Archive for the ‘Religion’ Category
Dr. Farouk and Edry have grown to be good friends and both are part of an exciting new Islamic NGO Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF). I think it’s timely and significant that during times like this in Malaysia we hear a variety of voices from our Muslim friends. Some would be noisier, but there will be others who are wiser. I think the statement below moves the public discourse towards the wiser direction. Thanks IRF. It’s a pleasure to partner with you for the common good!
IRF Stand on the Issue of Non-Muslims Entering Mosques || 1 Sept 2010
The issue of non-Muslims entering mosques has received wide media coverage when Serdang member of parliament, Teo Nie Ching visited Surau al-Huda in Kajang to deliver Ramadan’s aid in her constituency. Some view non-Muslims to be “un-clean” to enter such a place and their presence is a form of desecration of such a holy place. Subsequent to it, the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) and the Selangor Religious Islamic Council (MAIS) have issued directives disallowing non-Muslims from entering mosques.
We, the Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF) are of the opinion that there should never be any denigration of another human being based on gender, race or creed. God has honored all human being irrespective of beliefs. The Qur’an established this very fact in the verse “Now, indeed, We have conferred dignity on the children of Adam” [17:70].
Religiously speaking, Islam teaches vying each other with respect and in good causes. To each is a goal to which God turns him; then strive together towards all that is good [2:148]. Conscientious and sensible people, of course, would lean toward an approach based on cooperation and empathy than toward an approach based on needless confrontation and unwarranted hostility.
We strongly feel that disallowing non-Muslims from entering mosques only portrays a negative image of Islam and is not in line with the examples set by the Prophet. It is well known from the tradition that the Prophet allowed Christians from Najran to pray in his mosque in Madinah.
In a multi-religious country such as Malaysia, adopting views that disallow non-Muslims to enter mosques, which are established in some school of thoughts, is inappropriate. Nobody from other faiths should be barred from entering mosques or any places of worship for Muslims, as long as their purpose is good, respect the sacredness of the place of worship and are modestly dressed. They should also be allowed to deliver speeches, provided that the speech is in line with the spirit of enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil.
It is in the interest of maslahah or common good of Islam that non-Muslims should feel welcomed and not intimidated from visiting mosques. Calls to ban non-Muslims from entering mosques or any knee-jerk reaction by the Islamic authorities to bow to certain political pressure in preventing the commendable attitude of cooperation and mutual respect is regrettable and uncalled for.
While Islam may have been a vanguard of freedom and progress evidenced by the magnificent civilizations throughout history, this traditional and orthodox position by the Islamic authorities remain seriously at odd with the notion of the universalism of Islam. The sensible path forward should be guided by the true Islamic values enshrined in the Qur’an and by the spirit of brotherhood of mankind, mutual respect and empathy.
Muhammad Adli Musa
Wan Norhaziki Wan Abd Halim
Analysts
Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF)
"FOR THE PAIN, suffering and hurt of these stolen generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry." — Australian PM Kevin Rudd’s apology for mistreatment of aboriginal Australians, 13 Feb 2008
"We participated in things that were clearly wrong and have reason to regret and we apologize for them." — Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein’s apology for the 2009 financial crisis, 17 Nov 2009
"And I felt sorry, and I have felt bad about what happened." — Monica Lewinsky, 2002
Beg Your Pardon
When governments, leaders & individuals say sorry
Forum
Fri 3 Sep, 8.30pm
The Annexe Gallery, 2nd Flr, Central Market Annexe
Admission: Free of charge
SPEAKERS:
1. WHEN GOVERNMENTS SAY SORRY: by Ambiga Sreenevasan
2. WHEN CORPORATIONS SAY SORRY: by Sreedhar Subramaniam
3. WHEN COMMUNITIES SAY SORRY: by Edry Faizal Eddy Yusof
4. WHEN INDIVIDUALS SAY SORRY: by Leow Puay Tin
SAYING SORRY is first and foremost a personal act to initiate a journey of reconciliation and healing between two individuals. However, it is an act that also has implications beyond two private individuals. When leaders of communities, corporations and even countries apologize for the wrongs of the past, they also begin putting things right in the present in order to have a brighter future together.
The apologies quoted above have become historical milestones of recent history. We remember them because public apologies from leaders are so few and far between. So few in fact they often shock us into catharsis and tears, allowing many of us to move on from our hurt. But yet, we are aware of many more wrongs yet unaccounted for. Are there things for which our government, community leaders and public individuals have yet to apologise, thus preventing us from healing as a nation?
This forum aims to explore both the personal and public dimension of the act of saying sorry to facilitate greater thought in the respective spheres, and hopefully inspire individuals and larger groups to cultivate a culture of the willingness to make amends.
SPEAKERS’ BIOS:
AMBIGA SREENEVASAN served as the Malaysian Bar Council chairperson from 2007 to 2009. In March 2009, she became one of the eight recipients for the 2009 Secretary of State’s Award for International Women of Courage Awards. She is currently leading the Bersih Version 2.0 campaign and is a vocal activist on human rights.
EDRY FAIZAL EDDY YUSOF is a research fellow at Islamic Renaissance Front, an NGO that strides to engage in social debates and promote freedom of expression and religion, democracy and liberty. He has held a few key positions in the University’s Islamic society and actively writes for blog, tabloid and MMU’s "Risalah Jumaat".
SREEDHAR SUBRAMANIAM has almost 25 years of experience in consulting and senior management, about half of which was with a major international management consulting group. The remaining half has been in senior management positions within the media, business process outsourcing and information services industries. He is founder of The Malaysian Insider, currently the CEO of Good Times and a consultant with Character First!.
LEOW PUAY TIN is one of Malaysia’s finest theatre practitioners. She has written and performed 5 monologues – in Malaysia as well as in Egypt and Australia. She has also written a number of plays, including the popular "Ang Tau Mui", which have been performed in Malaysia, Singapore and Japan.
SAY SORRY DAY: Sun 5 Sep 2010
This forum is held in conjunction with the Say Sorry Day campaign. A collective of individuals and organisations are coming together to declare Sept 5, 2010, as Say Sorry Day. Everyone – in Malaysia and beyond – is encouraged on this day to seek forgiveness from and grant it to each other.
The inspiration for Say Sorry Day is a young Malaysian, Yong Vui Kong, who was only 18 when he was arrested for drug trafficking in Singapore. He is currently appealing for clemency, but he may still be hanged and not get a chance to redeem his wrongs.
His situation is extreme, and many people may not find themselves in the same situation. However, we all need forgiveness because we all do wrong; as the saying goes, “to err is human, to forgive, divine”.
To find out more about Say Sorry Day: http://www.facebook.com/saysorryday
The CCM Youth Network is really facilitating some very stimulating opportunities for engagement. Check this one out:
You are all invited to the 2nd of the series of The Daniel Lectures.
This time around, we will be inviting Dato’ Chua Jui Meng, former BN
Health Minister and MCA leader, but now PKF Chief of Johor.Details are as follows:
THE DANIEL LECTURES
Speaker: Dato’ Chua Jui Meng
Moderator: Andrew Khoo, Council Member & Chair of Human Rights
Committee, Malaysia Bar Council
Title: Our Eyes are on You, Lord!
When: 8pm Sept 2 Thurs
Where: St Paul’s Church, Lorong Utara Kecil, 46200 PJ, Selangor
for more information go to http://www.facebook.com/saysorryday
In the light of what is happening in Malaysia, we indeed need to “think differently” and “see our world in a new perspective”.
In the light of the latest, in an increasing line of provocative racist remarks, this time by a principal of a school in the state of Johor, MCCBCHST calls upon the authorities to take prompt, and appropriate action to demonstrate that such dastardly acts and words
perpetrated by government servants regardless of their rank is not and will not be tolerated in Malaysia.
The Johor school incident occurring as it did in the run up to the coming National Day celebrations casts a sombre shadow over the nation’s commitment to a multi-ethnic and multi-religious society where all citizens can be guaranteed a shared destiny in Malaysia as Malaysians based on peace and justice.
The time has passed whereby mere platitudes and words from the national leadership and enforcement authorities in themselves will be enough. The nation needs just and fair actions rather than just words.
MCCBCHST calls for its component religious communities and all other Malaysians regardless of ethnic or religious affiliation to join together to pray that the sitting government will take responsibility to take appropriate action to stop blatant racist acts and utterances.
At the same time, let all peace-loving, fair-minded Malaysians join together to raise an unignorable chorus of disapproval against racism in all its forms.
LET US STOP RACISM BEFORE RACISM STOPS OUR NATION.
Rev. Dr. Thomas Philips
President
MCCBCHST
21 August 2010
I’m glad the The Micah Mandate reproduced “An Affirmation on Christian Witness” from the Christian Federation Malaysia as a reference first for Christians, and secondly for the wider public.
In the light of recent controversies over the issue of conversion it is pertinent to revisit a document that the CFM put together in 1996 that outlines its position on the matter of evangelism. This is a position that churches should study and teach as a standard of practice. This is a position that has found great acceptance amongst the different members of the MCCBCHST (Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism). We reproduce the document below.
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THE CHRISTIAN FEDERATION OF MALASIA fully appreciates the multi-religious and multi-ethnic context of Malaysian society with its attendant sensitivity and delicacy of cultures and custom.
IN SUCH A CONTEXT, it is of very great importance that we the Christian community in Malaysia obey GOD’S WORD in the HOLY BIBLE to love our neighbours as ourselves and to do all within our control to keep the peace and to work towards national integration. We pray to GOD for continuing and deepening harmony among all Malaysians.
“lf it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” (The Holy Bible, Romans l2.l8)
“Each of us must please our neighbour for the good purpose of building up the neighbour.” (The Holy Bible, Romans l5.2)
FOLLOWERS OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH are duty bound to share THE GOSPEL OF JESUS to any who consent to learn or listen to it. But in so doing, we must also be bound by the very high ethical standards practiced and prescribed by OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF.
FREEDOM OF RELIGION is specified and safeguarded in the Federal Constitution. lt is a fundamental human right. From a Christian perspective, every right presents us with a solemn responsibility: that we value it for every human being, we protect and defend it, we practice it for the common good and in a spirit of fairness to all, and that it is not abused and taken unfair advantage of.
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST prescribes the golden rule that “ln everything do to others as you would have them do to you.” (The Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 7.12). Due consideration must therefore be given to the other person and the same rules of conduct must apply to both parties.
IN SHARING THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST, unethical means do not justify a righteous end. IN spreading religious faith and introducing religious practices, everyone ought at all times to refrain from any manner of coercion or persuasion that could be regarded as dishonourable or unworthy since such action would be an abuse of one’s right and a violation of the rights of others. Unethical means can only bring poor and temporary results, shame, guilt and ill-repute to the Christian Faith. In this matter, we appeal to heads of churches and senior Christian leaders to help Christians under their charge to adopt only wholesome approaches to sharing the Gospel.
THE CHRISTIAN FEDERATION OF MALAYSIA invites all Christian churches and person in Malaysia to affirm the following in their practice of sharing the Gospel of Christ:
- The Holy Spirit is eminently able to touch lives and bring about genuine conversion in His own way.
- As His human instruments, we do not have to resort to questionable means to persuade men and women.
- Our acts of compassion towards our fellow human beings, especially the poor and needy, should not be made conditional on their response or attitude to Christ.
- Our desire to share Christ in any of our activities and programmes should not be hidden but made clear to people from the start.
- No one will be forced to listen or respond to our Christian message or attend any Christian function against his or her own wish.
- Baptism will be preceded by adequate preparation of teaching and orientation during which time the person can reconsider his or her religious convictions and seek advice from whomsoever he or she wishes.
- Our main focus is to share Christ and what He has to say and to offer to human beings, not to ridicule or unfairly criticize other religious beliefs or practices.
- Entrance into another person’s home is subject to the person’s convenience and welcome, and the purpose of the visit should be made clear.
- Christian literature which is being circulated should bear the name and address of the church or institution of origin.
- We should abstain from distributing Christian literature in the vicinity of the place of worship of another faith or the place where a religious festival or celebration of another faith is taking place.
- Prayer for the sick will be said only if the person wants or requests it.
- As we desire to share our faith with others, we should also give them the opportunity to share their faith with us.
IT IS ONLY WHEN WE CONSTANTLY CONSULT WITH ONE ANOTHER within the Christian community will we achieve a deeper understanding of CHRIST’S TRUTH and arrive at a better way of living out OUR FAITH IN CHRIST.
“And I will show you a more excellent way. If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body to be burned, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way, it is not irritable or resentful; it does not respond in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.” (The Holy Bible. 1 Corinthians 12.31-13.8)
PERSEKUTUAN KRISTIAN MALAYSIA
CHRISTIAN FEDERATION OF MALAYSIA
(signed)
Bishop James Chan,
Chairman
Bishop Datuk Yong Ping Chung
Vice-Chairman
GS Dr Prince Gunaratnam
Vice-Chairman
December 19, 1996
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