Pastors not asked to pray for a Christian country, says Guan Eng

(Bernama) – GEORGE TOWN: Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said today he and the DAP had never asked Christian pastors to pray or interfere to make Malaysia a Christian country or to have a Christian prime minister.

In a joint statement with Penang pastors today, he said, they prayed at all time for the country’s peace and harmony, for unity among all races and for a fair and just leadership.

“The pastors and the church are disappointed by the false report in the media. We sincerely urge the prime minister and the home minister to take action against Utusan Malaysia for printing and spreading dangerous lies,” they said in the statement.

Utusan Malaysia reported on Saturday that the DAP was conspiring with Christians to make Christianity the official religion of the federation.

The statement said the report had disturbed multi-religious harmony and created unease and fear among Malaysians, especially Christians.

Lim said that meetings with Christian leaders would continue just like the meeting with Muslim ulama, Buddhist priests and Hindu priests, in line with his duty as the chief minister.

Meanwhile in PUTRAJAYA, the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) says it is not empowered to probe the allegation by Utusan Malaysia.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Jamil Khir Baharom said instead, matters related to other religions came under the ambit of security authorities, including the police.

“Jakim only looks after Islamic affairs, not other religions. Issues on religious conversion come under security authorities.

“Jakim has no rights to be angry… let the police investigate the claim,” he told reporters after receiving 10 lecturers from Al-Azhar University, who will teach in Malaysia, at his office here today.

-Bernama