Berita NECF Newletters

US Church Says Sorry to Henry Ramaya

World Revival Church, Kansas City in USA (WRC), has apologised to Rev. Dr Henry Ramaya for misquoting him in their report, "Outpouring Touches Leaders in Singapore and Malaysia."

Rev. Ramaya was purported to have made highly sensitive remarks about religious conversion in Malaysia at a revival meeting held late last year in his church, Grace Community Centre, Petaling Jaya. According to the report, he said: "This is a critical hour for our nation. Right now, three states in Malaysia have passed laws forbidding Muslims from converting to Christianity. If they convert, they will be beheaded."

The article also quoted him as saying "Malaysian government officials could put the law into effect with the stroke of a pen." Rev. Ramaya had denied making the statements and sought clarification from Pastor Steve Gray, who was the speaker at the meeting and is the Senior Pastor of WRC. But the report was written by a member of his team, Leilani Haywood, who was also at the revival meeting. The article was circulated through e-mail and published in at least two international Christian magazines, the International Revival Network and Religion Today.

In its statement of apology, Haywood said: "…please accept my deepest apologies for the inaccuracies…I should have verified this information with you before publishing it."

The purported statements created anxiety among local readers who had read the report in the magazines. The NECF Malaysia office received numerous phone calls from concerned church leaders and pastors.

For the record, the State Administration of Muslim Law Enactments of Sabah, Melaka, Kelantan and Perlis, have imposed an apostasy law which carries a detention of up to two years (one year in an Aqidah Rehabilitation Centre) or RM3,000 fine or both on Muslims attempting to change their aqidah (faith) to become non-Muslims. There is no mention of beheading of apostates in the State legislations except in Kelantan where the Hudud laws can be applied and prescription exists for death penalty for apostasy. This enactment is applicable to Muslims converting to any faith and not just Christianity alone. Also, any amendment to the Federal Constitution requires a two-thirds majority vote in the Parliament. Government officials cannot make any amendments "at the stroke of the pen."

Responding to this issue, NECF Malaysia Secretary-General Rev. Wong Kim Kong cautioned writers to be extremely careful in their reports, especially on matters concerning the government and religious practices. Inaccurate reports could put the Church in a bad light within the community and cause tension between the church and government.

"Of late, the relationship of religious groups with the Government has been on a progressively positive note and it has to be further cemented for the benefit of our communities," he advised.



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