Anonymous #88568176: Bishop Paul Tan Chee Ing has said it short and sweet, that Najib is indeed a liar, who indulges in political outsourcing to instill fear into Muslims and Malays with his ‘3R' strategy (race, religion and royalty).
While mouthing generalities publicly in a way each side of this intentionally driven divide can assume to its advantage, Najib tries to hold lunches to soft peddle niceties to non-Muslim entities.
How long can this go on? And what long-term damage can this do?
Ruben: Your grace, I too very much feel the same. It is not only saddening, cruel but the hypocrisy showed by our PM, DPM and home minister is so obvious.
Najib asked the Indians for ‘nambikei' (trust). But how can people trust him when he behaves like this? Silence is consent.
It is really sickening that the other racially-based parties of BN cannot even condemn and stop seditious acts like what Hasan Ali gets away with, or what Perkasa gets away with.
It is not Islam that is the culprit, it is Umno and our non-Umno BN leaders don't have the guts to counter them and defend their faiths. Only PAS truly espouses true Islamic values, and thank God for them.
Pick-a-bone: Najib dares not even ask Wanita Umno chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil to step down, so it is folly to think he is going to ask religious zealots like Ibrahim Ali and Hasan Ali to stop their Christian-bashing.
It is like asking the Taliban to change their mindset and allow their women to go and play football in public for all and sundry to watch.
Poor little rich Najib, he has nothing concrete to offer the Malaysian public, except a few meaningless slogans.
Fairgo: The entire BN leadership is one of deceit, lies and forked tongues. And it is a daily affair, coming out continuously, shamelessly and treating the people with more and more blatant lies, guttural accusations via the controlled media.
And they really think the rakyat will vote for such leaders. They must surely know they are mistaken.
Cocomomo: Malaysians, Muslim and non-Muslim, must work together for an equitable just Malaysia.
Extremists from both sides should be shunned and made to feel unwanted until they repent and moderate their views. We should learn to live in harmony despite our ethnic and religious differences.
No one knows who is right when it comes to matters of faith though we each will hold dearly to our own faiths - that does not make it right for us to criticise the faith of others.
Those who fear so much that another religion can influence their fellow believers, must do much soul searching as to why they have such fears.
Is it they themselves have doubts about their faith that they fear others of their faith will convert? And why do they insult others of their own faith by doubting the faith of these people?
At the end of the day, your faith is between you and your god. So let us leave each to his own beliefs as long as he does not harm others or cause public disorder.
・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.
(4) Christian group posed as ustaz, claims witness, 2 April 2012
by Nigel Aw
A Muslim man, who claimed to have converted to Christianity and then reverted to Islam, said Christian group leaders had masqueraded as ustaz to approach Muslims in order to convert them.
Ramli Abdullah (not his real name) said this in a highly-anticipated video released by Gombak Setia assemblyperson Hasan Ali, who claimed this to be evidence of organised proselytising of Muslims.
In the 42-minute recording, Ramli said that these people, some of whom were ‘orang putih’ (Caucasians), wear ketayap (skullcaps) and jubah (robes) and go to mosques in an attempt to get close to Muslims.
“That is how they slowly infiltrate. When they first approach Muslims, they do not use the Bible but the Quran... this is called the cameo method,” claimed Ramli, who worked with the organisation after being converted.
"I still remember when my wife saw this, she asked me who this ustaz was... Their method was very subtle. They used Quranic verses as a bridge for you to cross over and after you have crossed into Christianity, only then will they give you a Bible."
The video interview featuring Ramli, 47, and his wife, Zakiah Musa, 42 (not her real name), was screened to journalists at Hasan's residence in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon.
Hasan had previously claimed that Christian groups had impersonated Muslims to approach the community.
Journalists were not provided copies or allowed to record the screening, even though the faces of the couple were blurred and their voices distorted.
It appeared to have been recorded at Hasan's house, as the same sofa and curtains were seen in the footage.
'Baptised in a swimming pool’
In his case, Ramli said, a Christian centre had assisted him when he faced health problems and later offered him shelter in Puchong.
"In the beginning, I did not know they were a Christian organisation, but I was attracted by their kindness and the way they treated me," he said in reference to an Australian priest who was in charge of the shelter.
"He said everyone who is not Christian will go to hell and that it was very easy for me to be saved. All I had to do was to believe that Jesus was my saviour and I would go to heaven."
Ramli was later baptised. As he is a Malay, this was done in a swimming pool at an apartment in Jalan Pinang, Kuala Lumpur, instead of in a church.
"After that I was taught Christian prayers and taken to attend church masses, I also played music for their worship group," he says.
Ramli adds that he was later sent abroad, to study at a "disciple training school".
“When I first joined the organisation, my movements were quite limited. There wasn't much chance of mingling with the others, but after I returned from Singapore and worked for them, I met the other groups and with pastor Raymond Koh, who was our leader..”
A week after the meeting in Port Dickson, Ramli says, the pastor took him to meet with other Malays who had been converted to Christianity.
"It was the first time I met other Malays who are also Christians. They were whole families and children, about 20 of them, from Klang."
Ramli says the pastor subsequently offered him a permanent job with the organisation, which he took up from 2004-2007 and was given a car and accommodation in a house in Kelana Jaya, on top of "support" of between RM2,000 and RM5,000 a month.
The organisation also tasked him with translating a contextual version of the New Testament into Malay, so that it could be easily understood by Muslims.
"It (the translated Bible) was to be Muslim-friendly, so that when Muslims read it, they can accept that the Bible is from Allah," he said.
The Christian organisation, Ramli said, has three units: one to assist in emergencies and natural disasters, one targeted at children and another for HIV patients.
Though Ramli refused to name the organisation at the beginning of the interview, he suddenly mentioned the NGO Harapan Komuniti whose event was last year raided by the Selangor Islamic Affairs Authority (Jais).
When contacted, Harapan Komuniti lawyer Annou Xavier shot down claims that the organisation is converting Muslims.
"It is clearly an afterthought by Hasan and whatever is coming out from him is clearly hearsay," he said.
Throughout his experience, Ramli said, he had met between 300 and 400 Muslims who had converted to Christianity.
He attempted to convert his wife Zakiah to Christianity shortly before marrying her.
According to Hasan’s aide, Zakiah too had left Islam but was "brought back" after engaging with the Save Faith Unit founded by Hasan, who was subsequently introduced to Ramli.
Zakat assistance provided
Hasan said Ramli and Zakiah have since been provided with assistance by the Selangor Zakat Board and are now rearing chickens for their livelihood.
Ramli's revelation was one of two videos screened to journalists today. Another was a 16-minute edited version of the revelation and presented in a documentary format.
Aside from snippets from the interview, the documentary format also featured Hasan’s take on the issue of Christian proselytising and a scene of him guiding an alleged apostate to recite the Syahadah in order to re-embrace Islam.
Hasan said he has a third video, which is a 90-minute uncut version of the same interview. He is mulling submitting it to Jais or the Selangor palace for investigation.
3. Free Malaysia Today (http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com)
PM: Don’t be insensitive to other faiths, 1 April 2012
by Shannon Teoh
KUALA LUMPUR, April 1 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak has called for all religions to respect other faiths but did not censure yesterday’s seminar by the Johor government on the “Christian threat” despite calls from non-Muslim groups for the prime minister to “walk your talk” of unity and moderation.
The Malaysian Consultative Council on Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) had said Najib’s 1 Malaysia concept for unity and moderation is in “disarray” after Johor education and religious authorities decided to carry on with the seminar for about 300 religious schoolteachers.
“Whatever it is, we don’t want it (the matter) to be the source of misunderstandings between the followers of the various faiths in our country.
“We can discuss matters pertaining to faith, but we cannot be insensitive to the other groups, whether Muslims against the non-Muslims or vice-versa,” Najib (picture) told reporters after meeting Felda settlers in Bera yesterday evening.
The Umno president added that as a general election is near, “everything can be manipulated or twisted to become a political issue that is why we must be careful in this matter.” News of the seminar’s theme earlier this week drew swift condemnation from non-Muslims, who expressed shock and dismay over the characterisation of Christians in the title.
“We implore you (Najib) to walk your talk. Be the leader of a responsible government that practises what it preaches. Your concept of 1 Malaysia and your call for moderation is all in disarray,” MCCBCHST said in a statement yesterday.
But Muslim NGOs insisted that the government was duty-bound to address the “threat of Christianisation,” which they repeatedly profess to be real despite the absence of firm evidence.
In response, Johor dropped specific mention of the “Christian threat” from the seminar originally themed “Pemantapan Aqidah, Bahaya Liberalisme dan Pluralism Serta Ancaman Kristianisasi Terhadap Umat Islam. Apa Peranan Guru?” (Strengthening the Faith, the Dangers of Liberalism and Pluralism and the Threat of Christianity towards Muslims. What is the Role of Teachers?).
But Johor Mufti Department officials said that while the title of the seminar will be changed, the contents and structure will remain unaltered.
The Mufti Datuk M. Tahrir Kiai Samsudin also insisted the seminar was for the good of teaching Islam.
Christians form 9.2 per cent of Malaysia’s 28.3 million-strong population.
In recent years, the Christian and Muslim religious communities have been engaged in a tug-of-war over the word “Allah”, with the latter group arguing that its use should be exclusive to them on the grounds that Islam is monotheistic and the word “Allah” denotes the Muslim god.
Christians, however, have argued that “Allah” is an Arabic word that has been used by those of other religious beliefs, including the Jews, in reference to God in many other parts of the world, notably in Arab nations and Indonesia.
Conservative Muslim groups have also accused Christians of attempting to convert Malays, resulting in heightened tension between followers of the two religions.
(End)
