KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 25 — Christians should be politically active in order to have their opinion heard by Putrajaya, a minister reminded followers of the faith today.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Paul Low said Christians do not necessarily need to enter politics but must raise their concerns on issues in order to avoid seeing their rights impinged.
“The Christian community, you must be politically relevant. I’m not saying you must form a political party.
“You must be united and your voice must be heard in the corridors of the government,” he said during his speech at the Christian Federation of Malaysia Christmas High Tea today.
Low added that the Christian community should raise its concerns to Putrajaya in order to continue being an important religious community in Malaysia.
“Unless until you are politically relevant, you will not be relevant. I’m not talking about engaging in politics but you should be able to influence policy in a way that reflects the ways of the God Almighty,” he said.
Other than religious duties, Low also urged the Christian community to have a “social gospel” to help rid social ills and transform the society around them.
Archbishop Julian Leow Beng Kim, meanwhile, said all Malaysians should stop being selfish and work together for the country to remain united.
“Cast aside the selfish desire and work for common good of all. There must be sacrifice from all parties in working together for what is best for Malaysia.
“We must end the politics of division and hatred which is tearing the fabric of our co-existence. We must cultivate the style of politics that is of peace and non-violence,” he said during his address today.
Christians make up 9.2 per cent of the country’s population according to the last census in 2010, the third largest religious group after Muslims and Buddhists.
Christians in Peninsular Malaysia continue to face prohibitions against describing God as “Allah”, an Arabic word which Malaysian Muslims deem exclusive to Islam, but not in Sabah and Sarawak.
