We used Allah long before Malaysia was born, WHO ARE YOU TO BAN US - S'wak Christians slam Muslim ultras

The Church in Sarawak understands and appreciates the reality of the intricacy of maintaining social harmony in our multi-faith society. We know that tolerance and acceptance must remain the hallmark of our conduct and that all Malaysians must exercise restraint to enjoy the desired harmony.

This resolve has been repeatedly tested by countless and needless attempts - many blatant - to encroach into our religious freedom since the formation of Malaysia.

The culprits held scant regard to the religious freedom ("complete freedom of religion' as stated in the historical documents) unequivocally accorded to the Christians of Sarawak as a condition for becoming a member of the Federation of Malaysia together with the Federation of Malaya, Singapore, and North Borneo (now Sabah) (Sarawak became an independent nation on 22 July 1963).

It has always been our hope that our tolerance and acceptance of diverse religious world views would result in a better understanding of the Christian community as a peace-loving people who are prepared to go the extra mile to secure the kind of life every Malaysian aspires to have under the constitution of our country.

Unfortunately, the reality is far from this. We face continuous unabated Government actions in passing administrative orders and laws that increasingly restrict and encroach on the practice of our faith.

We used Allah long before Malaysia was born

The on-going court case seeking to ban the use of the word 'Allah' (a word that we used long before Malaysia was even conceptualised and even covered by the promise of the 'complete freedom of religion' to us) is a clear case in point. The desecration of our Bibles during the 'Alkitab' saga in 2011 is another appalling and telling example.

We no longer see a reasonable and early end to the challenge we face. The situation has gone far past the point of decency. We can no longer remain silent and passive.

We are not asking the Government for something new or extra. We are only asking it to honour the promised safeguard of religious freedom guaranteed to us when Sarawak, as a nation, joined the rest as equal partners to form the Federation of Malaysia.

We stand together with all the Christians of Sarawak (native and non-native) on taking the needed step fonrvard in securing the promise of religious freedom and agree unreservedly with what is contained in the 'Pastoral Communique from the Bumiputera Church in Sabah and Sarawak' jointly issued by the Association of Churches of Sarawak and Sabah Council of Churches dated 2nd May 2013 and the press statement of the Association of Churches in Sarawak dated lOth October 2013.

Sarawak Ministers Fellowship is an alliance of fellowships of pastors in various towns of Sarawak.

Pastor Daron Tan, Chairman

Nelson Kee, Executive Secretary