Sister Julianna Lim, the Catholic nun who was brutally slain at the doorsteps of the Church of Visitation in Seremban, has passed on, as she succumbed to the serious injuries inflicted by an unknown person/s.

Indeed, while faith dictates that God gives and God takes according to His plan, we humans cannot sit back conveniently shelving this most unwanted crime as “unfortunate”. We are accountable by our calling. Leaders and citizens have a share in this crime.

Yes, the religious and leaders of the Catholic faithful will take a humble path as they extend an olive branch of forgiveness to the yet-to-be-nabbed criminal/s. They may even take the passive path of saying, “Let us leave it to the authorities”.

Helpless and grieving friends and family will weep at the loss as they pray for her eternal rest in peace.

Government leaders may conveniently convey their sympathies in order to be seen as politically correct; while some more committed leaders (like Lim Guan Eng) will make that extra effort to even take time off his busy schedule to come in person to pay his last respect, recognising the gravity of the incident.

But the government must go beyond mere extension of condolences for here is a crime that should never have happened nor should it ever recur - be it in a church, mosque, temple or any place of worship.

The late Sister Julianna who passed on without gaining consciousness was a senior citizen and at 69 a fragile, helpless and harmless woman. A pious Malaysian who had sacrificed her entire life and times for the love of God and His people, she remained dedicated to educating our children.

And mind you, she was not attacked and brutally beaten to death in a lonely, dimly-lit public car park; nor was the scene of the crime in the vicinity of a busy mall or street. But she was defeated helplessly right at the doorsteps of a place of worship - the church, which is sacred ground to Catholics.  

How can we just accept mere statements and condolences from the leader of this nation. Would Najib Abdul Razak not want to tell Malaysians how and what he and his top cop after over five decades of experienced governing are going to do henceforth to ensure that Malaysians and all visitors to this land are free from such brutal and heinous crimes?

Unending and increasing fear

Is it not of critical importance to free Malaysians from this unending and increasing fear of losing lives and properties day and night?

Malaysians have done everything possible on their part as responsible partners in crime deterrence by spending so much of their hard earned money to build all kinds of security measures around their business premises, dwellings and even places of worship.

Why can we not see at the least our very places of worship being freed from such gripping fears and incidents of crime? Is it not the primary duty of any responsible government? Or shall we privatise that, too?

The government can spend billions, all in the name of progress and economics. But what is the use of all these multi-billion trappings and display of opulent wealth if the ordinary citizens cannot live, work and even pray without fear of being attacked brutally and eventually killed?

Malaysians and all of civil society must put their foot down. If we cannot be safe in our own yard, what is the meaning of good governance?

It is most heart wrenching to lose a religious and pious woman who had dedicated her entire life for the onward progress of this nation through the selfless service of educating our children. When citizens like the late Sister Julianna get beaten to death within the compound of a place of worship, we must stand together and say very loudly: Enough is enough.

Otherwise, we have all failed Sister Juliana in one way or another. Let us not play that same old game of hiding behind God, stating that it is God’s will. That is a totally irresponsible stance and goes contrary to all considerations of the dignity of life and right to live with honor.

This episode has far-reaching ramifications. Will leaders with moral fibre rise to the occasion or shall we all be resigned with hopelessness until another similar incident strikes again?