Amid increasingly violent threats, churches urge respect for peaceful rallies

Nov 17, 2016

KUALA LUMPUR: The Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) urged Malaysians to respect the democratic practices that allow for peaceful public demonstrations, even as the organiser of an upcoming street protest received a second death threat.

The umbrella organisation representing local churches across all denominations also urged the authorities not to close an eye to the increasingly violent threats issued with impunity by certain groups against even media practitioners for reporting them.

“Peaceful rallies should be respected, albeit we may hold differing views. Perpetrators of violence should not be emboldened by the inaction of authorities who have been mandated to maintain peace in our nation.

“Parliament should take steps to chide Members of Parliament who defend such threats to the peace and stability of our nation,” the CFM said in a statement.

It reminded the MPs who defended the violent remarks and conduct of those groups that they will be accountable for their action, or lack of it, at the next general elections due within two years.

CFM did not name the threats to Malaysia’s peace or the civil societies that have been on the receiving end.

See below for the message in full

CHRISTIAN FEDERATION OF MALAYSIA
PERSEKUTUAN KRISTIAN MALAYSIA
(PPM-003-10-14011986)
Address : 26 Jalan Universiti, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
Telephone / Fax : + 60 3 7957 1457
Email: [email protected]

November 11, 2016

                         CFM Media Statement: Pray for a Nation in Crisis

The Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) reminds the Church that we are mandated to pray for our nation as we witness escalating tensions in our beloved land.

Guided by our ethos to “act justly, love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8), the CFM (as the umbrella organisation for Malaysian Christians) offers the following perspectives from our role, guided by our conscience and responsibility to the nation:

-- Threats of violence have been unabated for weeks, and protests and actual violence have occurred around the nation, with even more promised.

Peaceful rallies should be respected, albeit we may hold differing views. Perpetrators of violence should not be emboldened by the inaction of authorities who have been mandated to maintain peace in our nation.

-- We, Malaysians, look to our government and its agents, who serve to protect all citizens, to take action to curtail this escalating and potentially incendiary situation, where even ‘a blood bath’ has been part of the threats, without restricting peaceful assemblies, rallies and gatherings.

Parliament should take steps to chide Members of Parliament who defend such threats to the peace and stability of our nation. And respective constituencies should be reminded of the position and conduct of these representatives at the next general election.

There are individual Malaysians, civil society organisations and the media who are being harassed, some are receiving death threats and even investigated for mere allegations — to the extent that the non-partisan International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) has called on our authorities to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into unlawful acts of intimidation against Malaysians and identifying and bringing to account those responsible.

The CFM

-- urges all investigations into donations, funding and grants to be carried out thoroughly, without fear or favour. Selective action not only serves to encourage further criminal activity but it brings further shame to our nation;

— calls upon all citizens, government officials and Members of Parliament to fiercely defend democracy and the fundamental freedoms guaranteed therein under the Federal Constitution;

— hopes that our media remains independent and unfettered in reporting. As a nation which seeks to attain developed nation status, this journey surely must include nurturing a mature and unencumbered press which can be a source for both those in authority and citizens, to articulate clarification, praise, concerns and grievances.

We call on all Malaysians to play their role in keeping the peace of our nation, without curtailing our rights or jeopardising our safety and stability.

Most of all, the CFM calls upon all Malaysians to join us in praying for our beloved nation.



                                                                     
                                                                                 Rev Dr Eu Hong Seng,
                                                                   Chairman and the Executive Committee,
                                                                  The Christian Federation of Malaysia.


Source: Malay Online