why should MCCBCHST ‘tutup mulut’?

better you,  ACCIN  (gabungan pertubuhan-pertubuhan islam bukan kerajaan – coalition of islamic NGOs)

NOTE:  'tutup mulut' lah! (tutup mulut = shut up)
(MCCBCHST –  malaysian consultative council of buddhism, christianity, hinduism, sikhism and taoism)

 

i came across this bahasa news from malaysiakini, in which, the ACCIN arrogantly asked MCCBCHST to shut up when the latter issued a press statement. according to ACCIN, there is this committee for promoting understanding and harmony between all religions set up already, MCCBCHST should respect the committee and not issue any press statement. it said that since that committee, the cabinet and itself has not issued any press statement yet, MCCBCHST should not too.

why not? so many muslim NGO had spoken up, made a lot of noises here and there, so why shouldn't MCCBCHST? i would say i need to salute MCCBCHST for making the statement and here i produce for you the statement in full (anyone need it, i have the pdf file, showing the signatures).  oh and i will also share with you the press statement from CFM (christian federation malaysia).

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MCCBCHST MEDIA STATEMENT

08.08.2011
THE NATION MUST BE LED WITH UNDERSTANDING, TRUTH.COMPASSION, JUSTICE AND RESPEGT

The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) unreservedly condemns the unwarranted raid on the premises of the Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC) on the evening of 3 Augusl2011by officers of the Selangor lslamic Religious Department (JAIS) and the police which clearly breached the constitutionally guaranteed, and internationally recognised, sanctity of a holy place of worship – an event which has been confirmed by the Malaysian AIDS Council to have been organised to raise funds.

MCCBCHST fully supports the statements already released by the Selangor Menteri Besar, Tan Sri Dato' Seri Abdul Khalid lbrahim; by Prof. Datuk Hamdan Adnan, Deputy Chairman (on behalf of the Exco) of the Persatuan Promosi Hak Asasi Manusia (Proham); by the Chairman, Bishop Datuk Ng Moon Hing, and the Executive Committee of the Christian Federation of Malaysia; by Rev. Dr. Hermen Shastri, General Secretary of the Council of Churches Malaysia and similar sentiments (that this action sets a dangerous precedent and makes a mockery of the sanctity and inviolability of all religious places in our beloved country) yet to be expressed by all other responsible, just and right-minded Malaysians (and organisations) of every race, faith and political inclination.

MCCBCHST is especially heartened by the prompt action of Menteri Besar, Tan Sri Dato' Seri Abdul Khalid lbrahim and the Selangor State Government on this fiasco by  JAIS. We are further encouraged by his statement that "the State is always open to engagement and dialogue regarding the harmonious and mutually respectful co-existence of different religious communities and appreciate the efforts of all who seek to build a more united society."

We are astonished as to how using the words "Quran" and 'nPray" in speech can amount to proselytising towards Muslims when these very words are used every day by Malaysians when conversing with each other.

JAIS' action sets a dangerous precedent which must be stopped and condemned by all peace-loving Malaysians. The constitutionally guaranteed and internationally recognised sanctity of all places of worship cannot be compromised, and this unprecedented violation must be investigated and those responsible, appropriately punished.

The Press (Berita Harian and Harian Metro of 6 July, 2011) reported that "Muslims questioned that night confirmed that they had been asked to convert." These reports, to the best knowledge of the MCCBCHST, did not identify the claimants nor state the basis for their making such statements. Such witnesses must be made available to an independent lnquiry, which must be instituted immediately, to determine their qualification to bear such witness, to corroborate such evidence and to verify it.

We urge the Federal Government to expeditiously launch a thorough investigation into this fiasco. lf the newspapers in question are found to have published false statements likely, or meant, to incite religious or racial hatred between Malaysians, the authorities must initiate the necessary action to punish them to the full extent provided for in our laws. All 120 guests who attended this multi-racial appreciation dinner deserve an unconditional apology from the raiding parties. The government of the day must also come forth to assure the Malaysian non-Muslim communities that such untoward incidents will never recur.

The MCCBCHST must highlight the systematic and deliberate attempts this year by many of "those who walk the national corridors of power" to create conflict among the citizens of different races and religions in our beloved country by driving wedges between them. There is ample evidence in "the lnterlok controversy" (January); "the Alkitab issue" (February); the unproven and ludicrous accusations in the media of attempts to "make Christianity the official religion" (May); the even more

ludicrous charge against the illegally detained Sungei Siput MP, Dr. Michael Jayakumar and others, of "waging war against the Yang DiPertuan Agong" (June); the absurd charge of "reviving Communism" on the PSM 6 under Section 3(1) of the Emergency (Public Order and Prevention of Crime) Ordinance 1969," (July); profiling leaders of Bersih as "traitors to the nation" (July) and unfounded allegations against the Christian church of "proselytizing Muslims" (August). These insidious efforts must be stopped forthwith if we are to preserve the hard-earned peace and harmony between our peoples of the past half-century.

Finally, ihe MCCBCHST calls on all leaders of all faiths to dedicate every Friday, from 16 August till 16 September,2011 during the month-long celebrations of our 54 years of lndependence as Malaya and 48 years as Malaysia to pray in their respective places of worship that the leaders of our nation have it in their hearts and minds to find the understanding, truth, respect, compassion and most of all, the wisdom, to justly govern this blessed, bountiful and beautiful Malaysia, home to us all, in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Constitution, the supreme law of the land.
 

SIGNED BY:

Reverend Dr. Thomas Philips
President
MCCBCHST

Sardar V. Harcharan Singh
Vice President
MCCBCHST

M Mr. RS. Mohan Shan, JMW, AMK, BKM, pJK
Vice President
MCCBCHST

Daozhang Tan Bon Sin, nunr
Deputy President
MCCBCHST

Venerable Ming Ji
Vice President
MCCBCHST

Mr. Prematilaka KD Serisena
Honorary Secretary General
MCCBCHST

 

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Statement from the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) 

 

CHRISTIANS APPALLED BY JAIS CHURCH RAID         

The Christian Federation of Malaysia is deeply shocked and appalled at the raid by the officers of the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) and the police conducted on the premises of the Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC) on the evening of the 3rd August 2011.

The dinner function organised by Harapan Komuniti, a community development NGO, is an annual thanksgiving celebration to commemorate its efforts on its numerous community projects for the benefit of Malaysians.

It is ironic that such a celebratory gathering of volunteers, leaders, supporters and members of the community should be disrupted by the high-handed and repugnant actions of the state religious enforcement officers.  

This arbitrary action of the JAIS and the police officers is an affront to the values of mutual respect and harmony which should be accorded to every person, regardless of religious, cultural or ethnic background in Malaysia.

>We also wish to question the legality of the raid and the subsequent interrogation and harassment of the guests present at the dinner as to whether the officers were acting within their legal jurisdiction.

Christians are shocked and saddened at this deplorable action. In recent times, we have witnessed an increase in incidences where Christians have been singled out and targeted with unjustified accusations and prejudice from various groups as well as certain mainline media who have made inflammatory statements against the spirit of 1Malaysia.

We call upon the relevant authorities, including His Royal Highness the Sultan of Selangor, to conduct a thorough investigation over this unjustified raid.

 We also call upon the government and all Malaysians to work together to build a truly cohesive and harmonious society based on mutual respect, dialogue and understanding.  

In this holy month of Ramadan, we Christians wish to extend our heartfelt greetings and felicitation to our Muslim brethren.

Signed

  

 

Bishop Ng Moon Hing

Chairman and the Executive Committee of

The Christian Federation of Malaysia