Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Kuala Lumpur (Agenzia Fides) - "It is an important step towards establishing interfaith harmony in Malaysia. It is a committee that will serve to meet, discuss, and address - government and religious communities – all the sensitive issues relating to interfaith harmony in Malaysia." With these words of Rev. Thomas Philips, President of the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST), expressed in an interview with Fides, in his commenting on the new “Committee for Understanding and Harmony Among Religions," of which he was asked to form a part.
In recent days, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, after a few months' delay, brought together 35 members of the Committee, ensuring full support for organizational and financial coverage of government activities of the group, thus officially starting the work of the organization. The Committee aims to ensure full coordination between the Government and religious communities, to address and resolve the issues affecting the nation in the sensitive religious matters by mutual agreement.
"We are in a multiethnic, multicultural, and multi-religious country. Thus, we needed a place for dialogue, in harmony with the government. I believe this initiative will contribute to interfaith coexistence and social harmony in the nation," notes the Rev. Philips, a member of the Syriac Church of St. Thomas.
The Committee will examine the issues that in recent months have shaken the nation, on the use of the word "Allah" for Christians, the problem of conversion from one religion to another, as well as other issues relating to places of worship and relations between different communities.
"The goal is to understand one another and reach shared solutions that can abate any tension and promote peace. There can be extremists in every nation and every religious community. The Committee will help, God willing, to neutralize their attempts to sow confusion and tension," said Rev. Phillips. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 17/09/2010)
