PETALING JAYA: Christians in the state are looking forward to spending their first Sunday of the new year worshipping in peace, following the decision by Selangor Umno not to protest in front of churches today.
Council of Churches of Malaysia general-secretary Rev Dr Hermen Shastri welcomed the move and described it as “a positive development”.
“It will be a peaceful Mass and I am sure that Christians gathering in churches for worship (today) will be praying for peace and harmony in the country,” he said.
Selangor Umno and other groups had planned the protest over the issue of non-Muslims using the word “Allah”.
Dr Hermen urged groups that were religiously motivated by the issue to focus on peace.
“They should work towards peace and reconciliation which is a higher ideal of any religion,” he said.
Bi-partisan National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC) member Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa lauded the decision by Umno and the Muslim groups, in particular Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma), to call off the planned demonstration.
“I had previously advised Isma’s leaders that holding a demonstration in front of the churches would only increase the tension and add to the provocation,” he said.
Dr Mujahid, a well respected Muslim scholar with PAS, urged all parties to remain calm and to allow the courts and religious authorities to handle the issue.
He said the NUCC would ask the Government to find ways to engage the rakyat and find more amicable ways for parties to resolve issues affecting their communities.
“I offer myself as a mediator if the NUCC is needed as a bridge between the parties concerned,” he added.
Sarawak Land Development Minister, Tan Sri Dr James Masing, said the issue was more than just religious polemics and concerned the future direction of the nation.
“It is about Malaysia as a nation. Have we diverted from the principles upon which this country was conceived?” he said.
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