YOURSAY ‘Why did Najib give up this important chance to win the hearts of Christians in this year's Christmas hi-tea?'

Reverend hits out against 'bullying' of minority

Ferdtan: Why did PM Najib Razak give up this important chance to win the hearts of Christians in this year's Christmas hi-tea, especially with the general election looming? He attended last year's event.

Is it due to the controversial removal of any crucifix from the venue of the event last year that left him embarrassed? Or is it the problem of Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim been included in the invitation?

Last year, you had it too good - no opposition leaders were around to compete for the attention of the Christian leaders. The choice of Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Koh Tsu Koon to represent Najib is not befitting this special festive event. He is a lightweight in the cabinet.

Christianity, a religion of minority, had been under heavy attack from extremists, not only from Perkasa but also from some Umno members.

If Umno is sincere about allying suspicion that it had no part in the orchestrated 'Christian-bashing', Umno should have sent a better alternative representative - possibly the deputy PM himself.

That would certainly end the divisive Islam-Christian rift in relations.

Susahkes: Koh Tsu Koon, unfortunately Malaysia is unable to ignore the extremists because they are given airtime by Umno via Utusan Malaysia .

So, if you are really serious about ignoring them, then could we do so to Umno? I don't think your boss would be very happy.

Bob Teoh: Please be reminded that Article 153 is about the special position of Malays and natives, not special rights.

Article 153 is also about the constitutional rights of non-Malays. If only Umno can get this right, especially Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Najib, and their bullies and ‘yes men' like MCA and Gerakan, we will have less May 13s.

Malaysia is the only nation on planet Earth where the majority demand rights over the minority.

Milosevic: The goalpost keeps shifting in favour of the chauvinists and racists. The constitution is not the rule of law but rule by law. It is the plaything of entrenched interests, to be redefined and twisted to suit existing agendas.

Constitutions ultimately and unfortunately are not restraining devices but their life is premised on institutional integrity and the people's power to protect the best in the constitution and strike off the bad aspects. So the shifts in the definition of rights reflects the shifts in power occurring.

Who knows where this will end, but so far the signs are not good. People think they can mess around with words and meanings and get away with it, but ultimately the society will pay a big price.

Villageboy: The non-Malays are now convinced that Najib's 1Malaysia is only a slogan to fish for votes.

Our only hope now is Pakatan Rakyat. So far Pakatan has shown genuine desire to improve Malaysia.

Let's all Malaysians throw our support behind Anwar's leadership. I believe he really meant it when he said, " Wo men dou shi yi jia ren - we are all a family".

Mr KJ John: Thank you Pastor Eu Hong Seng, for a categorical but clear statement of what our faith means for all politicians.

Anticommunalist: It's good to see the good reverend having the courage to speak up against the draconian Article 153 that has been used time and time again to bully, intimidate, steal and trample on minorities' rights for decades now.

More leaders must come forward to criticise the unfair implementation of this so-called article of the Federal Constitution. After all, the Berlin Wall did not come down by itself, did it?

Ghkok: Universiti Malaya's Dr Azmi Sharom writes an excellent piece on Article 153.

It states "if one were to examine the constitution as a whole and if one were to also study the history behind this seeming paradox, then what can be discovered is that at the heart of this ‘supreme law' of the country, and arguably at the heart of the founding fathers of the nation, lay a desire to create a pluralistic and equal society."

The true meaning, and intention, of Article 153 should be understood by all.

Justapoint: Bravo Reverend! Actually it was not bullying. It is downright blackmail. Like if you don't toe the line, we will unleash another May 13. It has many permutations, of course.

This creation of pervasive fear in the Malaysian society provided a group of Malay elites to plunder the country and get away with it.

Mwong: This problem is further compounded by a PM who gives leeway to and even supports the extremists. The PM should be stripped of his job because he is not a PM of all races but only to Umno members.

Shame on him and with all the skeletons in the cupboard, he can still go around the world promoting his ‘movement of the moderates'.

Gan Yee Chin: Previously, those BN leaders from Umno asked the ethnic minorities to "tolerate", and MCA leaders seek for the minorities to "compromise", and now Gerakan's ‘ostrichman' asks you to be "ignorant".

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