1. Christian Today (http://www.christiantoday.com)
Malaysia elections: Christians hoping for government that values liberty and religious freedom, 3 May 2013
by Matt George, World Watch Monitor
On Sunday, Malaysians head to the polls for what could be the most critical general elections in the country's history. The ruling coalition, dominated by Umno (the United Malays National Organisation), has been raising issues of religion and race in an effort to win the support of the Malay Muslim majority.
Meanwhile minority Christians in Malaysia are taking a bold political stand. At the behest of their churches, worshippers are being asked to openly pray for political leaders who are honest and uncorrupted, and to elect a government that values liberty and religious freedom.
The message is clear: it is time for a change after 56 years of rule by an Umno Government which stands accused of rampant corruption, breeding a culture of entitlement for privileged Umno politicians and their families, abusing power, and fanning the flames of ethnic and religious bigotry.
For the first time, a credible political opposition could conceivably end Umno's stranglehold on power in the multi-ethnic country, where Christians form 9.2 per cent of the 28-million population.
As the election race intensifies, the campaign is becoming dirty. This week churches were particularly incensed by the latest slur on their faith. Pro-Government election billboards plastered prominent pictures of churches with a message in the Malay language declaring: "Do you want to see your grandchildren praying in Allah's house? … [Not] if we allow Allah to be used by churches."
The blatant attempt to pit Muslims against Christians and resurrect Umno's ban on churches using the word 'Allah' to denote their God has outraged the Christian Federation of Malaysia. In an outspoken statement on Tuesday, its chairman, Rev Eu Hong Seng, demanded that the authorities "act swiftly to douse the sparks of such religious fear-mongering from catching fire once more".
He said: "These fears are real given the recent history of church burnings and threats to burn the Bible in the Malay language." A church was burnt and several others vandalised in 2009 when the High Court ruled that the Catholic Church had the right to publish the word 'Allah' to describe God. The Malay-Muslim Umno Government has appealed against the judicial decision. The opposition supports the right of Christians to use Allah in their liturgy.
Pictures of the billboards went viral on the Internet. This latest scare tactic to drive a wedge between races and religions comes amid a surge in election-related violence. Explosive devices have been planted near rally sites and there have been more than 2000 cases of arson. Motorcycle gangs of Malay Muslims roam towns and venues to intimidate people from attending opposition rallies.
The print and television media, overwhelmingly controlled by Umno or its supporters, has blacked out positive news coverage of the opposition. The latter has also been refused advertising slots in print, the national radio and television stations and cable TV. Its campaign has focused on the digital media – Twitter, Facebook, You Tube, blogs and Google (which has set up a special Malaysian election page) – to get its message across to the nation.
Despite widely reported flagrant abuses of Government largesse in buying votes by giving cash hand-outs and inflating electoral lists with migrant voters who have been given citizenship in lieu of their ballots, growing numbers of people are flocking to opposition rallies.
Into this mix the churches have found common cause with civil society movements demanding clean and fair elections. In an appeal to his flock, the Catholic Bishop of Penang, Sebastian Francis, said: "The upcoming 13th General Election is critical and important for the growth of the democratic structure in Malaysia … Therefore, I join all groups, movements and organisations, whether political, social or religious, to speak up for a free, just and fair election."
The Council of Churches of Malaysia (CCM) meanwhile issued a booklet titled Mobilising Prayer for General Elections 2013, calling on all churches in Malaysia to mobilise prayer for the "spiritual reset of the nation".
The comprehensive 60-page template lists phases of prayer – from nomination day to eve of polling, polling day to counting of votes, and for the setting up of a stable Federal Cabinet and state governments. Prayer vigils and prayer chains to pass the 'prayer baton' around the clock are currently being held.
The booklet also offers practical information for voters to locate polling booths, to use indelible ink, to not allow polling clerks to stain or smudge one's ballot paper, and to volunteer as election observers. Voters with smartphones are encouraged to shoot videos and pictures in monitoring the fairness of the electoral procedure.
In a separate media campaign, the Catholic Research Council together with the CCM uploaded a video on YouTube reminding viewers "to reflect on their roles as Christian Malaysians and vote for a country whose leaders are honest and uncorrupted, where none is exploited, and for liberty and religious freedom".
Such action by Malaysian churches is unprecedented. Of concern to the churches and many voters is the spectre of May 13, 1969, when racial riots broke out after the Umno Government lost control of key constituencies including the capital Kuala Lumpur. In response to fears of a violent backlash if the Umno Government loses overall power this Sunday, the churches ask worshippers "to beseech God to stop any attempt to stir up rioting, and that the powers of darkness will have no freedom to advance the cause of evil, injustice and extremism".
2. Free Malaysia Today (https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com)
Refsa chooses transformation, 4 May 2013
FMT LETTER: From Teh Chi-Chang, via e-mail
Tomorrow, Malaysians go to the polls. For the first time in our history, in the 56 years since Merdeka, we have a real choice in choosing who to grant the privilege of governing us.Which coalition will you choose? The incumbent Barisan Nasional (BN), which is the only federal government that all of us have known so far? Or the young upstart Pakatan Rakyat?
We at Research for Social Advancement (Refsa) have made our choice.We choose transformation.We choose Pakatan Rakyat.
Pakatan has transformed race relations. Malaysians of all races gather congenially under the PAS moon and DAP rocket. A Malaysian-Chinese flying the PAS flag, or a Malay waving the DAP rocket symbol, would have been an unimaginable sight as recently as February 2008. Pakatan leaders have transformed the prisms by which we view each other, and led Malaysians from narrow communal siloes to broader, harmonious relations.
Pakatan has transformed state governments. The federal Auditor-General has given Penang top marks for being the best financially-managed state; and the RM1.2b cash savings in Selangor are the highest in 28 years. Pakatan state governments were the first to give direct welfare aid to Malaysians: for example, the Senior Citizen Appreciation Programme in Penang and the TAWAS programme in Selangor. Pakatan has demonstrated that it is possible to be financially responsible and populist at the same time.
Pakatan has proven that it can transform Malaysia for the better, in contrast to the ‘transformation’ that (caretaker) prime minister Najib uses as a smoke-screen to hide business-as-usual shenanigans. Even BN supporters seem to tacitly agree. “What is the alternative?” is their common response when asked why they support the dacing. They do not extol the virtues of Najib or of the BN. Instead, they imply the alternative is worse.
Indeed, a key thrust of the BN election campaign is fear mongering and cultivating mistrust and divisiveness. Malays are warned that the DAP will install a Chinese-Christian prime minister who will threaten their interests; the Chinese are presented with the spectre of PAS-instigated hudud law and everyone is cautioned that “Najib sees dire consequences for markets if Pakatan wins”.
The mainstream media BN propaganda machine conveniently disregards the contradiction and inherent implausibility of a Chinese-Christian prime minister making Christianity the official religion and imposing hudud law. That such double falsehoods have traction with Malaysians is testimony to the triumph of successive BN federal governments in cultivating mistrust among us and crippling our education system. Did you know: 15% of our schools do not have access to something as basic as clean water?
It is depressing to find the incumbent government so insipid and insecure that it must resort to oxymoronic negativities in its election campaign. Perhaps Pakatan is so strong that the old men at BN cannot find real, solid, reasonable themes to support their case.
True, Pakatan chief Anwar Ibrahim has issues. But unlike Najib, who is “BN”s best hope”, Pakatan has a depth and breadth of talent. Experienced stalwarts like Tok Guru Nik Aziz and Lim Kit Siang have inspired a profusion of younger leaders who are set to take Malaysia forward. Just to name a few: Lim Guan Eng, Mat Sabu, Tony Pua, Husam Musa, Dr Dzul, Teresa Kok, Salahuddin Ayub, Nurul Izzah, Liew Chin Tong, Hannah Yeoh, Fuziah Salleh and Rafizi Ramli.
True, there is infighting within Pakatan, but that can also be interpreted as a vigorous exchange among equals. Unlike domineering Umno, Pakatan is a genuine coalition of 3 equal parties, each with their own strong personalities, and the venting of different views is vital for political revitalisation. So there will be arguments and there will be squabbles before a consensus is reached – just like in any family.
True, there are party hoppers and frogs, but these are the exception, not the norm. Extremists such as Hassan Ali, Ibrahim Ali and Zulkifli Nordin were expelled (and found homes within the BN). Top Pakatan leaders are selfless and willing to sacrifice their political careers for their parties. Consider PAS vice-presidents Husam Musa and Salahudin Ayob, who have left their safe, comfortable home seats to pursue the Pakatan cause in the BN strongholds of Putrajaya and Pulai, Johor, where Umno was born.
Refsa chooses Pakatan for transformation, harmony, prosperity and stability in action. We reject the deceptive rhetoric proffered by the BN and disseminated by its formidable propaganda machine. To those who prize ‘neutrality’, we say being neutral is also making a choice, albeit passively.
Having made our choice, i n the coming days, we shall be publishing infographics and other material illustrating and explaining our position. As always, we shall work on relevant facts and sparkling analysis, and as always, we welcome constructive discourse. No lies for us – we are confident the truth will prevail.
The writer is executive director of Refsa, a not-for-profit research institute providing relevant and reliable information and analyses on social, economic and political issues affecting Malaysians.
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