Susan Loone
Malaysiakini
Feb 23, 11
The Anglican church wants the Penang government to immediately activate the newly-minted non-Muslim Affairs portfolio to address issues which affect this group.
West Malaysia Anglican Diocese assistant bishop Andrew Phang (left) said Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who heads the portfolio, must “act now” and put into practice what has been preached by the state government.
“(Otherwise) it would remain merely a committee; the state should start the ball rolling and gather all the relevant groups for a meeting soon,” suggested Phang, a vicar at the Redeemer Church in Butterworth.
“The churches can play an active role by organising groups to participate in the portfolio’s activities like dialogues between the different communities.”
Phang said that initiating the portfolio is a timely move, adding that the urgency to get it up and running is not intended to insult Muslims, who have always had their interests taken care of by the government.
“We just want to say that, with this portfolio, we can push for our issues to be looked into,” he told reporters last night on the sidelines of the Southeast Asia Provincial Gathering for Anglican Churches in Tanjung Bungah.
He said the exco could help address issues like difficulties in obtaining land for places of worship and cemeteries.
“When we are not able to build our churches, we have to conduct our services in houses (in residential areas) and sometimes this can create tensions within the community.
There is no platform to discuss these things,” he said.
Phang said dialogues can now be organised to discuss issues, which would contribute to harmony.
‘Portfolio stays’
Opening of the church event, Lim warned of “extremists” politicising and stigmatising the non-Muslim Affairs portfolio as an insult to Islam although the status of the religion is not in question.
This is the first time he has labelled detractors “extremists”. All the while, he had referred to them as “racists” for trying to disrupt his efforts to unite the different communities.
“We will not bow down to these political opportunists and extremists but will stand firm in going ahead with the portfolio,” he said.
“The formation of this portfolio is timely as it promotes diversity and positive human interaction on cultural, religious and social spheres.”
The portfolio was upgraded from the Committee for Places of Worship under the Penang Municipal Council.
‘Need for change’
About 400 participants are attending the three-day Anglican gathering themed ‘Rising Above the Storms’, hosted by the West Malaysia Diocese.
Asked why this slogan has been picked as this year’s theme, Phang explained that the church will always support and encourage changes that are beneficial to the people.
He said there is a need for change within the churches which have their own issues to handle, including factionalism, ‘extremist’ groups and administrative problems.
“But we should not allow these (problems) to damage us and will hold on to our biblical truth as the basis (of our faith and understanding with one another,” he said.
Asked if the reforms include a change of government at the federal level, Phang declined to comment.
However, he said even without a change of government, the Southeast Asian region is a challenging place in which to live.
“It is so because this region has a large Muslim community, and a strong Buddhist presence; we have to learn how to live together peacefully,” he added.
A true follower of Jesus Christ WILL NEVER support a racist and corrupted regime.
I would say the Christians in Sabah and Sarawak cannot call themselves Christians if they stand with BN.
You should join the True Church of Jesus Christ. But it will mean Jesus died for no reason. There are conservative and born again Christians on both sides of the fences. Now this is interesting. Just who is right ? Who is wrong ? There are Christians who pray for Tun Mahathir. They think he is the answer to Malaysia. Are Christians in Semenanjung more Christian than East Malaysia ? And who is stirring up the issue of Allah ?
//Church backs Penang’s non-Muslim portfolio//
The state govt must now get the mca, gerakan and mic “coordinators” (appointed and paid for by who else but unmo) to state whether they too support Penang’s non-Muslim portfolio or not. Then the voters will know who to vote for in the coming 13 GE. This time don’t just bury them as was done in 2008, but CREMATE them for good.
Lim Guan Eng is a laudable reformer!
Give the Penang State Government a chance to show that the non-muslim portfolio would bear fruits. After all, the Pakatan States have proven that they are doing well having broken out of the mould of the racialistic, corrupt, and corrupted UMNO Baru-led Barisan.
My vote for the effort: YES!
BTW, a diversion.
/// KUALA LUMPUR: The Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) investigating the death of Teoh Beng Hock today ordered the police to head back to Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam, where the DAP political aide was found dead in the wee hours of July 16, 2009.
RCI chairman James Foong wants the police to try and look for the watch that can help ascertain the time of Teoh’s death.
Earlier, during cross-examination, investigating officer ASP Ahmad Nazri Zainal told the panel that he carried out a random search to locate the watch at the site where Teoh’s body was found.
Commissioner Bhupinder Singh: Could the watch have fallen into the hole (in the corridor). Was it searched?
Ahmad Nazri: Only random check…
Foong: Can someone search the drain hole (at the site) in case the watch is lying there?
Muhammed Shafee Abdullah (counsel for MACC): We should get a plumber for this (job).
Chris Leong (Bar Council lawyer): Let us get an independent investigator for this.
Foong: Ahmad Nazri can do this but send one of our BAR counsel to monitor the search.
Earlier, the RCI heard that Teoh’s bag pack found at Plaza Masalam containing his DVDs, pendrive, camera and bluetooth device was not checked thoroughly. The panel then ordered the bag checked and screened during the proceedings.
Foong: Has anyone looked at the DVDs and camera during the inquest?
Ahmad Nazri: I checked the camera and saw pictures of Teoh.
Foong: The bluetooth?
Ahmad Nazri: No.
Foong: This is elementary. Let’s put it in a computer . We may find something. Let’s look for more leads.
Foong also agreed with Leong’s suggestion that the exhibits be handled and screened by an independent investigator. He then ordered the police to surrender the exhibits to the court for safe keeping.
Earlier, Ahmad Nazri fumbled when he was grilled by Foong. The investigating officer gave only vague answers to questions from Foong.
Foong, who took charge of the interrogation, asked Nazri Zainal to describe the crime scene upon his arrival.
Ahmad Nazri said the corridor was dirty and was filled with cigarette butts.
Foong: But I was told it was clean. Were they old or new cigarette butts?
Zainal: Not sure…
Asked about the white marks on the sole of Teoh’s right shoe, Ahmad Nazri said it could have been caused by friction during the fall.
Commissioner T Selventhiranathan: How did it happen?
Ahmad Nazri: Maybe due to a fall…
Selventhiranathan: Have you seen them (white marks) before?
Ahmad Nazri: We are not allowed to touch (anything at) the crime scene until the forensic investigators arrive.
Selventhiranathan: You should have made more observations, not speculate.
Foong also asked Ahmad Nazri why the latter was not able to show how he entered the 14th floor of Plaza Masalam using a police sketch.
Foong: From the sketch, show me how you entered the 14th floor (of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission office at Plaza Masalam)?
Zainal: I can’t…
Foong: Why?
Ahmad Nazri: It (the sketch) was made by the forensic investigators.
Foong: So this is the first time you saw the the sketch?
Ahmad Nazri: Sorry, it was given to us by MACC.
Foong: So they give you and you just took it. You never checked whether any changes were made…
Ahmad Nazri: (silence).
The proceedings will resume tomorrow. ///
Now that is leaving no stones unturned ala jib.