CFM Christmas 2008 Open House
Yang Amat Berhormat Dato' Seri Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi, Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah, Tan Sri-Tan Sri, Puan Sri, Puan Sri, Datuk-Datuk, Datin Datin.
Your Excellencies & Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Archbishop(s), Bishops and Heads of Churches,
Honored Guests,
Good Afternoon,
On behalf of the Christian Federation of Malaysia and the Christian community in Malaysia, I would like to wish our beloved Prime Minister, his dear wife, members of Cabinet, the Diplomatic corp, all heads of churches, and all honored guests,... a very Blessed Christmas!
We welcome you to our Christmas open house!
Christmas has always been a meaningful time and occasion for the Christian community. It marks the birth of the one whom we believe, to quote the Bible, is "the way, the truth and the life to God". We believe that it is to this end, Jesus Christ was born and we are grateful to have this occasion to celebrate and commemorate the birth of Jesus, as well as to thank our God for all that we are blessed with.
It is our prayer that this day will bring a sense of peace and fulfillment as well as blessings for all who celebrate this auspicious and special day.
As we celebrate Christmas, we are thankful for Malaysia.
The Christian community is indeed thankful to God for the unity among Malaysians as well as the progress and relative prosperity that our country and all people from different walks of life have experienced. This has come about due to the increasing focus of our government to ensure the welfare and well being of all Malaysians, and the efforts of everyone.
However, we recognize that there is still much to be done.
For many, the March 8 general elections is still fresh on our minds. Indeed it speaks of the vivid desire of the electorate for better government and governance and also a strong wish and hope for a united Malaysia for all people rather than one divided along communal lines.
The fact that we can gather together like this, this afternoon... is testimony that we are inching towards this goal of Bangsa Malaysia, and a Malaysia where there are equal opportunities for all. We want to continue to believe and hope that Bangsa Malaysia will not be an elusive dream but a glorious reality.
With the looming economic crisis, we want to assure the government that Christians have been praying for the well being of our nation – and that we are committed to helping the government and the people, irrespective of race and religion, to weather the coming global crisis.
We stand committed and fervent in Nation Building, and we the Christian community, pledge our cooperation and our resources.
We are thankful for the reduction in petrol price, in tandem with world oil prices. But food prices and prices of many other commodities are still maintained at the level of peak oil prices. The growing unemployment and the perception that crime is on the rise resulting in the feeling of insecurity, need to be addressed.
Amidst all these, the Christian community renews and pledges our commitment to foster greater peace and harmony, with all people in the country, and promises to work with the Government for a better Malaysia.
As we celebrate Christmas, we urge the government to continue to be sensitive and pro-active to the many needs and concerns of the general population. After the recent Bukit Antarabangsa landslide, a former victim of the earlier Highland Towers landside remarked, "after all the promises, it won't be long before the tractors and contractors start work again" – we must pause to ask why there is such cynicism in our country.
I was recently at the Sg Wang Plaza trying to flag down a taxi – at least 3 taxis won't take us unless we agreed to them not using the meters.
Obviously we have policies and mechanisms in place, but the strict enforcement of these is still lacking. The Christian community, today, hopes to work together with the Government, to see Malaysia a first world infrastructure with a first world mentality.
It is very encouraging to hear that your last mission before leaving office (The Star Thurs 18th Dec 2008), is to cool racial and religious tensions in the country.
Indeed a shrinking economy and the widening polarizations of the different communities are the biggest threats facing the country.
In your journey to finalize your last mission, may we suggest that the Government re-look at its restriction on the Alkitab.
Bahasa Malaysia is our national language. Therefore we continue to be perplexed by the classification of the Bahasa Malaysia Alkitab under section 22 of the ISA as a document "prejudicial to the national interest and security of the Federation". Though special exemption was made for the Alkitab to be used by Christians in churches, in this modern day and age, where almost anything can be accessed on the Internet, it is regrettable that our Holy Scriptures is still seen as "prejudicial to the security" of the country.
This is our wish list for Christmas... and we know these things will certainly ease tensions... and it will definitely have a positive impact on your legacy.
Last but not least, we will continue to pray for religious freedom for all.
25 – 30 years ago, it seemed strange when various religious groups started to use shop-houses for worship services. Today, we are experiencing the same malady but to a much greater degree. Churches in particular, now have to use industrial lots for places of worship.
This building, is testimony of the shortage of land designated as places of worship. Our prayer is that, as we are encouraged by the Government to promote the good of our various faiths, we all would be given more space, literally and figuratively, to do so.
Let me conclude by thanking our PM... under your Prime Minister-ship, we see the opening up of democratic space, more than ever before. There is now greater freedom of expression.
You have allowed a great deal of latitude in the media and this has translated into a more inquisitive society. Intellectual debates on issues once considered taboo are being discussed, commented and analyzed in the full glare of the public.
The infamous Lingam Royal Commission might not have been possible under former Prime Ministers, the smooth transition to the opposition State Governments after March 08 would have been difficult if not for your strong sense of peace and justice, your firm hand in ensuring fair and smooth transition.
As we the Christian community continues to work towards the well being of all, to seek God's blessings upon this nation and to pray for wisdom for the government to meet the challenges of the global financial meltdown, we shall certainly continue to pray for God's blessing upon you and your dear wife as well.
May our God richly bless you, and God bless Malaysia. Thank you.
Rev Eu Hong Seng
Chairman, National Evangelical Christian Fellowship of Malaysia (NECF),
Vice Chairman, Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM),
On behalf of the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM). |
