Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) today described the Johor Education Department's move in dropping 'Christianisation threat' from the title of a seminar for teachers as insufficient to make amends.
"We take umbrage at the clumsy attempt in wording the theme of the seminar as such.
"Even though there has now been an attempt to re-name the title of the seminar, the intent of the seminar has been clearly exposed for all to see," CFM chairperson bishop Ng Moon Hing (right) said in a press statement today.
The event, organised by the Johor Education Department in co-operation with the Johor Mufti Office, was initially entitled 'Strengthening the Faith, the Dangers of Liberalism and Pluralism and the Threat of Christianisation towards Muslims: What is the Role of Teachers?'.
Despite the words 'Christianisation threat' being dropped as a result of an uproar from Christian groups, Ng said this was insufficient because no change was made to the contents of the programme.
This development, Ng said, was contrary to the Global Movement of Moderates advocated by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's role in launching the World Inter-faith week last month.
'Going against gov't, sowing hatred'
"Yet just over a month later, in the education minister's home state, tax-payers money is being used to pay for, and civil servants are being asked to attend, a seminar that seeks to sow disunity and discord among school-teachers and, through their influence, amongst our school-going children."
Government departments must not be seen to be working and should not be allowed to work at cross-purposes to the government's aims by instilling hatred and ill-will between religious communities, said Ng.
"Such contradictory objectives will only serve to divide the nation rather than unite it," he added.
Ng urged the government to take immediate action on state elements working against the government that attempts to paint Christians as enemies of Muslims.
"We call on all Malaysians to join us in prayer and action to embrace moderation and reject the extremism exhibited by the organisers of the seminar and all those who defend it," he said.
"We take umbrage at the clumsy attempt in wording the theme of the seminar as such.
"Even though there has now been an attempt to re-name the title of the seminar, the intent of the seminar has been clearly exposed for all to see," CFM chairperson bishop Ng Moon Hing (right) said in a press statement today.The event, organised by the Johor Education Department in co-operation with the Johor Mufti Office, was initially entitled 'Strengthening the Faith, the Dangers of Liberalism and Pluralism and the Threat of Christianisation towards Muslims: What is the Role of Teachers?'.
Despite the words 'Christianisation threat' being dropped as a result of an uproar from Christian groups, Ng said this was insufficient because no change was made to the contents of the programme.
This development, Ng said, was contrary to the Global Movement of Moderates advocated by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's role in launching the World Inter-faith week last month.
'Going against gov't, sowing hatred'
"Yet just over a month later, in the education minister's home state, tax-payers money is being used to pay for, and civil servants are being asked to attend, a seminar that seeks to sow disunity and discord among school-teachers and, through their influence, amongst our school-going children."
Government departments must not be seen to be working and should not be allowed to work at cross-purposes to the government's aims by instilling hatred and ill-will between religious communities, said Ng."Such contradictory objectives will only serve to divide the nation rather than unite it," he added.
Ng urged the government to take immediate action on state elements working against the government that attempts to paint Christians as enemies of Muslims.
"We call on all Malaysians to join us in prayer and action to embrace moderation and reject the extremism exhibited by the organisers of the seminar and all those who defend it," he said.
No comments:
Post a Comment