Berita NECF Newletters

Close-door Dialogue with MCA

On November 16, 2007, the NECF Malaysia organized a close-door dialogue with the Wakil Rakyat from MCA at the NECF Conference Room. Over a hundred pastors and Christian leaders attended the session from 10.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. The objective of the dialogue was to allow the evangelical Christian community to voice their grievances and the other side to clarify their stand and explain the steps they have taken or are taking to resolve the problems.

Several issues were raised by the floor and responded to by the panel of Wakil Rakyat. At the end of the session, a memorandum was submitted to MCA

Summary of the Memorandum
Preamble
On behalf of the Evangelical Christian Community, the NECF Malaysia takes the opportunity to draw to the government’s attention our concerns and express our commitment to engaging in nation-building. We faithfully adhere to God’s mandate, that is, to seek the welfare of the country where we live, and pray to Him on her behalf, so as to achieve a Malaysia where diverse communities continue to live together in unity, peace and harmony

Our Stand
The NECF Malaysia:

  1. Acknowledges and recognizes that mutual enrichment and mutual respect for one another regardless of ethnicreligious background is crucial to sustain
    a harmonious pluralistic society.
  2. Believes that the platform for peaceful co-existence of various people groups is a democratic governance that values pluralism, defends the fundamental liberties as provided by the Federal Constitution, and upholds that “all persons are equal before the law and entitled to the equal protection of the law” (Article 8[1]).
  3. Upholds that Malaysia is a constitutional-monarchy with the Agong as head of State and where the Federal Constitution is the supreme law of theland.
  4. Objects to any notion of Malaysia being declared an “Islamic State”.
  5. Respects that Islam is the religion of Federation for ceremonial purposes, and all other religions can be practiced in peace and harmony.
  6. Is, however, concerned and saddened by the fact that all the above have not been fully reflected in our pluralistic society. Various incidents over the years represent a grave setback for a progressive and moderate society.

Our Concerns

  1. National unity is in jeopardy and democracy is in its apparent decline.
  2. In efforts to gain political mileage, statements made or actions taken by national leaders and certain wakil raykat have alarmingly set forth the basis for radical Islamization and deepening ethnic- religious tensions. While the MCA Youth’s responses have been laudable and encouraging, the non-Malay communal parties of the Barisan Nasional as a whole have, unfortunately, not shown their abilities and political will to defend the rights of their respective communities.
  3. Unresolved constitutional and legislative problems have demonstrated partiality and injustice, especially in cases involving both Muslim and non-Muslim parties. This violates the Rule of Law and undermines the supremacy of the Federal Constitution.
  4. The problem of setting up a generally accepted mechanism to determine the legal status of a person who has left Islam continues unabated. The communal parties of the Barisan Nasional have not been seen defending religious freedom of an individual nor making any effort to resolve the problems.
  5. The overzealousness of the State Religious Enforcement authorities relentlessly infringes the personal and family domain of the non-Muslim citizens. The increasing trend of moralpolicing according to Islamic tenet is alarming.
  6. Discriminatory actions of local authorities concerning places of worship.
  7. The use of certain Bahasa Malaysia words in Christian literatures.
  8. Despite the Prime Minister’s attempts to paint a moderate picture and a government that cares for all citizens regardless of ethnic-religious background, the use of inflammatory language at UMNO General Assembly has not been adequately curtailed.
  9. Malaysia is not an Islamic State. Our Constitution and a binding decision of the Supreme Court have rejected any such notion. Islam as the official religion does not make Malaysia an Islamic state. However, there have been irresponsible and reckless declarations by some quarters.

Conclusion
We sincerely hope that the government will be able to halt the above decline as we pledge to work together towards achieving a true national unity.

 

 



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