Religious harmony — bedrock for nation’s prosperity, development

Sep 05, 2020

KUALA LUMPUR: Pasir Puteh MP Nik Muhammad Zawawi Nik Salleh has said that there is no need for him to apologise for saying that Bible has been corrupted or manipulated. Nik Zawawi also said that Christians should not be offended, claiming his statement was “a fact”. “They have no right to be offended. What I said was not an accusation, but a fact,” he was quoted saying. “There is no  need to apologise. Why should I? I don’t want to comment, what I said is right. Why should I apologise?”

Nik Zawawi had instead said that he is willing to hold a “dialogue” over the matter. The PAS MP made the remark when debating the Road Transport (Amendment) Bill 2020 to propose heavier fines for drink driving offenders on August 26. 

Despite being corrected by DAP’s Beruas MP  Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham, the PAS lawmaker insisted that he was correct and that he made the remarks based on his study of comparative religion. Nik Zawawi had accused Ngeh of referring to a Bible that was already distorted when referring to alcohol consumption in Christianity. — By Soo Wern Jun, MSN

Please read the two statements from the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST and the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) with regards to this issue.

The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) views with great concern the developing controversy surrounding the recent statement of the Pasir Puteh MP Nik Muhammad Zawawi  Salleh, when he drew a comparison to Christianity, ridiculing Christians by implying that they have “distorted” the Bible on the interpretation of the use of alcohol in the august House of our Parliament.

This is a radical departure in terms of decorum in parliamentary debates in our country, which is committed to religious harmony among all religious communities. An MP has given himself licence to criticise the tenets of another religion in Parliament, without the expected rebuke from the honourable Speaker of the House.

This is a dangerous precedent and it is totally unacceptable to all peace-loving Malaysians of all faiths. 

Parliament is a place to debate responsible and just governance based on rational arguments, best practices and in tune with the provisions of the Federal Constitution.

If this is the new normal, it will open the door for others to do the same and it may lead to unnecessary arguments that may pit one religion against another, to be used by politicians for their political gain and manoeuvring.

We at MCCBCHST strongly feel that the MP has crossed the line of bigotry as he offered a stereotyped view of another religion.

If the current practice is condoned by the current government, we are indeed going to see an escalation of religious animosity between religious groups manufactured by some politicians to divide and rule.

On the part of the MCCBCHST, we want to categorically state that we are not going to stoop so low and fall into the trap of building animosity by allowing some irresponsible politicians to claim religious and moral supe riority by disparaging other religions.

The MCCBCHST stands with the majority of peaceful Malaysians of goodwill and state here that we will never allow certain politicians to dismantle the religious harmony that we have built and upheld over 63 years.

The MCCBCHST calls upon the prime minister to provide moral leadership by making a statement to forbid politicians who seek to use religion to divide the nation. Bigotry in public discourse should never be normalised.

The speaker of the House also carries the responsibility on behalf of all Malaysians to disallow politicians who touch on matters of religion other than their own in debates.

This issue must be nipped in the bud immediately.

If nothing is done, the current government will bear the full responsibility of destroying the religious harmony which has served to keep our country in peace and prosperity all these years. The above on behalf of MCCBCHST is issued and endorsed by:

ARCHBISHOP JULIAN LEOW BENG KIM of Christian Federation Malaysia (CFM) and MCCBCHST president.

SARDAR JAGIR SINGH of Malaysian Gurdwaras Council (MGC) and MCCBCHST deputy president.

RS MOHAN SHAN of Malaysia Hindu Sangam (MHS) and MCCBCHST vicepresident.

DAO ZHANG TAN HOE CHIEOW of Federation of Taoist Associations Malaysian (FTAM) and MCCBCHST vicepresident.

VENERABLE SING KAN of Malaysia Buddhist Association (MBA) and MCCBCHST vice-president. September 1, 2020

Inciting and sowing dissension at a time of need for unity

The Christian Federation of Malaysia views with consternation and dismay the assault by no less than a Member of the Dewan Rakyat, in the august chamber on the entirety of the Scriptures on which generations of Christians since time immemorial have found solace, comfort, wisdom, hope and guidance. To be told that the Holy Book on which they rely are, a firm foundation for their faith, has been “manipulated,” is an affront to the utmost. That this belittlement of their sacred Scriptures occurs during a time of distress, economic hardship, and anxiety, about an uncertain future as a global pandemic rages, displays not just gross insensitivity but a blatant disregard for the well-being of fellow humankind.

Yet the Member for Pasir Puteh, Dr Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh, thought little of making spurious claims that “Kitab Injil ini dipesongkan ataupun diubah” (“the Gospel is distorted or changed”) during a debate in the Dewan Rakyat on Aug 26, 2020. In trampling with shocking audacity on the sacred and holy Word of God,  the Representative for Pasir Puteh showed a reprehensible disrespect not only for his fellow Malaysians who are Christians but also for all the efforts of our forefathers in forging peoples of diverse creeds, colour and cultures into a peace-loving and harmonious nation.

At a time when strenuous calls for national unity are being made by the Prime Minister and Malaysia Prihatin (Malaysia Cares) is the guiding principle for the nation’s celebration of the 63rd anniversary of Merdeka Day and the 57th anniversary of Malaysia Day, it is an outrage that a Member of Parliament who sits on the Government’s benches shows little concern for the need to rebuild the nation. Instead he intentionally promotes feelings of ill will and hostility on the basis of religion among a significant segment of the population. Having assailed their Holy Book, the Member of Parliament then categorically stated that Christians have no right to be offended.

Recalcitrant and reportedly unwilling to withdraw or apologise for his demeaning words, this lawmaker must be unreservedly censured and rebuked by all right-minded people. Not having taken to date any apparent action to rein in and admonish this member for his divisive and incendiary remarks, the party to which he belongs being a component member of the ruling coalition, should denounce such egregious behaviour. No person is above the law, and relevant authorities need to undertake appropriate in vestigations into the offensive conduct of this lawmaker.

Whilst the Christian Federation of Malaysia remains constantly open to dialogue to advance greater understanding in order to foster peace and harmony among all peoples, dialogue must be predicated on mutual respect and undertaken in a spirit of humility if it is to be fruitful in sowing seeds of trust and goodwill for the betterment of all.

Archbishop Julian Leow Beng Kim
Chairman and the Executive Committee, The Christian Federation of Malaysia
August 31, 2020