Malaysia Prime Minister Najib's Pious Platitudes

Written by  Bob Teoh. Original title: "Christmas card to the Prime Minister of Malaysia". Published by Malaysia Chronicle on 25 December 2012.

Yuletide greetings of peace, love, and blessings.

Notwithstanding the crucifix controversy during the Christmas reception for you by the Christian community last year, you have decided to join their celebrations this year again. This reflects boldness and courage on your part, Sir.

This augurs well for peace and harmony in the country. It goes without saying that we in Malaysia, continue to enjoy good inter-faith relations despite efforts of incendiary bigots in our midst to destroy it. Alhamdulillah, such heinous acts are but in vain as the Lord God Almighty is indeed sovereign over our beloved homeland. Hallelujah.

You fondly recall your meeting with Pope Benedict XVI last year, and that Malaysia has formally established diplomatic relations with the Vatican City. As pointed out by you, “another step forward came last week as the government announced that it will ensure that any Malaysian Christian who wishes to travel to Jerusalem for a pilgrimage is able to do so.” This reflects the gentle face of Islam surely.

You also pointed out in your Christmas blog, “… since becoming Prime Minister I have placed a lot of emphasis on the unifying concepts of 1Malaysia and the Global Movement of the Moderates. These concepts are partly about establishing a dialogue, which is important, but I am also determined that they lead to real action too.”

I am also encouraged that you would, “…have the pleasure of taking part in a tea party with members of the Christian community to mark Christmas and listen to their views.”

Unfortunately, Sir, I would not be at the Christmas reception today as I am away from the country. Allow me to air my views by way of this Christmas card to you and I trust I will have your ear. Surely you are unlike the guy from Pahang who wants to cut off his ears and throw them into the Pahang River, probably polluting it in the process. Silly man, that one.

The Orang Asli Slapping Case – Kelantan

It’s already over two months since a teacher at SK Bihai near Gua Musang in Kelantan had allegedly slapped four Orang Asli non-Muslim students, aged between 12 and 14, on 23 October because they had failed to recite the Muslim doa over lunch at their school. They may be non-Muslims but they this is not the way to treat bumiputras like them. Sir, your 1Malaysia unifying concepts compels you to act with urgency. Indeed, Islam must be seen as a tolerant religion.

Conversion to Islam of an under-age Iban schoolboy - Sarawak

You may not know it yet Prime Minister but a top Iban Catholic student of Kolej Datu Patinggi Abang Haji Abdillah or the prestigious residential Mara junior college in Kuching, was recently converted to Islam. This occurred just before his SPM exams without his parents’ knowledge or permission. He comes from a very remote village.

This is not an isolated case as church leaders there will tell you that this has been going on for a very long time as part of the Umno-BN Islamisation strategy in Sarawak and Sabah. Sir, you have two options. This first is to kill the rumour if indeed it turns out to be one. This does not take much effort or time to determine this matter one way or another.

If indeed the conversion did take place, then the school need to explain how an under-age conversion can be allowed to take in its premises without his parents’ consent or knowledge.

There are no two ways about it, Sir. You have to act fast and quick to assure the Christian community especially that of the Malay speaking bumiputra Christians of Sarawak and Sabah that your 1Malaysia is exactly what it means. No backdoor conversion, please.

Under-age conversion of four Christian students in FT Labuan

Recently, four under-age bumiputra Christian students, one Catholic and three Protestants, at a government residential school in the Federal Territory of Labuan island were converted to Islam. The conversion allegedly took place during a school activity. Local pastors have taken the matter up to the school but it had denied the activity was organised by the school.

A comprehensive report has been compiled by church leaders there to be handed to the Sabah state government. But Labuan is a Federal Territory and as Jakim, or the Islamic Development Department, is parked under your nose in the Prime Minister’s Office, it is within your power to intervene and act immediately to resolve the dispute without damaging religious harmony further. All you need to do is ask to see the voluminous report. And act on it. We have had enough of cow stealing but in this case, no more stealing sheep from the Good Shepherd please.

MyKad Islamisation of bumiputra Christians

Sir, you are already familiar with this case as it was discussed by your Cabinet just recently. Indeed, you had asked two Christian Cabinet ministers, one from Sabah and the other from Sarawak, to act on the complaint immediately. But what has happened? Nothing as usual.

Does this mean that the National Registration Department can ignore Cabinet directives? The complaint is that bumiputra Christians in Sabah (and Sarawak) have been classified by the NRD as Muslims automatically when issuing them their MyKad simply on the basis that they have “bin” and “binti” in their names.  The NRD has refused to rectify their errors. Instead it has asked complainants to go to the Syariah courts to get an order saying that they are Christians and indeed not Muslims. How more ludicrous can your administration get? Sir, if you mean what you say, then give the two federal minsters a kick in their butts and while at it make sure one lands on the bum of the NRD chief too. Can be done Sir, just execute the famous Bruce Lee one-leg-three- kicks.

The Allah word and the Alkitab

It has been three long years since the Kuala Lumpur High Court ruled on 31 Jan 2009 in favour of  Herald, the Catholic Weekly, that even though Islam is the religion of the Federation, this does not empower the government to prohibit the use of the word Allah by others. It also found that the word Allah was not exclusive to Muslims.

But your administration has appealed against it. The Court of Appeal is out on a stroll and not in any hurry to hear it. This is a travesty of justice. As Prime Minster you should not allow a useless judicial traffic cop to erect illegal road blocks to justice. The Titular Roman Catholic Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur was the one who sued your administration and won. I wonder what you will say to him when you meet him at today’s tea party?

In closing, dear Prime Minister, my hope and prayer is that Umno’s Islamisation agenda will reflect moderation and not turn out to be worse than PAS’s proposed hudud as what your friends in MCA are claiming.

Link: 

http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=45627:christmas-card-to-the-prime-minister-of-malaysia&Itemid=2

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http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/217426?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Catholic Bishop Dr Paul Tan Chee Ing described Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's remarks at a hi-tea hosted by the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) yesterday as "pious platitudes we are used to hearing on these occasions".

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/mobile/malaysia/article/i-am-pm-for-all-najib-tells-christians
Datuk Seri Najib Razak today reassured the Christian community in Malaysia that his government has not forgotten them despite growing feelings that they are being sidelined. The prime minister appeared to placate the community by praising the contributions of Christians in Malaysia, especially the role played by mission schools in raising the bar in education.

“I do not want to be a prime minister for only a particular section of the community. I’m a prime minister for all Malaysians, and I’ve said that repeatedly,” Najib reminded a Christian crowd at a Christmas party here. Najib cited the recent lift of a ban for Christian pilgrimage to Jerusalem as proof that the government recognises Christians as essential to the nation. “I believe that a God-fearing Christian, with strong values, would be good for Malaysia,” he added. Najib also called for Christian leaders to continue engaging in dialogue and to engage the government constructively.

The Birth of Jesus

Luke 2: 1-7 The Birth of Jesus

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

John 14: 1-4 Jesus Comforts His Disciples

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”

John 15: 18-25 The World Hates the Disciples

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father as well. If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.'

Season of goodwill

By The Sultanah of Johor RAJA ZARITH IDRIS. Published by The StarOnline on 9 January 2011.

DURING the days before Christmas last year, I wished my friends who were celebrating it “Merry Christmas” in much the same way they would wish me “Selamat Hari Raya” or “Happy Eid”.

I find it rather sad that such a simple greeting – one which I grew up with and which I have never regarded as something that would compromise or de-value my own faith – is now regarded as something so religiously incorrect for us Malaysian Muslims.

When I was at boarding school in England, I had to go to church every Sunday because it was part of the rules. My father advised me to consider it as part of my “education” and he had no doubt that the experience would strengthen rather than weaken my own faith.

I was able to see the similarities and differences between Christianity and Islam. I learned more than the average Malaysian Muslim would about Christianity. I learnt that just as we Muslims categorise ourselves according to the four different schools of thoughts of the four Imams (Imam Malik, Imam Al Shafi, Imam Abu Hanifa and Imam Ahmad Abn Hambal) and are either Sunnis or Shias, so Christians too are divided into different sects or churches.

Going to church did not make me less of a Muslim when I was a young girl, and neither does saying “Merry Christmas” make me less of a Muslim now. My faith has not been shaken just because I wished some friends a time of joy with their families. Neither will I suddenly suffer from amnesia and forget what my religion is.

What I do not wish to forget, however, is that there are good, kind people who are not of the same faith as me.

As Harun Yahya, the Turkish writer (he was selected last year as one of the 500 most influential Muslims in the world by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre of Jordan) noted: “Islam is a religion of peace, love and tolerance.

Today, however, some circles have been presenting a false image of Islam, as if there were conflict between Islam and the adherents of the two other monotheistic religions. Yet Islam’s view of Jews and Christians, who are named ‘the People of the Book’ in the Quran, is very friendly and tolerant.

“This attitude towards the People of the Book developed during the years of the birth of Islam. At that time, Muslims were a minority, struggling to protect their faith and suffering oppression and torture from the pagans of the city of Mecca. Due to this persecution, some Muslims decided to flee Mecca and shelter in a safe country with a just ruler. The Prophet Muhammad told them to take refuge with King Negus, the Christian king of Ethiopia. The Muslims who followed this advice found a very fair administration that embraced them with love and respect when they went to Ethiopia. King Negus refused the demands of the pagan messengers who asked him to surrender the Muslims to them, and announced that Muslims could live freely in his country.

“Such attitudes of Christian people that are based on the concepts of compassion, mercy, modesty and justice, constitute a fact that God has pointed out in the Quran.”

I do not wish to be a self-centred Muslim who expects friends of other faiths to wish me Selamat Hari Raya or, for those who are not Malaysians and therefore do not know about Hari Raya, a Happy Eid and yet do not return their goodwill when it is Christmas, Chinese New Year, Deepavali or Vesak Day.

Every year, friends who are Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs or those without any faith come to our home to celebrate Hari Raya with us. They do so with sincerity and as a mark of respect for one of the most important days in the Muslim calendar. Why should we not reciprocate their kindness, show them the same mark of respect for their religion and wish them the same joy on their holy days of celebration?

An Islamic scholar and lecturer also reminded me that as Muslims we must remember the importance of both the five Pillars of Islam and in the six Pillars of Iman (Faith), which are:

> Belief in Allah;

> Belief in the angels;

> Belief in the revealed Books (which include the Bible, the Torah and the Holy Quran);

> Belief in the Prophets (May Peace be Upon Them);

> Belief in the Resurrection and the events of Kiamah, the Day of Judgement; and

> Belief in the predestination (Qada’ and Qadar) by Allah in all things.

The prophets include not just Muhammad (May Peace Be Upon Him) as the last prophet and as the Messenger of Islam, but also in the 24 earlier ones who are mentioned in both the Bible and the Quran. Four of them are Ibrahim (Abraham), Musa (Moses), Daud (David), and Isa (Jesus).

So, if Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Isa (Jesus), a prophet respected and revered in Islam, is it so wrong to wish a blessed day for those who celebrate it?

We are now in the second decade of the 21st century. Surely, we should, now more than ever, be far more enlightened at a time when information of any sort and of all kinds are so readily available to us.

What is most important is that we regard one another as fellow citizens and treat each other with respect, regardless of our race or religion.

> The writer is Royal Fellow, School of Language Studies and Linguistics, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), and holds a BA (Honours) degree in Chinese Studies, University of Oxford.

Link: 

http://thestar.com.my/columnists/story.asp?file=/2011/1/9/columnists/mindmatters/7762860&sec=Mind

Johor Orang Asli to get Compensation over Eviction

Published by The Malaysian Insider on 7 August 2012.

The Johor government will compensate the Orang Asli of Orang Selat descent over eviction from their land in Stulang Laut and demolition of their chapel nine years ago.

This follows the withdrawal of an appeal by the Johor Land and Mines Department represented by state legal adviser Datuk Abdul Rahman Putra against the decision of the Johor Baru High Court which had in 2010 awarded compensation to 50 Orang Asli which was to be assessed by the High Court.

The High Court had ruled that the eviction of Khalip Bachik Kelah Lah and 49 others from their land by the authorities was unlawful and the demolition of the chapel was an act of trespass. 

A three-member Court of Appeal panel led by Datuk Seri Abu Samah Nordin struck out the appeal and awarded RM5,000 in costs to the Orang Asli. Justices Datuk Clement Allan Skinner and Datuk Aziah Ali were the other two judges presiding on the panel.

Steven Thiru representing the Orang Asli said that following the withdrawal of the appeal the High Court’s decision stood. He said the next move was to go back to the High Court for assessment of damages to determine the amount of compensation.

Khalip and others are of Orang Asli Laut descent and members of the Orang Asli Christian congregation. They were originally residents of Kampung Orang Asli Stulang Laut. They received a directive from the Johor Baru City Council in 1993 to relocate to Kampung Orang Asli Kuala Masai on the grounds that the site they occupied was earmarked for development. 

Khalip and Kelah claimed that the Orang Asli Affairs Department (JHEOA) director-general had given them an assurance that they could build a place of worship at the new settlement and had done so upon relocation in 2003.

In 2005, 10 days before Christmas the chapel was demolished when the community was busy making preparations for the celebration.

In their civil suit filed in December 2008 the Orang Asli had named as defendants the state Land and Mines Department director Johor Baru City Council and JHEOA. However the city council and JHEOA chose not to participate in the proceedings in the High Court. The city council did not file affidavits in defence despite reminders and then failed to enter an appearance when the hearing dates were fixed. On September 22, 2010 the Johor Baru High Court ruled in favour of the Orang Asli and ordered the state Land and Mines Department director and city council to pay compensation to the Orang Asli.

Read more here: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/johor-orang-asli-to-get-compensation-over-eviction/

For Malaysian Christians, an Anxious Holiday Season

By LIZ GOOCH. Published by The New York Times on 12 December 2011.

KUALA LUMPUR — Beneath windows framed with forest-green wreaths studded with red and gold baubles, worshipers at St. Mary’s Anglican Cathedral, one of the oldest churches in Malaysia, knelt and clasped their hands in prayer. As part of the Advent service, they celebrated a baptism and sang their way through a series of hymns including “Child in the Manger.”

But their voices masked the unease many Christians in Malaysia are feeling this season, following accusations that they are trying to “Christianize” this Muslim-majority country by converting Muslims, which is illegal.

“It’s unfortunate that the authorities don’t take the relevant action against those making such wild allegations,” said Bishop Jason Selvaraj, who led the service at St. Mary’s. “We are upset about that. There’s a sense of justice is not done. We have not done anything wrong.”

The Malaysian Constitution both guarantees freedom of religion and designates Islam as the official religion — ethnic Malays are automatically considered Muslims. While Muslims are free to proselytize to others, most states have laws that prohibit members of other religions from proselytizing to Muslims. In Selangor State, the penalties can include a year’s imprisonment and a fine of up to 10,000 ringgit, or almost $3,200.

While the central government’s Department of Islamic Development says no one has ever been formally charged with trying to convert Muslims, recent statements by Muslim politicians and groups promoting Islam have left many Christians, who make up just 9 percent of the population, feeling victimized. Many are convinced that they are being used as political pawns to win support among Muslim voters in advance of the next general election, widely expected to be held next year.

“I think Christians are generally feeling that there is kind of a Christian-bashing going on,” said the Rev. Thomas Philips, a Syrian Orthodox priest and vice president of the Council of Churches of Malaysia, a group that represents Protestant and Orthodox churches.

While Christians, for the most part, work and live peacefully alongside Muslims in Malaysia, several incidents have heightened tensions in recent years, including the firebombing of churches in 2010.

The latest round of religious tensions was set off in August, when Selangor religious officials interrupted a church dinner outside of Kuala Lumpur, saying they had information that these Christians were proselytizing to Muslims.

Although the sultan of Selangor eventually concluded that there was “insufficient” evidence to take further legal action, Muslim politicians and leaders of Himpun, a new organization that has pledged to protect Islam, have continued to charge that there is a plot by some opposition political parties and Christian organizations to “Christianize” the country.

On Nov. 29, Ahmad Maslan, a deputy minister from the United Malays National Organization, or UMNO, the dominant party in the governing coalition, asserted that Islam would be “lost” if the opposition gained seats in the next election, according to a report by The Malaysian Insider, a news Web site.

“Say goodbye to Islam, because they are agents of Christianization,” he said, referring to the Democratic Action Party, a member of the opposition alliance.

The governing coalition, which has led Malaysia since independence from Britain in 1957, suffered its biggest loss in the 2008 elections, losing its two-thirds parliamentary majority for the first time. Some analysts say UMNO is trying to play on religious sensitivities to win back support from Malay Muslims.

Meanwhile, Himpun is planning a series of rallies around the country to “save and protect” Islam. The group, which held a rally in Kuala Lumpur in October that attracted 5,000 people, complains that the government is not enforcing laws that prohibit trying to convert Muslims.

“If we have a law which is not enforced, then it’s a mockery on the part of the religious authorities,” said Mohammad Azmi Abdul Hamid, Himpun’s chairman.

Christian leaders deny that they are part of a plot to “Christianize” the country. They say recent comments about “Christianization” by UMNO members indicate that the party is trying to shore up its support among Muslims, its traditional support base, before the election.

“The present climate and mood is more political than anything else,” said the Rev. Lawrence Andrew, editor of The Herald, the Roman Catholic Church’s weekly newspaper in Kuala Lumpur. Father Philips, who is also vice president of the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism, said he believed that UMNO was seeking to portray itself as the “savior of Muslims.”

“They are thinking that it will unite the Muslims together, but I don’t think that any Malaysians buy it,” he said. “It’s a political game.”

Farish Ahmad Noor, a political science professor at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, agrees.

While Prime Minister Najib Razak has been seeking to present Malaysia as a moderate Muslim nation and has opened diplomatic relations with the Vatican and spearheaded a “1Malaysia” policy to promote national unity and inclusiveness, Mr. Farish said his efforts were being undermined by conservatives within his party who were trying to appeal to Muslims. These elements, he said, threatened to alienate non-Muslims affiliated with other parties in the governing coalition, which includes the Malaysian Chinese Association and the Malaysian Indian Congress.

“It may prove to be counterproductive in the long run,” Mr. Farish said.

“If this fringe in UMNO thinks this is the only way they can secure the Malay vote, they have to understand that the coalition as a whole has to secure the votes of as many Malaysians as they can, and that includes Christians.”

Mr. Farish said while groups like Himpun say they are independent, “in the minds of Malaysians they are seen as another front” for the governing coalition.

Ng Kam Weng, director of the Kairos Research Center, which studies issues related to Malaysian Christianity, said that UMNO politicians may also be trying to intimidate Christians who were becoming more politically active and playing a greater role in civil society groups.

He said churches were careful not to proselytize to Muslims precisely because this could provoke a “backlash from authorities.”

“I think if the Christian community is clear in its conscience that it has maintained its integrity in how it practices its faith, I suppose we trust in God that he will override human mischief,” he said.

Bishop Selvaraj said the recent controversies would not dampen celebrations at St. Mary’s in the days leading up to Christmas. He has discussed the allegations in his sermons and urged the congregation — Malaysians of Chinese and Indian ethnicity, Africans, Indonesians and Europeans — to pray for peace. He said he has been encouraged by messages of support from Muslim friends.

“The majority of Muslims are good people,” he said.