KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 20 — A Christian group linked to Barisan Nasional refused further comments today on a private member’s Bill calling for harsher Shariah punishments, amid concerns by other groups of the faith.
Christians for Peace and Harmony in Malaysia (CPHM) chairman Rev Wong Kim Kong said there should be a mediator to resolve the conflict but distanced himself when asked if CPHM could be the one in the matter of the Shariah Bill.
"This is beyond us… It is very political," he told a news conference here.
Wong had earlier said that CPHM had held over 20 programmes to bridge religious groups of various beliefs since the group's inception in June 2015.
He said the programmes held were mainly to promote a peaceful nation, but did not elaborate on them.
Malay Mail Online understands that CPHM was formed to provide a counterpoint to existing and established Christian groups in the country such as the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) and the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship (NECF) Malaysia, which are often viewed as critical of the government.
The group was launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in June 2015.
Najib is scheduled to attend CPHM’s Peace and Harmony gala tonight.
In December last year during the Umno general assembly, the prime minister had pledged Putrajaya’s support for PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang's private member’s bill to amend the Shariah Court (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965.
Meanwhile, NECF had called for daily prayer at 6pm from February 17 until March 6 when the Parliament resumes its sitting to “pray for the well being for this nation especially in the light of the hudud controversy”, among others.
