Humility is not a weakness
By Terence Fernandez, The Sun
THE Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) may be blamed for breaking the impasse between the Christian community and the government over the detention of over 30,000 Bibles in Port Klang and Kuching Port. It will be seen as splitting the Christians, who have held firm – till now – to the principle that the stamped and serialised Bahasa Malaysia holy books, the Al-Kitab, cannot be collected as they have been “desecrated”.
If anything, the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) wants the Bibles, which have been impounded for more than two years, to be a symbol of religious persecution and testimony to the flip-flopping of government policies when it comes to matters of the faith.
But as true Christians will tell you, humility is one of the tenets of the faith. Taking the first steps to break the deadlock is not a sign of weakness and compromise – although many would see it as that. Also, it is their duty to protect the Bible which they believe contains the word of God.
As the BSM articulated on Wednesday, the Al-Kitab has been through enough abuse and true Christians would not want to subject it to further grief, desecration or defacement. The released Bibles will be made into a Berlin Wall-like monument – a museum piece as a reminder of this sad event.
Those who view it as a victory for the authorities should think again. The whole episode stinks of one-upmanship and fickle policies that are inconsistent with the 1Malaysia mantra.
This scribe has heard that even the prime minister had asked his cabinet colleagues: “Why are we doing this to the Christians?” No answers – not that are acceptable – were forthcoming.
While the country’s leaders go into damage-control mode, they must realise that making frequent flights to Sabah and Sarawak will not be enough to soothe wounds and repair reputations. Foreign publications, news wires and portals including Vatican media are watching events here with a keen eye. The fragile social fabric that has bound us for decades seems to have been compromised.
It is bad enough that churches are now “forced” to operate from shop-lots and old factories in industrial zones. Even erecting crosses is subject to strict regulations by the local authorities.
All the goodwill emanating from the Molotov cocktail attacks on several churches early last year, which brought the country’s leaders and Muslims together in defence of the Christian community has all but dissipated.
It is going to be painstaking work to rebuild the goodwill that all communities have enjoyed all this while. It is going to be an awkward Christmas this year. While we revel in the open house festivities where leaders mingle with the people over fruitcake and sparkling grape juice, the events of the early part of 2011 will be simmering beneath the surface. Hopefully no overzealous official will add insult to injury by asking that Christian symbols be removed before the prime minister arrives – as was the case last year.
The prime minister himself is a St John’s alumnus. Here and at Nottingham University, crucifixes and Bibles and Christian prayer and other symbols are all around. This never affected him or influenced his obligations as a good Muslim.
One is certain that Datuk Seri Najib Razak does not stand alone and there are Muslims like him who are wondering “why are we doing this to the Christians?”
As Najib’s predecessor once said, “It is the obligation of the majority in this country to protect the rights of the minorities.” Many have forgotten this message or have refused to acknowledge it, fearing that it will not be politically expedient to do so.
I am not a religious person, but I do say a little prayer everyday for myself: “Please help me to do the right thing, even if it is the most difficult thing to do.” Today, I extend this prayer to those who lead us.
