COMMENT After my last article, a number of people have expressed concern over the banquet with the prime minister on June 2 organised by the Christians for Peace and Harmony Movement (CPHM).

Most people do not know what to expect of the banquet. I told them that it is better for me to enjoy peace, eating just a simple morsel with humility than to attend a banquet with the king. Most Christians will know that I was merely paraphrasing from Proverbs 17:1.

These comments below are therefore their voices that should be heard by all. With the exception of one or two comments that were posted in the comments section below my article (which I will not quote here because of its vulgarity), others have meant well when they verbalised their thoughts.

One particular Christian leader said he was invited, but felt a little sceptical. “However, I will go and just check it out,” he said, despite knowing the motive behind the event. I told him, “It’s your time and you choose how you wish to spend it.”

Another person said, “Tell me, which organisation can have the privilege of inviting the prime minister as the guest-of-honour for its launch, unless the PM also has vested interests in it as well? Has any PM, for example, attended a Bersih event? Are we saying that the PM is not interested in having a clean and fair election?”

Like me, he decided that he, too, has better things to do than to spend a few hours of his time to listen to the speeches. “After all, and I have to be honest, I cannot even find time to go for the prayer meetings in my church,” he grinned.

“This is nothing else but a friend-invite-friend, grassroots movement so that it doesn’t appear too obvious the real objectives behind the movement,” suggested another. “After all, any peace-loving Christians would be attracted to anything that is peace and harmony. It is like you telling any Muslim to reject the hudud laws!”

A Christian pastor wrote to me, quoting the Scripture (John 14:27): “Peace, by Christian definition, is different,” he said. “Jesus told his disciples, ‘Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you, not as the world gives (with emphasis), that I give to you.’”

A Christian leader said during a question-and-answer session recently pointed out that “peace and harmony cannot be achieved at the expense of justice.”

He is absolutely right, because the peace and harmony that Christians have always pursued is not one of compromise, but based on the upholding of justice in this country.

Amidst all the double standards that we see, do we think another government-sanctioned movement would make a difference? It may have all the positive appearances, but it is engineered to look good. The ‘good’ and the ‘bad’ is after all done by the same group of people.

We are saying on one hand, you whack a person with the right hand and quickly hide your hand behind you. The other hand says to him, “This is the balm. Be healed.”

A very senior and savvy lawyer remarked: “Yes, looks like a rehash of how he (Najib Abdul Razak) wooed the Indians and Hindraf before GE13! They felt used and manipulated after the event. Yet we Christians don’t seem to learn. What’s new under the sun?”

Generally, Christians have nothing against the Barisan Nasional government, as in the past many of us have voted for it, but what most people cannot tolerate is the nonsense and double standards or the use of authoritarian rule that we see used against the opposition.

We have come to the conclusion that absolute power corrupts absolutely. Sixty years in power is far too long for any political coalition, therefore, change is inevitable.

Some things to expect

A survey conducted recently showed that politicians are people who are least to be trusted. As Bob Geldof said, “You can’t trust politicians. It doesn't matter who makes a political speech - it’s all lies.”

Of course, the singer-songwriter is being ‘extreme’ in his views, but honestly, how many politicians are sincere and as the Australians would say in their slang, “Fair Dinkum” (Get Real) politicians.

They may appear to be neutral until you tell them that they are no longer invited to use your pulpits to speak to your congregation. The beans will be spilled when they say that the ban on them should automatically apply for the opposition politicians as well.

As mentioned in my last article, I was told that even the president of Perkasa, Ibrahim Ali, will be there. Unfortunately, the patron himself Dr Mahathir Mohamad has not been invited, neither are there signs that he will be turning up.

Do not be surprised that Ibrahim will be giving hugs or kissing some of the archbishops and photographs will soon spread on the social media. No one can stop it, since this so-called launch is meant to be for peace and harmony.

Perhaps, the script may have to change slightly since I am the spoiler here. Tongue-in-cheek, perhaps, I should be the one rewriting the script: Ibrahim ( photo ) should now be seated stoically with watchful eyes to see if anyone is trying to proselytise the Muslims in their midst. After all, we are talking about politicians who can change with the script. Any big deal?

I understand that the change of perception is the name of the game now. I was told that my views of Najib are nothing but perception. Perception can be dealt with using some smooth talks. This is all part of a psychological game, known as ‘neutralisation’.

It is a game that politicians play. To achieve this, I can also expect the atmosphere to be fun-filled, with even the prime minister himself cracking lots of fun and jokes, making the event nothing but an enjoyable evening. After all, this is part of the overall strategy to prove the sceptics wrong.

But mark the words of the key person behind the movement, who promised that Najib’s speech will not be political in nature.

Should Najib’s speech turn political at any juncture, the reverend said he will be first one to tick him off. But, will he even do it? I won’t be surprised that when it really happens to be political in nature, it will be dressed down as ‘Oh Najib’s speech! After all, it is second nature to the prime minister; there is no way to separate him from his political speeches.’

The explanation will be accompanied with the following words to: “Forgive, and forget.” But, what about the earlier promise that there will be no political speeches? The reason that I have become sceptical with yet another of such movement is as simple as that, despite the fact that Christians love peace and harmony, but it should only be the result of upholding social justice like helping fellow Malaysians irrespective of race or religion.

It is all happening

It is obvious. It is all happening that the Barisan Nasional is going all out to woo our votes, especially when the general election is just a couple of years from now. That’s after all the bottom line behind a number of initiatives that have cropped up.

While the Christians for Peace and Harmony Movement was mooted several months ago, the Residents’ Representative Committees (JPP) have been also been launched by Najib to tackle the issue of ‘emotional disconnection’ between city dwellers and the federal government.

Why is it only at this juncture that such an initiative is mooted? During its launch, Najib was heard suddenly saying, “Love thy neighbour.”

Besides that, there will also be some non-governmental organisations set up to try to masquerade as organisations that champion causes that are close to people’s hearts.

Malaysiakini has recently highlighted another ‘out of nowhere’ organisation that has emerged, known as the Citizens for Accountable Governance Malaysia (CAGM). Sound very Pakatan-like, no?

Its chairperson Mohd Zainal Abidin is planning to sue former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad for billions of ringgit in taxpayers' money that had gone down the drain during Mahathir’s tenure as prime minister between 1981 and 2003.

As the song goes, Zainal is 25 minutes too late. I wonder if he even has the locus standi to sue Dr Mahathir, and if he did, would Dr Mahathir survive long enough to see through the punishment?

When asked if he would do the same with Najib, Zainal was quick in responding: “Once we are done with Tun, we will move on to subsequent prime ministers. We are not taking anyone’s side.”

But, your guess is as good as mine! Times are challenging because everyone wants our votes, but the only sensible thing to do is to keep watching.

STEPHEN NG is an ordinary citizen with an avid interest in following political developments in the country since 2008.