Thursday, March 17, 2011

HOLY SCRIPTURES DESECRATED

CHRISTIAN FEDERATION OF MALAYSIA

(PERSEKUTUAN KRISTIAN MALAYSIA)

Address: 10, Jalan 11/9, Section 11, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

Telephone: (03) 7957 1278, (03) 7957 1463, Fax: (03) 7957 1457


17th March 2011

 
CFM MEDIA STATEMENT

HOLY SCRIPTURES DESECRATED


The Christian community in Malaysia is deeply hurt that the Government has desecrated and defaced the Bible.
Initial news that the Government had agreed to release copies of the Bible in Bahasa Malaysia which had been impounded in both Port Klang and Kuching was greeted with joy.
However, this joy soon turned into grief and mourning when it was discovered that the release was subject to certain conditions. Each copy has to be stamped with a serial number, the official seal of the relevant department of the Bahagian Kawalan Penerbitan Dan Teks Al-Quran, and the words “by order of the Minister of Home Affairs”.
This means that the Bahasa Malaysia Bible is now treated as a restricted item, and the Word of God has been made subject to the control of man. This is wholly offensive to Christians. Any person who respects the Holy Scriptures of any religion would be appalled by this action.

The Christian community in Malaysia has always acted in good faith and with great patience to find amicable solutions without compromising our fundamental beliefs. But that good faith has not been reciprocated by the Government. It is the Government that has moved the “goal posts” over the years through a systematic imposition of unreasonable conditions and restrictions.

We have never agreed to any wording to be endorsed on Bibles to say that it is only for Christians. The 1982 order issued under the Internal Security Act 1960 did not state that any form of words had to be endorsed on any copy of the Bible in Bahasa Malaysia.

The latest letter from the Ministry of Home Affairs dated 15 March 2011 is therefore a set of new conditions imposed on the release of the impounded Bibles which is wholly unacceptable to us. We will never accede to any desecration of the Bible since the Word of God to us is sacred.
We also wholly reject the Government’s contention that the Bible in Bahasa Malaysia is prejudicial to the national interest and security of Malaysia, and treated as a subversive publication.

As Christians we wonder how our Holy Scriptures can become a national security threat where countless number of us find it helpful in bringing hope and healing to broken lives and homes which we can testify to. Besides it commands us to be better citizens of our beloved nation.

We therefore insist that the Government withdraw the conditions imposed on the release of the Bibles impounded in Port Klang and Kuching. Given that copies may already have been endorsed, we will NOT take delivery of those endorsed copies.

We call on all Malaysians, from Semenanjung and in Sabah and Sarawak, and from all walks of life, to come together in unity to reject any attempt to restrict the freedom of religion in our beloved country.

We invite all Christians in Malaysia to remain calm and to continue to pray for a dignified and respectful resolution of this issue. As Sunday 20 March 2011 marks the 2nd anniversary of the impounding of the Bibles at Port Klang, we call on all those in Malaysia and elsewhere to dedicate themselves to a day of prayer and quiet reflection.

Yours sincerely,


Bishop Ng Moon Hing

Chairman and the Executive Committee,
Christian Federation of Malaysia

Monday, March 14, 2011

Sarawak Ministers Fellowship Media Statement 14th March 2011


Sarawak Ministers Fellowship

No.45, Lorong Keranji 4F, Tabuan Desa, 93550 Kuching. Telephone: 082-364099. Email: kmf.kch@gmail.com



Media Statement On

Restriction of Religious and Civil Rights of Christians In Sarawak

14th March 2011, Kingwood Inn Hotel, Kuching



The Sarawak Ministers Fellowship, consisting of Kuching Ministers Fellowship, Miri Pastors Fellowship, Sibu Pastors Fellowship, Bintulu Pastors Fellowship, and Gempuru Besai Raban Jaku Iban Malaysia (an alliance of Iban churches), fully stands with the Christian Federation of Malaysia on their 10th March official media statement regarding the detentions of the Bahasa Malaysia Bibles in Malaysia.

We view the detention of the latest batch of 30,000 copies of "Perjanjian Baru, Mazmur dan Amsal" (New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs) at the Kuching Port by Kementerian Dalam Negeri on 12th January as another blunt violation and unconstitutional curtailment of the religious liberty of the Christians in our Nation and the State of Sarawak.

The Bible detentions are not the only difficulties which our churches face in resolving key religious liberty issues with government authorities. We have repeatedly encountered restrictions that ran contrary to the guarantee of religious freedom provided in the Federal Constitution.

Article 8 of the Federal Constitution states that “All persons are equal before the law and entitled to the equal protection of the law”, and “there shall be no discrimination against citizens on the ground only of religion, race, descent, place of birth or gender in any law “

Article 11 provides for every person to have “the right to profess and practice his religion”, and that every religious group has the right (a) to manage its own religious affairs, (b) to establish and maintain institutions for religious or charitable purposes, and (c) to acquire and own property and hold and administer it in accordance with the law.

Furthermore, under the 18 Point Agreement for Sarawak in the formation of Malaysia, it is clearly stated that there is no official religion for Sarawak. Therefore the detention of the Bibles at the Kuching Port is not only unconstitutional but it also violates the spirit of the agreement for Sarawak to participate in the formation of Malaysia.

We are deeply disappointed and want to register our strong protest on how these continuous problems have impeded our Christian rights to practise our faith. Therefore, we call upon our Government to diligently uphold the rights of the Christian community in our State as enshrined in our Federal Constitution.

We acknowledge the biblical teaching to accord respect to the Government and to dialogue and work with those in authority to uphold peace and harmony in our land.

Monday, August 9, 2010

CFM Press Statement - Forced Conversion of Orang Asli

CHRISTIAN FEDERATION OF MALAYSIA
(PERSEKUTUAN KRISTIAN MALAYSIA)
Address: 10, Jalan 11/9, Section 11, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
Telephone: (03) 7957 1278, (03) 7957 146, Fax: (03) 7957 1457
Email: cfmsia@yahoo.co.uk

9 August 2010

CFM CONCERNED OVER “FORCED” CONVERSIONS OF THE ORANG ASLI PEOPLE

The Christian Federation of Malaysia is very concerned by the allegations of “forced” conversions of the Orang Asli people as reported by Aljazeera in their news item entitled "Malaysia ethnic tribes 'forced to convert'" (see http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2010/08/2010886496589764.html)

Every Malaysian has the right to choose his or her religious beliefs based on personal conviction as guaranteed under Article 11 of our Federal Constitution.

The allegations that “facilities and easy access into the villages” will be gained by conversions in the report should be investigated fully so that any wrong-doings by persons or organisations may be brought to light and stopped immediately.

Any development programme of the Government to lift Malaysians out of poverty should be without strings attached. Whilst we note that the Malaysian Department of Orang Asli Affairs (JHEOA) has stated that “development program such as electricity, water supply, housing and other basic infrastructure given to Orang Asli communities are based on their need and not their religion”, yet we see in the video clip that those who converted received new homes and enjoy modern amenities while those who don't continue to live in their huts.

We believe that the promotion of conversions-in-name to gain “facilities and easy access to villages”, if true, is an abuse of executive powers (which ought to be exercised for the public good) for insidious sectarian purposes. Ultimately, such practices would tend to create a community lacking in integrity and true freedom of choice where people are encouraged to compromise their beliefs, culture and identity by means of economic duress and inducements.

Bishop Ng Moon Hing,
Chairman and the Executive Committee
The Christian Federation of Malaysia

Friday, August 6, 2010

Uniting The Generations - A National Call to Pray and Fast

This year the NECF Malaysia's 40 Day of Fasting and Prayer focuses upon Uniting The Generations (August 8th - September 16th). Information are available on how you can participate in this call at;

NECF Malaysia 40 Day of Fasting and Prayer

Prayer Booklets can be downloaded in different languages for your personal use.

Join up on Facebook here;

Facebook 40 Day

Have an blessed time seeking the Lord's blessings upon our beloved nation.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Combined City Wide Prayer Meeting

There will be a combined City Wide Prayer Meeting at Hope of Kuching Church this Friday (6th of August 2010) at 7.45PM. Contact Pastor Rodney Archil for details at Zero One Three 8165677.

Monday, January 25, 2010

The KMF's Retreat

The recent KMF Retreat that was held in Lundu proved to be a great time for pastors and leaders to reconnect and refocus on common grounds of our live and ministries in Kuching and the suburbs. It was certainly a refreshing time as 15 leaders came together to pray, fellowship, plan and set goals for our fellowship this year. There was deep sense of unity within those present at all times. I thoroughly enjoyed the times both inspirational as well as the light candid moments. There were ample of food too as durians and langsat were in season around those kampungs nearby.





Thursday, January 7, 2010

Malaysian Church Firebombed

A Malaysian church, Metro Tabernacle A/G in Kuala Lumpur was firebombed last night following insistense of the Government that the word 'Allah' cannot be used by Christians in Malaysia. The issue of language and freedom of religion was fought in the courts of law have brought much tension within the Church.

In the light of this development, please pray without ceasing for freedom of religion, peace and harmony within multi-cultural Malaysia. Pray for the authorities that they will be just, righteous and not held hostage by small terrorists. Forgive those who trespass againts the Church, love unconditionally as the Lord Jesus taught us.