Imperfect solutions better than none at all in religious disputes, says Najib

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak speaks at the launch of Christians for Peace and Harmony Malaysia at the Majestic Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, today. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Kamal Ariffin, June 2, 2015.

A partial solution to a religious dispute is sometimes better than having none at all and better than taking legal action, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said tonight at the launch of a new Christian non-governmental organisation.

Speaking at the launch of Christians for Peace and Harmony Malaysia (CPHM) at a Kuala Lumpur hotel, Najib said he believed there was a solution to every problem, even if the answer was not perfect.

"Sometimes it is better to accept a 70% solution that not have one at all.

"I believe we should not resort to the legal process if there is a problem, sit down and discuss it over a big makan like this," he said to laughter from the dinner crowd that included representatives from Malaysian Muslim Youth Movement (Abim) and Malay rights group Perkasa.

Najib said there was a need to allow democratic space and healthy discourse in Malaysia, but this had to be done within limits.

Najib's remarks come as the national Christian body, the Christian Federation of Malaysia, announced its rejection of proposed new standard operating procedures (SOP) on the importation of the Alkitab, or Malay language bibles.

Under the draft rules by the Home Ministry, imported Malay bibles with the word "Allah" can only pass through the peninsula with Sabah and Sarawak as their final destination. The Alkitab can only be brought into the peninsula from Sabah and Sarawak for personal use.

Dispute over whether "Allah" can be used by non-Muslims has also seen lawsuits by the Catholic Church and Sidang Injil Borneo, a protestant church, against the government.

Najib said that while Malaysians were generally calm and peaceful, the temperature could sometimes rise very fast.

Describing himself as a great advocate of moderation, the prime minister said that there were those who abused religion to use it for their own narrow gains and for political reasons.

He said those who abused religion became bigots and said these were the people "we must confront, deal with and totally reject".

Saying he was a great believer of dialogue, the prime minister said he was heartened to see members from Abim and Perkasa at the event tonight.

"We must sit down with each other more frequently and then you have a sense of comfort with one another.

"So I call on you Christians and Muslims, I believe Perkasa and Abim are also here and hopefully Perkasa can tone down a bit," he said to cheers and applause.

He also said that a lot of problems were self-made and manmade, and urged Malaysians to believe in the country's boundless opportunities and a shared destiny.

"I believe we can chart our destiny together, even though we are different in terms of religious backgrounds, faith, culture and we do not look alike, but we are all Malaysians.

"There is no such thing as calling each other ‘pendatang’ for example," he said, referring to the Malay word for "immigrant" which has been used derogatorily by some Malay leaders against other races.

Najib also gave his commitment to making Malaysia a great nation.

"As your prime minister, I am committed to make Malaysia a great nation.

"I am a believer in solving problems, I don't believe in quarrelling," he said.

Najib also thanked corporate business leader Tan Sri Francis Yeoh for sponsoring the dinner.

Christians make up about 9% of Malaysia's population, or 2.6 million, and two-thirds of them are Bumiputera based largely in Sabah and Sarawak, where Malay and indigenous languages are used in their religious practices, including describing God as “Allah” in their prayers and holy book.

Malaysia's battle over the use of the word "Allah" has attracted international attention, as well as ridicule, including from Islamic scholars abroad who hold that "Allah" is a generic name for God and is open to use by both Muslims and non-Muslims, as use of the word predates Islam.

CPHM said that it would not adopt a "confrontational" approach on religious liberty issues, although it agreed that the goal of preserving fundamental rights for religious minority was a noble one.

- TMI