Be a responsible leader and walk your talk, interfaith group tells Najib

The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) lS seriously alarmed that the Pejabat Pelajaran Daerah Johore had initiated and planned a seminar themed "PROGRAM TAFAQQUH lLMl: PEMANTAPAN AQIDAH, BAHAYA LIBERALISME DAN PLURALISME SERTA ANCAMAN KRISTIAN/SAS/ UMAT ISLAM. APA PERANAN GURU?'

Malaysia had only recently commemorated the United Nations World lnterfaith Harmony Week in February 2012. Our Deputy Prime Minister who is also the Education Minister had launched the school-level National lnterfaith Harmony Week on 21 February 2012 where he called on all students and teachers to respect and celebrate the different religions practiced by our fellow Malaysians under the tenets of l Malaysia.

Shocking of minister to condone the seminar

We are shocked that the only voice of the government heard on this matter is that of the Minister responsible for lslam who is condoning the seminar. The irony of the matter is that this same Minister serves as one of the advisors to the Cabinet Committee "Jawatankuasa Mempromosikan
Persefahaman dan Keharmonian di antara Pengganut Agama (JKMPKA)". All these seem meaningless in the light of what was planned.

Further, we are alarmed by the deafening silence from the other component leaders of the Government who had pledged to protect the rights and privileges enshrined in the Federal Constitution. Let us remind all leaders of the Government that the majority of the rakyat in Malaysia irrespective of their religious affiliations would like to live in peace and harmony with one another.

Since Education comes under the purview of the Federal Government, it must take responsibility of this very serious violation.

Mr Prime Minister sir, we implore you to walk your talk. Be the leader of a responsible Government that practices what it preaches. Your concept of of 1 Malaysia and your call for moderation is all in disarray.

- MCCBCHST