Christian state: Stop the cat-and-mouse game, says Transparency's Paul Low

Transparency International Malaysia president Paul Low slammed the latest religious ruckus stirred up by Umno-owned Utusan newspaper, saying that an article entitled Christianty, the official religion? had no basis and was untrue.

Paul had been one of the guest speakers at last Saturday's dinner conference called Unashamedly Ethical Conference. According to Utusan, the event was organized by the DAP to collude with Christians leaders to overthrow Islam as the official religion and to replace it with Christianty so that a Christian prime minister could be installed.

As 'evidence', Utusan had also published a photograph of DAP MP for Jelutong Jeff Ooi and 8 Christians pastors who were present at the event.

"There was no such thing during the whole event when anyone made any pledge about Islam or Christianity nor was there any speech about overthrowing Islam and installing a Christian state. The way the entire issue is being played out is most distressing," Paul told Malaysia Chronicle.

"Unashamedly Ethical Conference was a global movement that began in South Africa. It is to promote ethics, values and clean living. My role there was to talk about corruption and the integrity pact that was recently announced by Pemandu."

Other leaders who attended should speak up

Paul was puzzled when asked about Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein's latest comments on the issue. Hishammuddin had hinted that DAP member Razali Abdul Rahman's police report lodged on Friday had indicated there was "some basis" to the Utusan story. The story has deeply angered the Christians.

"I am not sure who this Razali is. I didn't hear him speak or was introduced to him," said Low.

"The authorities must make it clear what it is that Razali had actually said and not play cat-and-mouse games. Then only can we tell why he said what he did."

Ramon Navaratnam, the past president of Transparency International, urged other guests who attended the conference to come forward and tell their version of what had happened.

"I would put my trust in the current president of Transparency International Malaysia. The time has also come for all the other leaders of society who attended the function to give their views or forever hold their peace," Ramon toldMalaysia Chronicle

Najib in the frying pan, more rumors on the Umno grapevine

So far, all 8 Christian pastors and Jeff, who is a Buddhist, have denied such an incident happened. There were about 50 guests at the event, many of whom are prominent members of society.

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng's revelation this morning that Razali was a former Umno member has made many fuming Malaysians angrier at Prime Minister Najib Razak's weak hold on the government.

The latest speculation being spread on the Umno grapevine is that the controversial 'Christian state' pledge was actually made after the dinner was over, and only a small group remaining.

Then, one over-enthusiastic Christian guest had prayed aloud that he wished Malaysia would become a Christian country and that one day Malaysia would have a Christian prime minister.

Razali, a Muslim Indian, had been nearby and overheard the prayer. Hence, his police report to the police on Friday, it was speculated.

But though the latest spin may seem 'pat' but it does not explain why the day after the Utusan article came out, Razali had advised and accompanied Jeff Ooi to lodge the police report refuting the allegations.

"We don't know Razali's motive or intention for filing his police report some five days after we filed our police report denying the allegations made in Utusan," Ooi told a press conference this morning. - Malaysia Chronicle