The Council of Churches Malaysia expressed its discontent and displeasure at the demonstration by a small group of protesters against a church at Taman Medan in Petaling Jaya yesterday.

It believes there is a political agenda by certain quarters.

 

CCM general secretary Dr Hermen Shastri said in a statement today the protesters appeared to have taken the law into their own hands by disrupting the worship at a church and making religiously insensitive demands that pertain to the sacred symbol of Christians, the crucifix.

 

“The council is not surprised that yet again such an incident has taken place in Selangor.

"It is obvious that there is a political agenda behind such acts from certain quarters, who are out to instigate and increase inter-religious tensions in the state,” he said.

 

Opposing such actions that disrupt inter-religious harmony, Hermen ( left ) said the church believes that the majority of Malaysians will oppose those who seek to deny the right of the people to worship, and their right to display their religious symbols at their places of worship.

 

“Our council calls upon the state authorities to come to the aid of this small and vulnerable congregation, traumatised by a small group of demonstrators.

“The council also calls on the authorities to take firm measures against anyone who seeks to disrupt the worship of others, and, seek to act above the law by imposing their religious view upon people of other faiths with a show of mob force,” Hermen added.

 

Yesterday, it was reported that 50 protesters turned up outside a shoplot in Taman Medan, where the church is based, demandingthat the cross placed there be brought down.

 

They questioned the location of the church, claiming  that the surrounding population is 95 percent Muslim. The church agreed to take down the crucifix - and brought it down today.

 

Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali, was quoted in The Star Online as saying that demanding the removal of the cross was unacceptable and disrespectful .