MCCBCHST MEDIA STATEMENT

29th March 2011

TO;
THE STAR
MALAYSIAKINI

The MCCBCHST refers to news report in STAR today (29/03/2011) that Pembela has lodged a police report against this council alleging that seditious remarks were made over Bahasa Malaysia Bible issue.

The MCCBCHST action has so far been in accordance with the Law and the Constitution to protest against the Desecration of the Christians Malay Bible. How could defending one’s religious and constitutional rights through lawful means ever amount to sedition.

In fact the action of Pembela in filling a police report is tantamount to intimidation and may also be seditious because it appears to be calculated to confuse the people to act against the Council. In fact, Pembela should not be involved as the conditions imposed by Government do not refer to their Holy Scriptures.

We further note that Pembela did not mention the PAS Vice President Salahuddin Ayub’s name in their report (they had mentioned 2 other names) for he had clearly reiterated his party’s stand in Parliament on 27/3/2011 that Christians have the right to use the word Allah to refer to God. We believe that PAS is the leading and acknowledged Body to know about Islam and Pembela should approach them to have a better understanding.

Reverend Dr. Thomas Philips
President
MCCBCHST

MCCBCHST REGISTERS OUR UTTER HORROR AND SHEER DISGUST OVER THE SCANDALOUS SEX VIDEO

28th March 2011

It is with great disgust and disbelief that we Malaysians were regaled over the last few days with the graphic narration of the existence and viewing of a 21-minute sex video to a select few masterminded and acknowledged by a trio under the pseudonym ‘Datuk T’

The Malaysian Consultative Council for Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism wishes to register its utter horror and sheer disgust at the despicable methodology devised by the unscrupulous and disgruntled trio. Their aim in publicly humiliating our elected Opposition Leader of Parliament offends the sensitivities of decent people no matter to what race or religion they belong to.

This sad sordid episode, once again, brings the nation to prominence for the wrong reasons. Over the last few decades we have been treated to and numbed by numerous financial scandals, social scandals and political scandals committed by those supposedly dedicated to leading our citizens through ‘leadership by example’. This latest blue video clip to slander a fellow Malaysian, albeit a Muslim MP, is viewed by our members with great concern and revulsion. This particular exposure at this juncture of our developing history, now, has the rare honour of achieving the coveted “Mother of all Moral Scandals” perpetrated by titled personalities and so-called leaders.

Since the involvement of the 3, code named ‘Datuk T’, has surfaced, the Malaysian public are once again feted with disgusting material that begs the question, “Where is all this leading to?” in spite of the many seasonal national slogans that challenge us to greater heights of achievement and harmony.

It does not inspire the younger generation to trust in the political process nor to observe cultural, religious, social and moral norms. The violation of basic decency and privacy is abhorrent and despicable not only to the mature adult but more importantly to the vulnerable and impressionable young in our midst and communities.

Our Consultative Council that represents non-Muslims is disheartened and uncomfortable with the whole episode. It does not bode well for the future political and cultural landscape of this multi-cultural and multi-religious nation. The longer this issue drags on, the greater the damage to Malaysia’s image internationally. It does no good to the oft heard and repeated phrase ‘Malaysia is a moderate Islamic Country’ in international discourses, corridors and cafeterias. No one is fooled anymore. Malaysia’s image is further tarnished by irresponsible and selfish leaders like those who acknowledged their shameless involvement.

We call on the Government to take swift and firm action against all those behind this scandal and begin determinedly to usher in a new era of self-respect, pride, trust and hope for the general well-being of all citizens of this rich land of beautiful people and plentiful resources.

We further urge the government to distance itself from all forms of deceit and cunning and bring the perpetrators of this latest mischief to face the full extent of the law.

Further, the Government should employ every means to quell the rising anger, disquiet and dismay over this uncalled for sordid and despicable attempt, by an unscrupulous few, to achieve their own personal disgusting agenda.

Reverend Dr. Thomas Philips
President
MCCBCHST

HOLY SCRIPTURES DESECRATED

25th March 2011

The Christian Federation of Malaysia’s (CFM) Media Statements of 10th and 17th March, 2011 stated that the Malaysian Christian community “is greatly disillusioned, fed-up and angered by the repeated detention of Bibles written in our national language, Bahasa Malaysia” – the Al Kitab. He was referring to the impounding of over 35,000 copies in Kuching, Sarawak and in Port Klang in total since March, 2009.

Repeated appeals were made to the Prime Minister and the CFM was informed in December 2009 that the 5,000 copies in Port Klang would be released. They were not. And when he was so informed last Christmas, he could only express surprise that the Al Kitab are still being held by the authorities.

This situation begs a first pair of questions, “Does our current Prime Minister wield any authority? And, if he does not, who does?”

Now the CFM has discovered that the release will be effected subject to certain conditions, every copy to be stamped with a serial number, an official seal and the words, “by order of the Minister of Home Affairs.” This means that the Al Kitab (Bahasa Malaysia version) is now considered a restricted item and “the Word of God has been made subject to the control of man. The full details are contained in the CFM’s Media Statements referred to above.

Since the the above facts have become public, many respected and responsible Malaysian organisations and individual personages like the Malaysian Gurdwaras Council, the PAS ulamas, Puan Zuraidah Kamaruddin of Wanita Keadilan and the Federation of Taoist Malaysia have already come out in support of the CFM and decried the stand and actions taken by the authorities. Many more are expected to come out in public support of the CFM in the forthcoming days.

It would appear that the authorities would have Malaysians (especially the Malays and/or Muslims) believe that the current developments about the release of the Al Katib, make it an Islam/Christianity or Muslim/Christian conflict in our beloved country.

It would be relevant here to briefly return to our history to ascertain certain historical facts. Malaya’s (and Malaysia’s) founding father, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra al-Haj, our first and most loved Prime Minister, prince and premier, truly a statesman, said in 1957 of the new nation, Malaya, “Let freedom be secured for all the law-abiding people. There shall be freedom of worship, freedom of speech, freedom from want, freedom of association, freedom of assembly and freedom of movement.”

The political leaders definitely do not have a finger on the pulse of the nation. They are definetly wrong in what they are doing.

In the face of what has been alluded to the Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) in the narrative about “The Promise to St. Catherine”, it is highly suspect that the Islamic high officials in our country do not even know their own religion!
The preceding now begs a second set of questions: “After the Christians have been ‘fixed,’ who next? ”

The MCCBCHST unequivocally endorses the points made in the CFM press statement and supported by the Malaysian Gurdwara Council, the Federation of Taoist Malaysia and the many other right-thinking organisations and individuals who already have so spoken out and the many more that will speak out in the days to come. We also vehemently oppose the present line of action being pursued. If anyone intelligently follows the little evidence laid out above (and we can promise you even more of the TRUTH where that came from) you must understand and appreciate why we, and all right-thinking Malaysians (of whichever race or religion), must take the stand that we do.

Reverend Dr. Thomas Philips – President
Daozhang Tan Boon Sin – Deputy President
Venerable Ming Ji – Vice President
Sardar V. Hacharan Singh – Vice President
Mr. RS. Mohan Shan – Vice President