Home Civil Society Voices 2011 Civil Society Voices Najib visits Vatican; Malaysians write to Pope

Najib visits Vatican; Malaysians write to Pope

Join us on Telegram and Instagram for the latest.

A group of 372 Catholics and other Christians in Malaysia, including a string of priests and religious, have signed a joint letter to Pope Benedict XVI expressing their concern over Prime Minister Najib Razak’s official visit to the Vatican on 18 July 2011 in view of recent developments in the country.

The letter highlighted concerns about the lack of democratic rights and religious freedom in Malaysia to enable the Pope to “understand more critically and comprehensively the political and social realities” lest the pontiff is “presented with a one-sided view of developments” in the country.

The group said while it welcomed the establishment of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and the Holy See, and believes that Malaysia’s experience in inter-religious living and cooperation has lessons to offer to other multireligious multiethnic societies, they are wary about the timing of Najib’s visit to the Vatican.

They expressed concern that foreign governments and leaders who host Najib in his travels might be influenced by his pronouncements which extol the spirit of moderation, whereas in fact his government has used unnecessarily excessive force time and time again. The latest examples of this have been the undemocratic treatment of civil society groups in Bersih’s Walk for Democracy episode and the ongoing detention without trial of six political activists, including an opposition MP, under harsh security laws.

The letter also highlighted how Najib and other BN leaders, in trying to stem the popular support for Bersih’s call for clean and fair elections, have manipulated ethnoreligious sentiments irresponsibly and attempted to demonise Bersih leaders as anti-Islam.

The signatories pointed out that there had been curbs to freedom of religion despite this fundamental human right being guaranteed in the Malaysian Constitution.

The group also expressed their suspicion that there could be a hidden political agenda to win electoral support among the Christians of Sabah and Sarawak especially through this visit to the Vatican.

They ended the letter with the hope that the Holy See would consider their concerns seriously and be guided by the Holy Spirit in its dealings with the Malaysian government.

The letter in full:

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI
Apostolic Palace
00120 Vatican City

Via
His Grace Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli
Apostolic Delegate to Malaysia
55 Waterloo Street #06
Singapore 1877954

Your Holiness

Recent Political and Social Developments in Malaysia: Towards a More Comprehensive Understanding of the Realities in Malaysia

We are a group of Catholics and some from other Christian denominations in Malaysia. Malaysia, a Muslim-dominant country, has a population of 28 million people with 2.2 million registered as Christians, of whom an estimated 850,000 are Catholics.

We write to you with regards to our prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s official visit to the Vatican on 18 July 2011. We are anxious about recent developments concerning questions of democratic rights and religious freedom in Malaysia. In our letter we highlight these issues in order to help Your Holiness understand more critically and comprehensively the political and social realities in our country lest you are presented with a one-sided view of developments in Malaysia.

A watershed

The Malaysian media has reported that the visit of our prime minister to the Vatican is a ‘watershed’ that foreshadows the establishment of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and the Holy See.

We believe that the establishment of diplomatic ties between the Vatican and Malaysia is a good step forward; after all, Malaysia is one of only 17 countries in the world that does not yet have diplomatic ties with the Holy See. Our concern is that of the timing in establishing these ties, on which we elaborate below.

Christian-Muslim dialogue

Church sources in Malaysia inform us that the visit also has to do with the Holy Father’s desire to promote Christian-Muslim dialogue, an initiative that you wisely began to undertake beginning from 2005, shortly after you assumed the papacy. It might be that you find this sixth prime minister of Malaysia an attractive dialogue partner given that he goes around the globe promoting himself as the leader of a moderate Muslim country made up of various ethnic groups. As well, he has called for the formation of a ‘Global Movement of the Moderates’ and that it ought to take centre stage in the international arena.

We believe that there are lessons that one can draw from the Malaysian experience. For ordinary Malaysians of different races and faith are respectful of one another’s beliefs and customs, and have learnt to co-operate and live peacefully side-by-side. However, this is so in spite of the shameful conduct of some of our political leaders who have unabashedly manipulated ethno-religious sentiments all these years, and mobilized on ethno-religious grounds in order to stay in power.

Cakap tak serupa bikin

Indeed, the conduct of prime minister Najib and his Barisan Nasional (BN) government at home, at least recently, has been anything but moderate! In our Malaysian colloquialism, we might say of the prime minister that dia cakap tak serupa bikin, meaning that ‘he does not do what he preaches’, or that ‘he does not walk the talk’!

In this regard, we are very concerned about the timing of this official visit which follows immediately after recent repression of civil society groups which are fighting for clean and fair elections. We are also deeply concerned that some top leaders of this democratic initiative have been painted unjustly as ‘anti-Islam’ by the authorities without any basis whatsoever. Below we highlight a few recent events and episodes.

READ MORE:  Farewell, Haris Ibrahim - a true patriot

Najib’s heavy handed response to the Walk for Democracy

Just last week on July 9, 2011, there occurred the controversy-ridden ‘Walk for Democracy’ that was initiated by the coalition of 62 NGOs calling themselves Berish 2.0 (bersih meaning ‘clean’ in Malay, our national language). The coalition had wanted to hold a peaceful street walk in support of an 8-point program to institutionalize clean and fair elections. Numerous glaring incidences that have occurred in past elections as reported in the media, and recounted and confirmed in studies by major researchers, have indicated that Malaysia’s electoral system and the conduct of these elections have not been free and fair. Significantly, Malaysia has been ruled by a single party – the BN coalition dominated by Najib’s United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) – since independence in 1957, more than 54 years ago!

It was on account of frustrations arising from these inadequacies in the electoral system that Bersih was formed. Among others, the respected Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism, of which the Catholic church of Malaysia is a part, affirmed Bersih’s right to conduct this peaceful walk for what it considered ‘just demands’.

In deference to the king, who intervened to head off a potential confrontation between Bersih supporters and its extremist detractors including from UMNO Youths, Bersih opted to hold a rally in the Stadium Merdeka. Yet Najib’s BN government declared that Bersih was ‘an illegal organization’ and its proposal to hold the gathering in the Stadium was rejected by the authorities. On the eve of the gathering, a court order was obtained to ban 91 leaders of Bersih and the Opposition (and also those from anti-Bersih groups) from entering those parts of Kuala Lumpur around Stadium Merdeka under threat of ‘arrest on sight’.

Earlier, Najib’s government had even banned the wearing of yellow Bersih T-shirts. The Bersih office was raided and six of their office workers were arrested. Bersih supporters who participated in ‘roadshows’ to publicise the upcoming event were also arrested. Six of them, also members of the Parti Sosialis Malaysia, were subsequently detained under the Emergency Ordinance (a Detention without Trial law) and are now held under solitary confinement. A leading lawyer has described these developments as signifying Malaysia’s descent into ‘a police state’.

In the event, the police came down hard on Bersih supporters who turned up for the gathering in Kuala Lumpur on July 9. The police set up road blocks and barb-wire fences manned by hundreds of policemen thus creating huge traffic jams throughout the city. To disperse the Bersih supporters, the police resorted to use of water cannons and fired tear gas into the crowd, as though the people were the enemy. A total of 1,667 people including 151 women and 16 children were arrested. What was singularly laudable was that there was no incidence of violence on the part of the tens of thousands of Bersih supporters who came from all ethnoreligious backgrounds.

Yet, prime minister Najib has claimed that the police had acted professionally, and condemned Bersih and the Opposition for tarnishing the image of the country. We urge you Holy Father and your Vatican officials to view the video clips that were taken of the goings-on. Significantly, the Bar Council of Malaysia has commented that the police had ‘used force excessively’.

Manipulating ethnoreligious sentiments

Tellingly, two days before the July 9 event, Najib had addressed a gathering of Malay silat (martial arts) exponents whence, reportedly, he suggested that the silat groups could be mobilized as a third line of defence against enemies from within and outside the country.

More than this, on July 2 in a gathering of about 20,000 people in the town of Kota Baru, Najib, in a live
broadcast over Radio Malaysia, described Ambiga Sreenevasan, the chairperson of Bersih, as ‘a threat to Islam’ for the watching brief she held as the then president of the Bar Council in the Lina Joy case a few years earlier.

Freedom of religion

Lina Joy was a Muslim woman who converted to Catholicism before marrying a member of the faith. She filed against the Registration Department for registering her religion as ‘Islam’ in her MyKad (identity card) although she had converted out of the religion.

In spite of the dismissal of her case, it was popularly understood by many Malaysians, especially non-Muslims, that this was a violation of the freedom of religion guaranteed in the Federal Constitution. Najib’s labeling Ambiga as a threat to Islam is a deliberate distortion of her professional role as legal counsel in the Lina Joy case.

In the event, this Lina Joy case arises from a conflict between two legal jurisdictions – the civil law versus shariah law – that have emerged in Malaysia. In recent years, a number of cases involving the conversion of minors to Islam without the knowledge of the other spouse; the custody of children and/or the question of maintenance following the conversion to Islam of one spouse; the question of inheritance and even funeral arrangements following the death of a spouse who had purportedly converted to Islam without his family’s knowledge, have been highly controversial. In these cases, the non-Muslim litigants often found themselves helplessly trapped between or confined to only one of concurrent jurisdictions since they do not have locus standi in the shariah court.

READ MORE:  When Mahathir takes issue with multi-ethnic Malaysia

Mention should also be made of the Court case between the Catholic church and the Malaysian government regarding the church’s use of the word Allah in the Catholic weekly The Herald. The government had ruled that the word Allah should be confined to use among Muslims only. At this point, a final decision has yet to be made by the Court.

Related to the above was the controversy over the importation and distribution of the Malay bibles which contained the word Allah. One shipment of these Bibles was held back by the Home Ministry authorities for several years and the matter was taken to Court. Although the Bibles were released in early 2011, unnecessary conditions have been imposed on their importation into peninsula Malaysia, to the dissatisfaction of Christians.

We highlight these episodes to you Holy Father because you have made the defence of the freedom of religion an important plank of your papacy.

Visiting the Vatican to stay in power?

Finally, there is concern among us that Najib is also reaching out to the Holy See at this juncture in order to secure popular support in the forthcoming general election due by early 2013. In the previous 2008 election, the multiracial, multireligious Opposition coalition in Malaysia performed very well and succeeded in denying the BN government a two-thirds’ majority in parliament (which had previously allowed the BN government to freely amend the Federal Constitution at will). The Opposition coalition also won an unprecedented 5 out of the 13 state governments. In fact, the BN government lost the popular vote to the
Opposition in peninsula Malaysia.

The reason why the BN was returned to power in the 2008 election was because it had secured virtually all the parliamentary seats in the states of Sabah and Sarawak located on the island of Borneo. In other words, the victory of the BN (as well as for the Opposition) in the upcoming election will depend on how well it performs in those two states.

In this regard, it is significant to note that Christians constituted 43 per cent of the population in Sarawak in 2000, and 28 per cent of the population in Sabah as recorded in the 2000 Census. We are suspicious that this official visit by Najib and his BN colleagues to the Holy See will be used by the BN leaders politically i.e. to secure votes for the BN from the Christians in Sabah and Sarawak. It is not inconceivable that photographs of Najib standing alongside the Holy Father will be widely distributed throughout the two states, particularly in the rural areas where the Christian indigenous people predominate, in the run-up to the next election.

It is with the concerns described above that we submit this letter to you Holy Father.

  • While we welcome the establishment of diplomatic relations between our country Malaysia and the Holy See, and we do believe that Malaysia’s experience in inter-religious living and cooperation has lessons to offer to other multireligious multiethnic societies, nonetheless, we are wary about the timing of this visit by prime minister Najib to the Vatican.
  • We are concerned that foreign governments and leaders who host him in his travels might be influenced by his pronouncements which extol the spirit of moderation, whereas in fact his government has used unnecessarily excessive force time and time again, the latest being its undemocratic treatment of civil society groups in Bersih’s Walk for Democracy episode.
  • We wish to highlight, too, how prime minister Najib and other BN leaders, in trying to stem the popular support for Bersih’s call for clean and fair elections, have manipulated ethnoreligious sentiments irresponsibly and attempted to demonise Bersih leaders as anti-Islam.
  • We also highlight how there have been curbs to freedom of religion in fact, although this fundamental human right is guaranteed in the Federal Constitution of Malaysia.
  • We are also suspicious that there is a hidden political agenda to win electoral support among the Christians of Sabah and Sarawak in this visit to the Vatican.
  • We pray therefore that the Holy See will consider these concerns seriously and be guided by the Holy Spirit in its dealings with the Malaysian government.

Endorsed by:

Aeria, Dr Andrew
Alfred, Rozanna
Aneel David K
Angus, Valerie
Angus, Valerie
Anjimin, Esther
Anthony, David
Anthony, Nicholas
Anthony, Richard
Armin, Delsie
Arnold, Raymond
Augustin, Yolanda
Beh, Augustin
Beh, Brenda
Beh, Francis
Beh, Belinda
Beh, Bernadette
Beh, Briget
Bendict, Jeremy
Benedict, Amanda
Benedict, Felix
Benedict, Jeffri
Benedict,Helen
Benjamin, Dorothy S
Benjamin, Lourdes, S
Benjamin, Merician S
Benjamin, Ronald
Bhar, Bernard
Boey, Anna
Bon, Gloria
Bro Anthony Rogers fsc
Bro John D’Cruz fsc
Brodie, Christopher
Cardosa, Dr. Mary Suma
Carina, Joellyne
Chahil, Sharon
Chan, Eunice
Chan, Lillian
Chang, Agatha
Chang, Francis
Chang, Alice
Chang, Jacob
Chang, Anna
Chang, Kevin
Chang, Lilian
Chang, Vivian
Chang, Joseph
Cheah Eng Thiam
Cheah, Ruth
Chee Kha King, Andrew
Chee, Amanda
Chee, Audrey
Chee, Belinda
Chan Joon Phei
Chee, Peter
Cheng Joon Hau
Cheng Yoon Sen
Cheng Yuin Mei
Cheng, Jason
Cheow, Geraldine Anne
Chew Lip Yin, Issac
Chia Mia Wan, Cynthia
Chia, Sophia
Chin Kon Seng, John
Chin N F
Chin Poh Choo
Chin Yee Whah
Chin, Leonard
Chin, Leoretta
Chin, Pax Angelo
Choo Nyon Yew
Choong, Vincent
Chop Noon Yew
Chow, Bernie
Chua Juay Jin
Chua, Christopher
Chua, Helen
Chung Jingyee
Curzon, Juelle
de Silva, Edda
de Vries, Abigail
Delph, Amy J.
Ding Choon Lu, Anna Faustina
Doh Mee Yuen
Ee, Daisy
Ethan, Joash
Fah Hon Leong, James
Fernandez, Angeline Bones
Fernandez, Catherine
Fernandez, John
Fernandez, S a
Ferns, Jenevieve
Fong Li Kwan
Fong, Peter
Foo Chit Wai, Edmund
Foo Tet Sim, Elizabeth
Foo Tet Sin, Theresa
Foo Tet Tsin, Joan
Foo Tet Yoong, Barbara
Foo Tze Hiung, Colin
Foo, Angela
Foo, Audrey
Foo, Bernadine
Foo, Damian
Foo, Leonard
Foo, Nicholas
Foo, Susan
Foo, Tet Sin, Agatha
Foo, Theresa
Foo, Valentine
Fr Edmund Woon
Fr Fabian Dicom
Fr Jude Miranda
Fr Julian Leow
Fr Marshall Fernandez
Fr Simon Labrooy
Francis, Agatha
Francis, Caroline
Francis, Franklin
Francis, Jennifer
Francis, Julienna
Francis, Maria Christina
Gasper, Margaret
Goh Chee Beng, Johnny
Goh, Helena
Goh, Kiat
Goh, Peggy
Gomez, Dr Terence
Gumbok, Felinsia
Harben, Dr Nilufer
Hector, Charles
Hew, Theresa
Ho, Alfred
Ho, Enoch
How Si Khoon, Jocelyn
Isnin, Rachel
Jalleh, Martin
Johnraj, Davis
Joseph, James Ponniah
Juhari, James
Kam, Margaret
Kang Hian Beng, Paul
Kee, Francis
Khek, Linus
Khoi Hoay Ling
Khoo, Cynthia
Khoo. Philip
Khor, Anne
Kim S Choo
Koh, Ashley
Koh, Daniel
Koh, Hugh
Koh, John
Koh, Mark
Kok, Joan Elizabeth
Kuan, Amy
Kwan, Hung Weng
Kwan, Susanna
Lai Chen Chiong
Lai Chew Yong, Lucia
Lai Kong Meng, Francis
Lambin, Jessica
Lanson, Jairin
Lau Beng Teck, Michael
Lau, Aileen
Chee, Alexcius
Law, Berny
Law, Clare
Law, Stephen
Lawrence, Leong
Lazaroo, Mandy Joan
Lean, Cindy
Lee Mae Yin, Josephine
Lee, Elaine
Lee, Gerald
Lee, Margaret
Lee, Patricia
Leong Kok Soon, Patrick
Leong Pooi Yin, Pauline
Leong, Agatha
Leong, Debra Robert
Li Yi Phang
Lim Mah Hui, Dr Michael
Lim Sim Seng
Lim Swee Bin
Lim Thean Heng
Lim, Chin Chin Theresa
Lim, Jean
Lim, Joyce
Lim, Sophy
Lim, Susan
Ling Wei, Arthur
Liow Sook Ching
Lo, Emily
Loh Angeline
Loh Ci Yan, Sara
Loh Sook Yuin, Amy
Loh, Alexander
Loh, Anthony
Loh, Arthur
Loh, Debbie
Loh, Joseph
Loh, Judith
Loh, Kee Wey Henry
Loh, Kok Wah Dr Francis
Loh, Lawrence
Loh, Mary Magdalene
Loh, Philomena
Long Took Chee, Andrew
Loo, Joakim
Loo, Randy
Looi, Adrian
Looi, Grace
Looi, Vincent
Looi, Vivien
Loong, Chris
Loong, Shane
Loorthusamy, Augustine
Lopez, Gregore Pio
Lowe Sook Yin, Christina
Manikam, Gerard Kumar
Martin, Erik
Mary, Genevieve
Moinsin, Jusni
Narayanam, Rajenthiran
Narayanan, Michael
Netto, Anil
Ng Choon Sim, Dr Cecilia
Ng Kok Aun
Ng Kok Moi
Ng Lai Leng,
Ng Liang Hock
Ng Swee Ming, Dr
Ng, John
Ng, Mary
Ng, Nita
Ng, Patricia
Ng, Rose
Nicholas, Dr Colin
Oh, Billy
Ong Hong Thong, Thomas
Ong Kay Chong
Ong Wing Khang, Lawrence
Ong, Adeno
Ong, Ellen
Ong, Leslie B K
Ong, Steffi
Ong, Stephanie
Ong, Thomas
Ooi Tze Qian, Angie
Ooi Wah Seng, Michael
Ooi, Corinth
Ooi, David
Ooi, Dick
Ooi, Frederick
Ooi, Gloria
Ooi, Issac
Ooi, Jacob
Ooi, Jeremy
Ooi, Joshua
Ooi, Seira
Ooi, Stephanie
Ooi, Timothy
Patrick, M B
Paul, Jack
Penafort, Robert
Pereira, Mary
Peter, Donecia
Phan Tze Wei, Eric
Phan Ying Ching, Mary A
Phan Ying Han, Erin
Phipps, Mary G
Phoa, Dr John
Phun, Florence
Quah Ai Siew, Christine
Raiappan, Peter
Railim, Clarisya
Rajendra, Rebecca
Ran, G S F
Reiji Jason Lau Kenzaki
Resha, Ellana
Rosaline, Daphne
Roy, Josef
Scott, Benjamin Patrick
Scott, Jennifer Caroline
Selvaraj, Jason
Seri, Pauline
Sia Chay Thiam
Sibert, Dr Anthony
Siong, David
Sivapatham, Joycee
Soon Le Teck
Soosai, Jonathan
Soyza, Allan
Sr Lucy Theseira, IJ
Sr Marie Angele, IJ
Sr Stanislaus Thoo, IJ
Sr Winnie Khong, IJ
Sr. Dorothy Khaw IJ
Sr. Elaine Wong IJ
Sr. Mary Fletcher FMM
Surin, Raphael
Tan Jin Choon, Dominic
Tan Lai Imm
Tan Meow Min, Pauline
Tan Siew Hoon, Johanna
Tan Teck Keong
Tan, Aloysius
Tan, Catherine
Tan, Constance
Tan, Cynthia
Tan, David B C
Tan, Francis Dr
Tan, Hans
Tan, James
Tan, Jamie
Tan, Janice
Tan, Jeanne
Tan, Jerene
Tan, Josephine
Tan, Joshua
Tan, Joyce
Tan, Lionel
Tan, Lynette
Tan, Sooi Beng, Dr
Tan, Violet
Tay, Angelina
Teo FH, Lisa
Teo CC, Wendy
Teo HF, Grace
Teo Kar Im
Teo, Ann
Teoh, Leonard
Tijah Yok Chopil
Ting,Eta
Toh Kin Woon, Dr Philip
Tuzan, Desonny Daning
Vincent, Angela
Wan, Vincent
Wee, Anthony
Wee, Geraldine
Wee, Vivien
Wong Ming Yew, Lionel
Wong, Adrian
Wong, Alice
Wong, Alison
Wong, Angie
Wong, Annie
Wong, Claire
Wong, Dominic
Wong, Raymund
Wong, Richard
Wong, Roderick
Wong, Wong
Wong. Andrew
Woo, Ruth
Yeap Siew Lan
Yee Suk Yeen, Lynette
Yeo, Helen
Yeoh Beng Kim, Jonathan
Yeoh Hooi Kee, Daniel
Yeoh, Dylan
Yin Chueh Sheung, Christopher
Yip, Desmond
Yip, Jackie
Yip, Leona
Yip, Terina
Yong Hua Hin, John
Wong, John
Yong, Carol
Yong, Marie-Anne
Yoong, Michelle

The views expressed in Aliran's media statements and the NGO statements we have endorsed reflect Aliran's official stand. Views and opinions expressed in other pieces published here do not necessarily reflect Aliran's official position.

AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
  1. Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
  2. Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
  3. Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
  4. Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
  5. Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
Support our work by making a donation. Tap to download the QR code below and scan this QR code from Gallery by using TnG e-wallet or most banking apps:
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
25 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Hovanassian
Hovanassian
2 Aug 2011 1.06pm

This letter is written by adherents to a faith that does not have any democratic values. it is a totalitarian religion run from a totalitarian state the Vatican and seeks to criticise a government that allows them to worship and to practice their faith as it has for centuries.

Sad indeed is the plight of the Malaysian Catholic. They fail to see the contradiction in their statements. Attacking a Prime Minister who ‘heavy handedly curtailed a walk for democracy’. They were not walking for democracy they were walking to incite the overthrow of a duly elected government with unsubstantiated claims against it which they refused to use democratic institutions such as the courts to address.

Hopefully the Pope has mores sense than his outdated followers in Malaysia. The church’s policies to this sort of descent has a precedent in the Father D’Souza case in Singapore in the 1980’s.

Kevin C
Kevin C
22 Jul 2011 5.21pm

As a Sabahan Christian, I can say I’m quite worried with what’s happening there in the peninsular. Eventhough it’s relatively safe here, sooner or later the ripples of effects will definitely affect all of us. And if they truly want to see an example of 1Malaysia, come down here to The Land Below The Wind. You’ll see all sorts of races mixing with each other and respecting each other’s principles and beliefs, which is a norm of the society here. I just hope things will change sooner or later for the better…

herbs
herbs
21 Jul 2011 12.14pm

Notice, the poor english used by umno supporters like nick etc. It reflects the fact that the gov can only fool the semi literate and uneducated.

ramesh kumar
ramesh kumar
20 Jul 2011 11.03pm

Letter written by archbishhop from singapore. Question: why dont/didnt he/others condemn about the restrictions imposed by the singapore govt both in the past and present? why dont he try marching or doing a street protest in spore. 2008 was a water-shed in msian politics; strong enough to send reververations down south and affect its political scenario. It is very easy to condemm others but not oneself. Try to listen to the interview by francis seow, former sollisitor-general of spore & others and draw your own conclusions.

Aliran
Aliran
20 Jul 2011 11.21pm
Reply to  ramesh kumar

The above letter was not written by the Singapore archbishop, but by a group of Malaysians.

slurpking
slurpking
20 Jul 2011 3.25pm

The Hindu Sangam, should have written to the Indian Goverment, when najib visited India…to bring the 300 IT professionals and block the freedom of Malaysians!!!…

mamat
mamat
20 Jul 2011 11.07am

….. Najib, u as a muslim, how idiot u can done it …..

v
v
20 Jul 2011 1.46am

Isma, you got me thinking. And yes you are right. Why did Dato’ Onn Jafaar leave UMNO? Why didn’t UMNO accept his suggestion?

That same party still has the same mentality of yester-years. How long have we been independent? 54 would be the answer. Btw, UMNO is even older than Malaysia. 1946.

The same reason Dato left is the same reason UMNO labeled Bersih illegal(it was the government, but isn’t it the same?).

Ironically, Dato’ Onn Jaafar was one of its founders. Even more depressing is his grandson Hishammuddin Hussein.

All I’m saying is we need to reject UMNO. Show them who’s in charge. The people.

Anak Kampung
Anak Kampung
19 Jul 2011 4.42pm

Is there a way that others can add their signatures to this letter? Perhaps an online petition? Please keep me posted. Thanks.

EAP
EAP
19 Jul 2011 4.12pm

ABD HAMID IS ANOTHER IDIOT OTHER THAN NICK….

amirimran
amirimran
19 Jul 2011 12.56pm

I speak on behalf of myself, As a muslim i only believe of the faith i have and taught. Having said that, i know for the fact that if everyone just respects each others faith and believes there will always b peace and harmony in this country. Hinder from force convertions, let every men, women of all races choose their believes and faith in their own free will. No religion teaches bad doings, hatred and force. Let us all live and let live, accept for the fact there are also others sharing this beloved country.

Isma
19 Jul 2011 9.56am

Fellow Malaysians of all faiths, never ever forget that UMNO remains fully committed to its racial foundations. Racial based parties are an anachronism in this day and age so they always try to hide their true selves with lies. Islam recognizes hypocrites as among the most vile and despicable types of people around and truly hypocrisy is the very soul of UMNO. No matter what the leaders of UMNO say or do, the objective is always the same, and that is to defend their position, their way of life and their way of thinking. When pushed to the wall, either literally or by their own perception (the Bersih rally really set their imaginations on fire!) their true selves will be revealed. They have a lot to hide as most Malaysians know, and really they shouldn’t bother to hide anything at all especially since they have the police, the judiciary and the entire force of government machinery behind them. I might even respect them if they openly declare themselves as facists whose preferred governing style by dictatorship. Instead we get hollow slogans about 1Malaysia and moderation that… Read more »

vick
vick
18 Jul 2011 10.18pm

Hope pope will advice najib on good interreligion practises in Malaysia.

torpedo
torpedo
18 Jul 2011 9.21pm

Nick. there is no point doing so! they need help! we need help!

ABDUL HAMID
ABDUL HAMID
18 Jul 2011 8.06pm

If these were CHRISTIAN LEADERS who taught about love and forgiveness, I shudder to think what their congregations might become? And to think that they can build churches, pray their own way and convert non Muslims in a supposedly Muslim-majority country without hindrance.What more do they want? I’m beginning to believe the not so long ago stories of turning Malaysia into a Christian or at least a hardcore secular state. The story of the Arab and his camel is appropriate here.

Nick Not
Nick Not
18 Jul 2011 10.16pm
Reply to  ABDUL HAMID

abdul hamid, if the Islamic faith is strong, there is nothing to fear. The fear only arises when there are real threats out there. The world is getting more secular. Neither Islam nor Christianity is winning. However, all forms of oppression whether educational, racial or religious will only lead to a country’s downfall…

Mike
Mike
18 Jul 2011 11.02pm
Reply to  ABDUL HAMID

Love and forgiveness is not synonymous with stupidity and naïveté. To love someone, also means to correct them when they are wrong. To forgive someone, does not mean to condone the wrong committed.

Francis
Francis
19 Jul 2011 12.02am
Reply to  ABDUL HAMID

Just because Christians are taught love and forgiveness, they are to turn a blind eye to abuses, tyranny and persecution. Christians are also taught to fight for the rights of those who are trodden. Kindly do not think that Christians will turn a blind eye to the abuses of the UMNO Goverment. We do pray that the dictators will change, but we also have the courage to speak out against the wrongdoings and corruption in our country.

msb
msb
19 Jul 2011 7.32pm
Reply to  ABDUL HAMID

ABDUL HAMID, according to what u say, u should mean that, Najib will coorporate with Pope, to turn Malaysia into Christian State(?) 🙂

What more do you want? I want more of your brain portion to be used, don’t let ur brain get rusty.

Bernard Teng
Bernard Teng
18 Jul 2011 8.03pm

There is nothing wrong in writing to the Pope.
Freedom of expression and opinion.Good, I am
all for it if for a good reason like this. No law says cannot write to the Pope, right??

Clifford Yap/KLflamingo3
Clifford Yap/KLflamingo3
18 Jul 2011 7.34pm

Quote :” You can lie to a certain person at a particular time; to different person at
different time,but you cannot lie to everyone
all the time and most certainly you cannot
lie to God Almighty at Anytime ! “

Nick
Nick
18 Jul 2011 7.18pm

Wow, interesting letter. Funny to see how so called Malaysian people write a letter to other country leader and portray a bad impression on him.

Malaysian should conceal their families matter within themselves.

Wesley Wong
Wesley Wong
18 Jul 2011 7.57pm
Reply to  Nick

Well-written letter. Might as well add my name to the list.

Nick Not
Nick Not
18 Jul 2011 10.07pm
Reply to  Nick

it is idiots like you (Nick) that lets Malaysia being fed to … Concealing family matters to yourself? I think you r the happy type that kept your mouth shut while others are ramming …

Demasis
Demasis
18 Jul 2011 6.41pm

I THINK THE CORRUPTION TRIAL IN FRANCE WILL BE INTERESTING

25
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x