The Malaysia Insider: Local church leaders dubious even as PM reaches out

Local church leaders dubious even as PM reaches out

Najib (left) was preaching to the choir, said a local church leader. — Picture by Choo Choy May

By Debra Chong

KUALA LUMPUR, April 21 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak told regional Christian church leaders gathered here today that there was a place in Malaysia for all cultures and religions, but his message appears to have been met with some scepticism.

Church leaders came away from the closed-door lunch address unconvinced, citing recent examples of intolerance such as the controversy over the use of the word “Allah,” the firebombing of churches and the strident rhetoric of newspapers like Utusan Malaysia.

Najib’s message of unity among people of diverse ideologies and cultures was applauded by the Asian church leaders, but their local counterparts felt the words still rang hollow, and expressed doubts that Malaysia was moving from mere tolerance to acceptance and mutual respect as espoused by the prime minister.

Najib had flown from Japan early this morning to fete some 100 church leaders from around the region at the Grand Seasons Hotel here, which, coincidentally, also houses the offices of vocal Malay rights group, Perkasa.

A leading local Christian figure told The Malaysian Insider that Najib was preaching to the choir.

“Utusan Malaysia should be here,” the church leader said on condition of anonymity, referring to the Malay-language national newspaper.

The Umno-owned daily has been at the forefront of criticism against a recent Cabinet-endorsed committee to promote harmony and understanding among religions in Malaysia.

Another local church representative noted that the PM’s speech steered clear of mentioning religion, and focused instead on the social and economic elements to promote unity and mutual understanding among communities from diverse backgrounds.

“He said: ‘There’s a place under the Malaysian sun for everybody’,” the church leader said, citing the PM, but he appeared sceptical of Najib’s sincerity in his own message.

“He may say this here but he likely says something else in front of a different audience,” he pointed out.

“He’s got to add substance to his stand,” he added, noting that as a Malaysian delegate, he was hoping to hear “something more tangible” from the PM.

But the president of the Malaysian Consultative Council on Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) Reverend Thomas Philips told The Malaysian Insider that the general assembly was not a suitable platform for the prime minister to speak on national issues, noting the local Christian community had other avenues to engage Najib.

A churchman who asked not to be named said that Najib kept his speech general and repeated his 1 Malaysia concept for the benefit of the regional audience, stretching from Iran to Australia, who had flown in to town for the week-long 13th general assembly of the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) which ended yesterday.

Among delegates at the assembly were the newly-elected general secretary of the CCA, Reverend Dr Henriette T. Hutabarat Lebang, who is also the director of the Institut Telogi Gereja Toraja in Indonesia; Anglican Archbishop of Perth Roger Herft; and the Vatican’s diplomatic representative to Southeast Asia, Salvatore Pennacchio.

Former general secretary of the CCA, Dr Prawate Khid-Arn, told The Malaysian Insider Najib’s speech was “very encouraging, particularly for other Asian countries”, which, being similarly multicultural, face a struggle to unite the different communities.

“I see Malaysia as more advanced than Thailand in people’s unity,” Khird-Arn said, comparing the situation in his home country to here.

He explained that while religion on its own was not a problem for Thailand, unity was a huge challenge, and pointed to the current riots in its capital, Bangkok.

The Thai church leader said he had been concerned about the religious situation in Malaysia earlier this year, when he heard of the attacks on houses of worship following a controversial High Court ruling over the use of the word “Allah” by a Catholic newspaper.

“But I see Malaysia’s religious situation improving over the last few months,” he said, and expressed confidence that Malaysia’s multi-religious, multi-ethnic community would be able to overcome the divide peacefully.