THE conflict between the United States and Iraq is neither a religious one nor a civilisation clash between the West and the East, and Malaysians must therefore guard against any exploitation of the issue by any political or religious parties, said NECF Malaysia Secretary-General Rev. Wong Kim Kong.

"Christians advocate peace and harmony, and they therefore, must make every effort to prevent war from taking place," he added when commenting on the US-Iraq conflict at an MCCBCHS press conference to announce the group’s support for the ‘Malaysians for Peace’ campaign.

(MCCBCHS is the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Sikhism of which CFM is a member. NECF is a member of CFM.)

In its press statement, MCCBCHS expressed its deep concern that the possible US action would bring destruction to innocent human lives, catastrophic impact on the environment and trigger a cycle of retaliatory measures. It denounced "any expression of injustice, oppression, underlying motives that lack good faith and actions propelled by personal or national vendetta and hidden agenda."

"Peace can only be attained when all parties have a will for it, work for it, achieve it and promote it in the fear of God," it said.

The council called for an amicable solution, and urged adherents of different faiths to seek God for His divine intervention.