Members of the MCA Presidential Council today met with the EXCO members from the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) to discuss issues affecting the Christian community. The meeting took place at MCA Headquarters and lasted slightly longer than two hours from 2.30pm till 4.45pm. CFM is the umbrella body representing the main Christian bodies in Malaysia i.e. the Roman Catholic Church, Council of Churches Malaysia which consists of mainline Protestant denominations and the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship which comprises of Independent churches.

The dialogue was headed by MCA President Dato Sri’ Ong Tee Keat. Accompanying him at the dialogue were Deputy President Datuk Seri Dr. Chua Soi Lek and Vice-President Dato’ Seri Kong Cho Ha, and Presidential Council members Datuk Seri Tan Chai Ho, Sdri. Tan Cheng Liang, Dato’ Lee Chee Leong, Sdr. Gan Ping Sieu, Dato’ Dr. Mah Hang Soon and Sdr. Wong Hock Aun.

Representatives from the Christian Federation of Malaysia Leaders who attended were Bishop Ng Moon Hing, Chairman of CFM; Rev. Dr. Thomas Philips, Chairman of the Council of Churches Malaysia (CCM); Rev. Dr Eu Hong Seng, Chairman of the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship (NECF); Brother Augustine Julian, Secretary to the Catholic Bishops; Elder Kong Yeng Phooi, NECF Vice-Chairman; Pastor Sam Ang, NECF Secretary General; Pastor Jerry Dusing, President of the Sabah Council of Churches; and Elder Tan Kong Beng, CFM Executive Secretary. Port Klang Authority Chairman Dato’ Lee Hwa Beng was also present seating with the CFM delegation. He represented both MCA and CFM.

The primary issue raised involved the usage of the word “Allah” which the Christian leaders pointed out that it was not just a matter of Constitutional rights, but that substitution “Allah” with another terminology was also about rewriting religious scriptures of Christians and Sikhs, and thus would affect the normative lives of non-Muslim adherents who use “Allah” in their daily conversation, personal prayers, literature and worship. Other issues discussed were the problems faced in obtaining land for burial plots and building places of worship, as well as issues regarding the lack of moral education in schools.

CFM also gave the statistics of Christians in Malaysia whereby the Christian population stood approximately at 9.8% in the whole country. Of the 9.8%, more than half or at least 60% are Bumiputeras consisting of orang aslis and the indigenous peoples of Sabah and Sarawak who speak Bahasa Malaysia or their mother tongue as their first language.

During the meeting, MCA leaders highlighted their efforts within the federal government. For example, Tee Keat briefed that MCA Cabinet Ministers convinced the Cabinet to deliberate the issue of underage conversion and matrimonial assets should one spouse embrace Islam and amend the Legal Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976. Vice President Dato’ Sri Kong Cho Ha informed that as Minister of Housing and Local Government, he removed impractical Clauses proposed in the draft Guidelines for the Construction of non-Muslim Places of Worship in the by-laws of the Town and Country Planning Act.

Tee Keat mentioned that MCA will voice out the issues raised by the Christian leaders to other Cabinet members. In all humility, the MCA President also mentioned that the “points raised by CFM are very enlightening. Me and my colleagues are here to listen the in depth views and analysis.” Other MCA representatives also pledged to assist the Christian leaders to resolve other matters.  

-MCA online-