In Christ Alone

Lyrics by Stuart Townend. Music: Keith Getty.

In Christ alone my hope is found,

He is my light, my strength, my song;

This cornerstone, this solid ground,

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.

What heights of love, what depths of peace,

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!

My Comforter, my All in All,

Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone, who took on flesh,

Fullness of God in helpless babe,

This gift of love and righteousness,

Scorned by the ones He came to save.

Till on that cross as Jesus died,

The wrath of God is satisfied;

For every sin on Him was laid,

Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay,

Light of the world by darkness slain;

Then bursting forth in glorious Day,

Up from the grave he rose again!

And as He stands in victory,

Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,

For I am His and He is mine --

Brought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,

This is the power of Christ in me;

From life's first cry to final breath,

Jesus commands my destiny.

No power of hell, no scheme of man,

Can ever pluck me from His hand;

Till He returns or calls me home,

Here in the power of Christ I'll stand!

"Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death — even death on a cross." Philippians 2: 6-8

Ambiga stopped from entering Sarawak

Published by Free Malaysia Today on 15 April 2011. By Tashny Sukumaran.

KUALA LUMPUR: Bersih 2.0 chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan was today barred from entering Sarawak, on the eve of the state election. This is the fourth such incident in the past two weeks.

Ambiga, a former Bar Council president, landed in Kuching at about 9am, but was told she could not proceed.

She said that she had been informed she had been barred following orders from Chief Minister Taib Mahmud’s office.

No further reason was given.

“I told the authorities that under Section 67 of the Immigration Act, I should be allowed to enter if there were legitimate political reasons to do so. They told me that they didn’t know anything about it.”

Ambiga described the treatment of activists as “appalling”, questioning why the state government did not see fit to allow them entrance.

“We as Malaysians should be allowed entrance to the other states of our own nation. I’m anxious to find out what they are trying to hide by doing this.”

Under the Malaysia Agreement, Sarawak has the power to bar anyone from entering the state, including citizens from Peninsular Malaysia.

Last Friday, political activist and academic Wong Chin Huat was sent back to Kuala Lumpur.

Prior to that on April 3, independent NCR land rights activist Steven Ng was also stopped from entering Sarawak.

The on April 13, Malaysian Civil Liberties Movement (MCLM) president Haris Ibrahim was also barred from entering Sarawak.

The Barisan Nasional-ruled state is believed to have stopped these activists from entering Sarawak in order to prevent them from campaigning. Polling starts tomorrow.

The Pakatan Rakyat opposition coalition – PKR, DAP and PAS – is confident of doing well in the 10th state election as the partners have been relentlessly harping on the alleged corruption of Taib and his government.

Church group says not fighting just for Alkitab but rights of all

Published by The Malaysian Insider.

By Shannon Teoh

Apr 14, 2011

PETALING JAYA, April 14 — The Council of Churches of Malaysia (CCM) said last night that the church is not merely making a stand in the Alkitab row but it is also concerned for the rights of all Malaysians.

Speaking at a prayer meeting here, its general-secretary Rev Dr Hermen Shastri said that the position of the church should not be viewed as “us versus them” but for the “full expression of every human being to seek, live and practise the faith inspired by their holy books.”

“The elections are not being used just to push on the Alkitab issue but on all other aspects such as oppression, greed, poverty and even the damage to our natural environment,” he told The Malaysian Insider later.

Faced with an unyielding Christian community days ahead of a crucial state poll in Sarawak, the government offered early this month a 10-point solution to the Alkitab impasse which will allow the Bible to be freely distributed across the country in all languages.

The Cabinet offered a new list of suggestions to put an end to the month-long stand-off over 35,000 Alkitab seized by the Home Ministry in a bid to head off a possible backlash against the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) during Saturday’s vote by Christians who make up half the population in Sarawak.

However, it insisted that Malay-language bibles in the peninsula be marked with a cross and “Christian Publication” on the front cover.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak also gave his assurance yesterday that his administration would never again impound bibles.

But Muslim groups and leaders have accused the government of capitulating to pressure from Christians and failing to uphold Islamic laws and dignity.

The Control and Restriction of the Propagation of Non-Islamic Religions Enactment bars non-Muslims from using Allah to refer to God as is done in the Alkitab.

The law applies in all states besides Sabah, Sarawak, Penang and the federal territories.

A CCM Youth leader, Yoshua Chua, also told about 50 Christians who attended the night service that standing up for “our brothers in Sabah and Sarawak” to use the Alkitab and the word Allah to refer to God was “the least we can do.”

“The church should remain non-partisan but we cannot ignore the plight of the oppressed. We cannot shut our eyes or turn a deaf ear to what is happening in society,” he said.

Shastri also touched on the “unimaginable devastation” of the forests in Sarawak by “those in power” who were oppressing the poor.

“When necessary for the good of society, we will exert the influence that God wills for his church,” he said.

The CCM is one of three organisations representing different Christian denominations that make up the Christian Federation of Malaysia, an umbrella body for over 90 per cent of churches in the country.

Konvensyen Parti Keadilan Negeri Johor

Dialogue: The Imam and the Pastor

A Bar Council initiative facilitated by Dr Hamidah Marican (SIS Malaysia) and Patricia Nunis (HarmonyWorks Sdn. Bhd.)

Date: 9 April 2011
Venue: Bar Council Auditorium (1st Floor)
Time: 9 am to 4 pm

MyConstitution Finale Launch: Rock 4 Rights!

Since the first launch of the MyConstitution Campaign on 13 Nov 2009, the Bar Council Constitutional Law Committee (“BCCLC”) has launched seven more phases periodically. Each launch was accompanied by a specific theme inspired by the Federal Constitution, and was supplemented by its very own Rakyat Guide booklet and Rakyat Service Advertisement.

On 2 Apr 2011 (Saturday), BCCLC will launch its 9th and final phase at Fort Cornwallis, Penang, at 12 noon. The launch will be officiated by YB Prof Dr P Ramasamy, Deputy Chief Minister II of Penang.

In addition to the 9th Rakyat Guide booklet and Rakyat Service Advertisement on “Elections and Democracy”, BCCLC has also produced a music album entitled “Radio Demokratika”*. The album contains 12 original songs, written and performed by 12 local independent bands. Each song resonates a message on human rights, fundamental liberties or democracy.

Therefore, it should come as no surprise that BCCLC is organising a concert and carnival to celebrate the final phase of the MyConstitution Campaign. Some of the bands featured in the album will perform at the concert.

Many have asked, “Why a concert? What does it have to do with Bar Council?”

The reasons are:

• better outreach to youths between the ages of 18 and 35 on the concept of elections and democracy;

• improved awareness amongst local artists and youths on the concept of elections and democracy;

• increased participation of youths in the Malaysian political process through the conduct of voter registration drive during the concert; and

• greater media coverage and publicity for the MyConstitution Campaign.

Admission is free. Please come and join BCCLC for its final phase of the MyConstitution Campaign. It will be a fun, stimulating and uniquely refreshing experience. For more information, refer to the attached flyer.

Please contact Lim Ka Ea by telephone at 03-2231 7103 or 03-2031 3003 ext 127, or by email at kaea@malaysianbar.org.my, should you have any queries.

See you all there!

Thank you.

Edmund Bon Tai Soon
Chairperson
Bar Council Constitutional Law Committee

Sejak pelancaran sulung Kempen PerlembagaanKu pada 13 Nov 2009, Jawatankuasa Undang-Undang Perlembagaan Majlis Peguam (“BCCLC”) telah melancarkan tujuh lagi fasa secara berperingkat-peringkat. Setiap fasa mempunyai tema khas yang diilhamkan daripada Perlembagaan Persekutuan dan dilengkapi dengan Buku Panduan Rakyat dan Pesanan Khidmat Rakyat.

Pada 2 Apr 2011 (Sabtu), BCCLC akan melancarkan fasa ke-9 dan terakhir bertempat di Fort Cornwallis, Pulau Pinang, pada 12 tengah hari. Acara ini akan dirasmikan oleh Timbalan Ketua Menteri II Pulau Pinang, YB Prof Dr P Ramasamy.

Disamping Buku Panduan Rakyat dan Pesanan Khidmat Rakyat ke-9 yang bertemakan “Pilihan Raya dan Demokrasi”, BCCLC juga telah menghasilkan album muzik yang bertajuk “Radio Demokratika”. Album ini mengandungi 12 lagu-lagu hasil karya asal yang dipersembahkan oleh 12 kumpulan muzik bebas tempatan. Setiap lagu membawa mesej hak-hak asasi manusia, kebebasan asasi atau demokrasi.

Maka, tidak menghairankan yang BCCLC akan menganjurkan sebuah konsert dan karnival untuk meraikan fasa terakhir Kempen PerlembagaanKu. Beberapa kumpulan muzik yang telah menyumbangkan lagu untuk album ini akan membuat persembahan secara langsung.

Ramai yang bertanya, “Kenapa konsert? Apa kaitan konsert dan Majlis Peguam?”

Sebab-sebabnya ialah:

• lebih mudah mendekati belia dalam lingkungan umur 18 ke 35 tahun untuk mendedahkan mereka kepada konsep pilihan raya dan demokrasi;
• menambahkan kesedaran tentang konsep pilihan raya dan demokrasi di kalangan pemuzik tempatan dan belia;
• meningkatkan jumlah penyertaan belia dalam proses politik Malaysia dengan mendorong mereka untuk mendaftar sebagai pengundi ketika konsert berlansung; dan
• liputan media dan publisiti yang meluas untuk Kempen PerlembagaanKu.

Penyertaan adalah percuma. Marilah bersama-sama BCCLC menjayakan fasa terakhir Kempen PerlembagaanKu. Ia pasti menjadi satu acara yang menyeronokkan, disamping merangsang minda dan memberi pengalaman unik. Untuk maklumat lanjut, sila rujuk kepada risalah yang dilampirkan.

Sila hubungi Lim Ka Ea melalui telefon di 03-2231 7103 atau 03-2031 3003 sambungan 127, atau melalui e-mel di kaea@malaysianbar.org.my untuk sebarang pertanyaan.

Jumpa anda disana!

Terima kasih.

Edmund Bon Tai Soon
Pengerusi
Jawatankuasa Undang-Undang Perlembagaan Majlis Peguam

Pray for Sarawak

The NECF Prayer Commission is mobilizing churches and intercessors to cover Sarawak in prayer in preparation for their coming State Elections. We would like to stand together with our Sarawakian brethrens in prayer as they face their State Elections. We believe through united prayer, we can alter the course of a people. There are 31 Parliamentary Seats and 71 State Seats in Sarawak. We hope to cover every seat in prayer.

To participate in this initiative, kindly fill and submit theonline registration form with the selected seats you wish to pray for. In the mean time, you can start praying. Further updates, info and prayer alerts will be sent once we have received your participation.

If you have any feedback please provide them here.

NECF Prayer Commission