Najib didn't even let Christian leaders finish their meal, what more hear them out

The proverbial cat is out of the bag. Christian leaders were not tongue-tied during their widely reported luncheon meet in recent days – 4 Jan, 2012 to be precise -- with Prime Minister Najib Razak and 13 Cabinet Ministers.

This is the same Najib who went to see the Pope on appointing an Ambassador to the Vatican and returned home to threaten the Christians, right at the airport itself upon touching down!

Didn't even get to finish their meal!

We are told that the Christian leaders came prepared to give Najib a polite earful during the luncheon but the latter, not being sincere in his invite, didn’t even have to pre-empt anything on their part. The script had been laid down by the 'advisers' who surround Najib and was carried out with commando-style precision but to what purpose remains to be seen.

Najib was up to one of his usual tricks – employed ever so callously during his so-called walkabouts – and that was to turn the purported luncheon meet with Christian leaders into another photo shoot opportunity. The brief press statement from the Prime Minister’s side only mentioned that the Christians brought up the issue of the criteria to be appointed head of a mission school, tax exemptions for Christian organisations and teaching Bible Knowledge in schools.

The Christians have a mile-long list of grievances and they need the Federal Government’s understanding and support.

The picture-taking over, the Christians were literally shooed away from Najib even before they had enough time to gobble down at least a part of the so-called luncheon. They were suckered into meeting with Najib who it seems can hardly park his ample posterior anywhere for long. Whether this is due to an overly tight schedule or because he is not really interested to speak anyone outside his social and political sphere is anyone's guess. But the Christians were apparently too embarrassed to even mention the fiasco. They may yet live to regret it.

What the Christians wanted

What is the crux of the message that the Christian leaders brought to the so-called luncheon meet with Najib and which he was not willing to hear?

Bishop Ng Moon Hing, chairman of the executive committee of the Christian Federation of Malaysia, for one, came fully prepared to make a formal presentation to the Prime Minister over luncheon. Alas, “he was not given even the slightest opportunity”, according to Church sources.

The thrust of Bishop Ng’s arguments was a summary of three documents i.e. “Respect the Right to Profess and Practise One’s Religion”, a Memorandum by the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism dated 25 Oct 2005 and revised subsequently on 15 June 2007 under a new title, “Unity Threatened by Continuing Infringements of Religious Freedom; and the Christian Federation of Malaysia’s Memorandum dated 21 Dec, 2010.

Briefly, the documents mention the refusal of the civil courts to adjudicate in matters where an Islamic ingredient is present; conversion cases that cause hardship to the families concerned; lack of land for places of worship and burial; and generally the lack of consultation on issues which affect the legitimate interest of non-Muslims.

Of particular note is the lack of resolution on The Herald; Jill Ireland and Sidang Injil Borneo cases. The Christians want the ban on the usage of the term Allah in Malay print to be lifted nationwide. Allah – the all powerful, an attribute of God – is one of the 1001 names of the almighty.

Among the many myriad issues are the need for a standard policy for places of worship, land for worship, cemetery, foreign religious workers, schools, education; tax exemption status for religious organisations and charities, welfare centres and homes. The Christians want the character, management and operations of mission schools to be under their control.

Elsewhere, the Christians want a Minister in Charge of Religious Affairs i.e. one for faiths other than Islam.

The Christians also want freedom to publish and for the usage of religious/scripture books of all religions.

Played out for the third time

The latest so-called luncheon is the third time that Najib has played out the Christian community. The first time was at a Christmas Hi-Tea in 2010 and the next time was at another so-called luncheon in May last year. All were photo shoot opportunities for Najib to look good in the public eye. He had no intention of recognizing any of the demands of the Christian community.

The Federal Government’s promise of RM 100 million for mission schools, for example, under the 2012 Budget may turn out to yet another empty pledge.

The Christian community had earlier been promised RM 140 million and together with the RM 100 million, the total should read RM 240 million. Where’s the proof that the money has been delivered? Anyone can make pledges. Talk is cheap.

Najib should be ashamed of himself for denying the Christian even a modest hearing after having being educated by the St John’s Institution in Bukit Nenas, Kuala Lumpur. His two younger brothers attended the same prestigious missionary school.

Kurang ajar - a lesson for the Christians to learn and remember

The Christian did not turn up at the luncheon meet to be preached to and lectured to by Najib. That’s really being kurang ajar – ill-mannered, ill-taught, uncouth – on Najib’s part.

He should apologise to the Christian leaders and the community, and profusely, without any further delay.

He should also condemn Perkasa and people like Hasan Ali who are stepping up their anti-Christian rhetoric.

Otherwise, Najib never be able to redeem himself ever in the eyes of the Christian community.

The Christians are the second largest such community in Malaysia and certainly the largest in Sabah, Sarawak. Most of Malaysia’s land area is Christian. So, the mad mullahs garbed in political clothing, certainly have plenty to be jittery about.

It must be remembered that the reference to Islam under Article 3 in the Federal Constitution is not applicable to Sabah and Sarawak as per the 1963 Malaysia Agreement, the 20 Points of Sabah and the 18 Points of Sarawak.

If brought together into one politics, the Christians in Malaysia would be a credible force to be reckoned with, a valuable ally or an intimidating foe for both sides of the political divide.

Malaysia Chronicle