'To be seen at a Christian celebration with the crucifix clearly visible will expose him as easy target for his Malay opponents in Umno.'

'Najib, apologise for un-1Malaysian directive'

Faz: The directives have nothing to do with Christianity or Najib Razak being a Muslim. This is basically Umno politics at its worst. To be seen at a Christian celebration with the crucifix clearly visible together with the singing of Christian hymns, will expose him as easy target for his Malay opponents in Umno by using the Malay rural masses.

Remember what they did to Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah in Sabah not so long ago when he was Semangat 46 president? This is the typical work of PTD (administrative and diplomatic) officers who are at the helm of the government's administration and whose tasks are to complement the governing politicians to prolong their (the PTD officers' and the politicians') survival.

Anonymous: Najib's speech "moderates should fight racism and extremism " have no meaning when his office directive to the Catholic Church to remove the crucifixes during his visit on Christmas Day runs counter to his call for religious tolerance.

We should respect all religions; and all people have the right to their ways of worship and celebration. Each religion has its own way of celebrating its day of rejoicing. It is time that Najib matches words with actions.

KJ John: Mine may be an unpopular move, but I think the CFM (Christian Federation of Malaysia) should have cancelled the event if it could not host the PM in the way they wanted to.

Forgive their actions, but we do not have to condone them either. After all, is that not why we undertake our own Christmas event since about three years ago because the government programme has more to do with commercial Christianity. Christians must stand up for our truth and never compromise it.

StevenForMalaysia: Yes, as a Christian, I'm certainly disappointed with such rude and humiliating instruction. However, I forgive them in the spirit of love. But had I been one of those involved in the church, I would have suggested to the committee to object to the to their request, failing which cancel the function to teach Najib and the 'little Napoleans' a lesson.

Albert: If PM Najib is so uncomfortable with the crucifixes, then I can only conclude that he is not a PM of all Malaysians irrespective of race, religion or culture. CFM should just tell Najib that if he does not like the way the church looks, then he should just decline the invitation. Or better still, CFM should withdraw the invitation.

CFM should realise by now that Najib wants to be popular with the minority rakyat in the country (to continue as PM in the next GE) but more importantly, he does not want to offend the Umno Malays, Perkasa, etc.

And we can judge whether he is sincere by asking what he has done to address the marginalisation of the minority rakyat due to the blatant abuse of Article 153 by the Umno-led government for the past 40 years.

Chandran Sukumaran: Christians, this is the taste of 1Malaysia. Hindus, Buddhist and others, don't make the same mistake. It looks like there is no religious freedom or tolerance in Najib's 1Malaysia concept.

The Sensibility: Dear PM, you speak with ‘fork tongue' and try to propagate 1Malaysia but practise another. You are the prime minister of this country whereby Malaysians comprise of Malays, Chinese, Indians, Dayaks, Dusuns, Portuguese, Siamese, etc, with their respective religious beliefs, social and cultural background.

You went to celebrate Christmas with Christian Malaysians, but yet you gave such a directive. I believe people would strongly believe that you are a hypocrite. If you are truly a Malaysian prime minister, please lead by example and do not let the little Napoleons to stir hatred among Malaysians.

SMC77: CFM should come up and clarify the issue here. It will be Najib's fault if CFM is coerced to take his instruction. Likewise, if CFM takes Najib's instruction without any objection, then CFM needs to take the blame.

Think: Demanding an apology is pointless as it may humiliate the offender and it is nothing but the fulfilment of some kind of personal emotional satisfaction on the demander to punish another. You may get an apology but it will never be a heartfelt or a sincere one.

Sentinel: Are Muslims so weak in their faith that the mere sight of a crucifix or the sounds of hymns can make them want to convert to Christianity? Me think not. I think it's the bunch of idiots surrounding the PM that has no grey matter between their ears.

These are the idiots that is perpetuation religious disharmony and misunderstandings and causing interracial discords.

Gerard Samuel Vijayan: What a disgrace. In future, the CFM should only extend its invitation to Christian members of the cabinet and the diplomatic corps.

Is it part of Malay/Muslim culture to ask your host to suppress their religious beliefs and practices just because the guest wants to protect himself from criticism from Muslim religious extremists with their skew view of Islam.

Are Muslims so weak in their faith that the mere sight of the cross or crucifix or the reciting of prayers and singing of hymns will cause them to convert to Christianity or undermine their Islamic beliefs? If that is the case then Muslim leaders should not visit the Vatican or attend mass and services in Christian churches during state occasions in foreign countries such as coronations, weddings and funerals.

This is what 1Malaysia is all about, nothing but hypocrisy and intolerance.

Sarawakian: The church should also be blamed for acceding to their demand. Just tell him the invitation is without conditions and if Najib cannot accept it, tell him to take a hike. It was rude and ungracious of him. The event was a Christian one which he should understand.

P Dev Anand Pillai: There it is, very evident and clear but yet many dumb numbskulls would continue to vote for the BN again and again. It is very clear that 1Malaysia means one race and that race only.

Is the crucifix going to make Malays denounce their faith in Islam? Is the singing of hyms going to make them feel uncomfortable? How about how the fact that they impose their beliefs and norms on others? Aren't we tolerant?

The church should not be bothered to invite these VIPs if they can't respect the religion, culture and its celebrations.

Ian2003: What's the fuss? Najib never misrepresent himself. It is us who have misinterpreted his action. It always has been, and always will be, 1-Malay-sia. So don't go and ask for apology, and if you do, don't expect 1.

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