As a national body that represents some one million evangelical Christians in Malaysia, NECF Malaysia is deeply concerned over the use of the ISA and printing laws against newspapers and individuals who are performing the vital duty of bringing critical issues to the attention of the Malaysian public for constructive debate.
While the release of journalist Tan Hoon Cheng is welcomed, NECF believes that the ISA should not have been used in the first place to arrest and detain Tan, Raja Petra Kamaruddin and Seputeh MP YB Teresa Kok. The denial of due process occasioned by preventive detention under ISA is unfair and a violation of the constitutional rights of citizens.
If there are grounds to suspect that any of the three citizens detained under ISA on 12 September 2008 had committed any wrongdoing, they should be charged in court and be afforded the opportunity to defend themselves. If they are found guilty of any wrongdoing after the due process of a trial, there can be no complaint to the appropriate punishment being meted out against them.
NECF therefore calls upon the government to guarantee the safety and well-being of Raja Petra Kamaruddin and Seputeh MP YB Teresa Kok by immediately releasing them unconditionally.
NECF is also concerned that the show cause letters issued to Sin Chew Daily, The Sun and Suara Keadilan for reporting on matters, which rightfully belong to the public domain, has the undesired effect of stifling press freedom and journalistic integrity. NECF believes that the results of the March 8 elections have demonstrated the maturity of the Malaysian populace and their desire to interact on various issues confronting the nation. Freedom of information is vital to this process. The eagerness to use the penal sanctions of the printing laws will undermine the process of constructive debate and the maturing of the citizenry in participating in nation-building.
NECF therefore calls upon the government to confirm their recent public commitment to greater press freedom by withdrawing the show-cause letters issued to the three newspapers and the Catholic’s newspaper, Herald. (emphasis mine)
To say that I disappointed would be an understatement. Hey, I'm not deeply concerned. I'm outraged! The ISA is only unfair and violation of constitutional rights of citizens?? ISA is immoral, evil, unjust and has no place in a civil society! It's not only violation of human rights, but gross violation of human rights. Unfair? Are we playing some games here?
Where are words of condemnation? Is NECF afraid to offend the Government?
I feel more ashamed when I read ABIM's response which I'm also reproducing below
The Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (ABIM) strongly affirms that Malaysia is a country of laws not of men. We are a country which respects the rule of law and its equal application to all citizens under our Constitution and our guiding Islamic principles. At no time should a person be detained without undergoing due process of law, in which the right to fair hearing is of utmost importance, and criminal prosecution initiated for unreasonable purposes. Such an action, regardless of the initiating party, goes against the principles of natural justice and the Syari’ah which mandates impartiality, justice and fairness.We strongly condemn the detentions of blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin and Seputeh MP Teresa Kok under the draconian law of the Internal Security Act (ISA). ISA is a draconian instrument that goes against all tenets of fairness, justice and demoting the rule of law. It promotes cruelty and injustice by denying its detainees the right to be heard and a fair trial. In addition, the ISA is also prone to political abuse and there have been instances where the detainees have been mistreated. (emphasis mine)
Muslim Youth strongly condemns whereas evangelicals are only deeply concerned. I'm afraid words like 'justice' or 'injustice' is no longer a part of evangelical vocabulary. Whereas people now know the Syariah mandates impartiality, justice and fairness, we got no clue as to what the Christian Scriptures has to say about this issue.
Another Muslim NGO JMI has also released a statement saying ISA is un-Islamic. We are not sure whether this ISA is un-Christian. NECF was silent on this. JMI also said that the arrest of Teresa Kok was an injustice based on the facts that she has denied the allegations made against her and her denial was affirmed by the supposedly wronged party. Finally JMI is against detention without trial as it goes against the principles of justice. I wonder what is NECF's position on the ISA?
The mainline churches didn't fare any better. In fact it's worse.A check at CCM (Council of Churches of Malaysia's website) didn't mention anything at all about this issue. What was immediately noticeable was the fund raising for their building fund. RM8.2 million is needed. Gosh that 's a lot of money.
At least our Roman Catholic brethren are more vocal. 'Penang Cathedral denounces ISA before 800'. I don't think I'm going to read this kind of headline in the media, MSM or blogs, 'Calvary Church condemns the use of ISA before 2000'
Whither the Old Testament prophets?
NECF, I don't think you represent me anymore.
11 comments:
sp, i fully agree with you. in fact, i no longer read berita necf. i no longer read what kim kong writes.
dr lim kar yong has also highlighted some of the rather pathetic statements issued in the recent past from kim kong and necf (e.g. the malaysian church must be apolitical).
whither the OT prophets? verylah. the reb also dying breed.
Reb,
We still need you to passionately teach the OT so that your students will burn with the passion of some of the OT prophets.
Hi SP
I am with you and the Reb...I am very disappointed...like the Reb, I don't read what NECF writes anymore, neither do I expect anything to come from them. If they can get some basic church history facts wrong in their 40-day fast and pray booklet (like what I have posted in my blog), one only wonders about the organization.
Hey Reb, I am praying for more disciples for you.....
i've been looking for 12 disciples to train to take up the OT in malaysia for the future.
so far, one stm has gone to princeton to do her m.th and returned. she is now lecturer in stm in the chinese department teaching OT.
still need another 11 more!!! any takers? lots of hard work involved but passion for the OT is prime requirement.
p.s. one 1st yr student in stm is going to do his mdiv thesis on the psalms on the identity of the enemy. i might have another mtheol stdt coming in next year (if God willing).
looking for more disciples to train and mentor to take over for the future. the reb is not going to be around forever. time is short and the task of discipling has already begun.
I've signed up for History and Theology of the Exile in Nov. Will see how I fare and whether OT studies is my cup of tea. Only then will I know whether I'm qualified to be one of your disciples.
Hi Kar Yong,
I've decided to hand in my Associate Membership card after 16 years. Should have handed it in 7 years ago. That's another story. I'm still thinking of whether to blog about it. Should I let bygones be bygones?
To be fair in certain areas NECF has done a good job. I guess that's why I still keep my membership until now.
The press statement is the straw that broke the camel's back.
the necf mentioned that nowadays they do not issue individual press statements but allow the highest body, cfm, to do it.
ccm do issue press statements once in a while but these are sent to churches through email for dissemination. so, individuals may not get the news unless your church pass it on.
it is still ok to keep your associate membership in necf. necf has done good in the past. maybe they aren't too good at publicity and pr relations. they may need to get a good pr officer to handle this area to improve their image.
Well for this they did. You can read it in its website under the heading 'Press Statement.'
Sin Chew Online reported it
http://www.mysinchew.com/node/16335
I don't think they need a good PR officer. What they need are leaders who can think through biblically on issues that affect the nation before making any statement. They need to take a stand if Scriptures demands it and trust God for the consequences.
true, but with a good pr officer, it will help to 'weed' out and 'vet' their inconsistencies. they need someone to help them spot these things before it comes out open into the public. at least, he there is some check and balance.
of course, everyone is entitled to their own position and stand. if they choose not to be antagonistic, that is their position.
Hi SP,
I don't deny NECF has done some good, and I do think there is a place for NECF. But perhaps what they also need apart from a good PR or communications person is also a resident theologian. But again, many evangelicals shun theologians, and I suspect NECF is also operating on a tight budget, hence to make provision for a resident theologian and PR/Communications person may not be their priority.
Again, many evnagelicals in Malaysia feel that their priority is "spiritual" things, not "earthly" things....at least that's my observation after having spoken in many churches in the country....
Post a Comment