'The PM should meet with Utusan as well, and get them to pledge to respect other religions, and not to raise religious and racial sentiments.'

Christians pledge to respect Islam's position, says Najib

Satu Malaysian: "PM Najib Razak said leaders of Christianity in the country have pledged that they respect the position of Islam as official religion and have no intention of challenging the provision enshrined in the federal constitution."

The Christian groups appear to have played into Najib's hands and I don't know for whatever reasons or what wrong that they have done that they needed to pledge their allegiance to uphold Islam as the official religion.

Ironically it was Utusan Malaysia that made the accusation against the Christians of plotting to change the constitutional provision of the religion of the country from Islam to Christianity.

However, Najib now gives the impression to all Malaysians that he has managed to extract a pledge from the Christian community and its leaders that they will never ever challenge the provision of Islam as enshrined in the constitution. Is this some kind of a sick joke?

Fair Mind: Utusan Malaysia creates all the hoo-haas, Najib goes to talk to the Christian group and emerged as the hero and protector of Islam with bold headlines splashed in all the mainstream newspapers that the Christians have pledged to respect Islam's position - as if the Christians have somehow wronged the Malays.

There wasn't an issue in the first place as no wrongdoings have been done by the Christians. The wrongdoings were committed by Utusan , which deliberately reports lies and without any substantiation. Najib should have talked to Utusan , not anybody else.

The Christians are being used by Najib and he has no intention to ever solve the problems of the Christians since it would cost him Malay votes.

Black Mamba: The Christian group did not cause this controversy. I don't see why they have to pledge to respect Islam's position. This is like getting the victim to pledge for his own innocence while the offenders escaped prosecution.

Fairness for all: It was Najib who should have made the pledge to ensure Utusan apologise for printing the false report and for accusing the Christians of seeking to create a Christian state. The Christian leaders are stupid for bowing to Najib.

Indeed, they should have told Najib that they have no time for him unless he takes action against Utusan .

Dhammika: PM Najib Razak is a weak leader. Instead of taking serious action against Utusan Malaysia , he uses the smart way of announcing that Christians uphold Islam as the country's religion.

Christians being the minority will never ever try to install Christianity as the official religion of the federation. This is common sense. Najib is trying to escape responsibility. He clearly supports the racial and religious issues being spun by Utusan .

Gunner: The PM should meet with editors and management of Utusan as well, and get them to pledge to respect other religions, and not to raise religious and racial sentiments.

Bluemountains: It is pretty obvious that no action can be taken against Utusan because the hand that pinches the baby is the same hand that rocks the cradle.

Nil: Does the PM not already know that the Christians have always respected the position of Islam as the official religion and will never challenged the provision enshrined in the federal constitution?

Does the prime minister not already know that the Church has always prayed for peace and harmony in the country, between the various races and faiths, for the prime minister himself and for the leaders of the country so that Malaysia would continue to be a peaceful and prosperous nation?

Well, now that you have been given the assurances, it is high time that the Church and Christians be given reciprocal assurances that they have complete freedom of worship as enshrined in the nation's constitution.

Anonymous_4196: The Christians has been observing the law and respecting the constitution of Malaysia as well as acknowledging that Islam as the official religion of this country. To say that Christians pledge to respect Islam's position is redundant.

The PM should have a word with Utusan in this case. And he should have a word with Hishammuddin too.

Multi Racial: Najib gives the impression that he was there representing the Muslims to get Christian leaders assurance they will not challenge the Muslims' position again and that they will cooperate in nurturing peace and harmony.

Instead, Najib should be there to apologise to all the Christian leaders and to state that action will be taken against Utusan .

Jimmy Ng: So now we all know why the meeting was called. It was to provide an opportunity for Najib to make that particular press statement all along. The question is, since when did the Christians not respect Islam's position as the religion of the federation? Isn't that being overly politically opportunistic and so totally unbecoming of a premier?

Now Najib can go and tell everybody in a one come-uppance manner: "See, I managed to ‘persuade' the Christians to respect Islam."

What about taking action against the real perpetrators like Utusan and the unrepentant blogger Zakhir Mohamed?

ONG: People who have never committed a crime nor have any intention of committing a crime do not make public pledges that they are not going to commit crimes. It is people who have been caught for committing crimes who are compelled to pledge not to continue with their criminal behaviour, perhaps for the purpose of escaping or lessening punishment.

The Christian leaders' act of pledging to the PM and indirectly to the rest of the Muslims that they respect the position of Islam as the official religion and that they have no intention of challenging the provision enshrined in the federal constitution seem to imply that they previously did not have such respect, or worse, actually had the intention of challenging the position of Islam.

Changeagent: So the onus is now on the victims in this fiasco to remain calm, and not do anything that will increase tension among the community. They must also refrain from voicing out any concerns openly until the government gives them permission to do so, as well as apply wisdom in handling and managing the issue. What does Utusan , the perpetrator, need to do then?

Victor Johan: Can we now have leaders of Islam in the country pledge that they respect the position and the free practice of the other religions in the country and have no intention of challenging its provision enshrined in the federal constitution?

Can this group of Islamic leaders also give their undertaking to cooperate in nurturing peace and harmony between the various faiths so that Malaysia would continue to be a peaceful and prosperous nation?

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