Najib’s Last Supper?

The recent meeting between church leaders and Najib was nothing but a feel-good propaganda attempt.

COMMENT

The pantomime is a comical theatrical production traditionally performed around Christmas and New Year, which contains elements of humour that occasionally border on rudeness.

But the word ‘pantomime’ also means ‘a farcical situation’ and this was precisely what happened when Prime minister Najib Tun Razak invited Church leaders to lunch. He was keen on rebuilding relations between the government and the Christian community.

In the end, the function was a farce. What should have been a two-sided dialogue descended into a PR exercise for Najib but a slap in the face for the Church leaders.

It is alleged that Bishop Ng Moon Hing, the head of the Anglican Church in West Malaysia and the chairman of the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM), believed that he could deliver a speech at the event. It was also alleged that no members of the press would be present at the private function.

Like lambs to the slaughter, the church leaders were involved in photo-shoots for publication in the mainstream media. Najib looked like he was a god-send, a champion of the community and a bridge between the Muslims and the non-Muslims. His promises of RM100 million for mission schools made him a pillar of generosity.

If this was an attempt to woo Christian voters, then Najib has failed.

A dialogue between two interested parties can only be productive if there is genuine interest, understanding, mutual respect and consensus between the two, to resolve matters.

Malaysians, both Muslims and non-Muslims, are not easily deceived. Moreover, few would cherish being manipulated and used as poster boys for the government controlled media.

A government official denied that only selected Church leaders had been invited and said that the list of attendees had been left to the discretion of the church leaders.

Besides Bishop Ng, the other leaders included Archbishop Murphy Pakiam, Catholic Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur; Catholic Archbishop John Ha of Kuching; CFM vice-chairmen Reverend Eu Hong Seng, the chairman of the National Evangelical Council Fellowship (NECF); and Bishop Thomas Tsen, president of the Council of Churches of Malaysia; Bishop Bolly Lapok, president of the Association of Churches of Sarawak and head of the Anglican Church in Sarawak.

The event was also attended by 13 Cabinet ministers.

The undelivered speech

In the prepared speech which Bishop Ng was unable to deliver, he described how “Christians have experienced a roller-coaster year since 2010, fraught with both blessings and painful encounters.”

He expressed his gratitude to the PM for “always encouraging us to be frank with you” and welcomed the opportunity for regular, constructive and open dialogue and not just during crises.

He reminded Najib about serious issues which had been raised in previous years and he focused on the refusal of civil courts to adjudicate cases where the Islamic ingredient is present; conversion cases that cause hardships to families; land for places of worship and burial grounds; lack of consultation on issues which affect non-Muslims.

He recalled the CFM memorandum, which had been given to Najib at the Christmas Hi-Tea in 2010. This included the following:-

• A standard policy for places of worship, land for worship, cemeteries, foreign religious workers, etc;

• A standard policy for schools and education policy in which mission schools would maintain their character and where the management and operations should be under the CFM’s control.

• Tax exemption status for religious organisations & charities, welfare centres and homes.

• To have a minister in charge of religious affairs (for religions other than Islam).

• Freedom of publications and usage of religious/scripture books for each religion.

• To lift the ban on the usage of the word ‘Allah’, throughout the whole nation. (In particular, the lack of resolution of the Herald, Jill Ireland and Sidang Injil Borneo (SIB) Sabah court cases).

Bishop Ng mentioned the “inertia in resolving all remaining issues” and the “frustration of our churches and all Christians in having to deal with lengthy bureaucratic red tape and ever-changing goal posts”.

He mentioned the suffering of the Christians who “have been made victims of unwarranted and unfounded accusations, vilifications, insults, even police reports”.

He described the expectations of the Christian community for “political leaders and the relevant authorities including the police to have contained and refuted the allegations in the interest of national harmony and unity.”

He reiterated the setting up of a Ministry of Non-Islamic Affairs to “safeguard and protect the interests and rights of the non-Muslims”.

He explained the “disconnect” between the PM’s wishes and reality.

The following day, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Koh Tus Koon announced that the government would introduce several measures of importance to the Christian community. Amongst these were the appointment of heads of mission schools, teaching of Bible Knowledge and tax exemption status for Christian organisations.

Koh said, “The Prime Minister also reiterated the support given by the government to mission schools with a total of RM240mil allocated over the past four years, including RM100mil under the 2012 Budget”.

Sceptical views

Despite this, observers were sceptical of the government’s intentions.

One said, “Najib failed to condemn Perkasa and people like Hasan Ali with their anti-Christian rhetoric and actions. Najib went to see the Pope and on his return threatened the Christians. The PM is a hypocrite.”

Another said, “We are aware that just before the elections, the media makes a big show of this ‘feel-good propaganda’ between the leaders and the Christian community.

“After elections, the government reneges on their promises and this strategy of promises and deceit will be repeated a few months before the next election.

“It’s time we voted for a government which works for us all the time and not one which promises the earth, in the month or two before the next election.”

Mariam Mokhtar is a FMT columnist.