The Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) held the 7th National Christian Conference on 20-22 October 2005, at Corus Hotel in Kuala Lumpur.
The theme of the conference was National Integration & Unity- The Church Response. Many of us were not aware of this conference because it involved the upper echelon of Christian leadership.
The three main sessions were Harmonious Co-Existence in Religious Pluralism by Datuk Dr. Maximus J. Ongkili, JP, Our Journey Towards National Integration- A Critical Appraisal by Mr. Malik Imtiar Sarwar (Chairman, Steering Committee of the Initiative Towards Malaysian Interfaith Commission), and Sustaining and Enhancing Integration through Strategies of Change by Bishop Rev. Hwa Yung.
Bishop Rev. Hwa Yung suggested 3 strategies:
Strategy 1: Partnership with the State and other concerned groups
(1) partnership with the State must involve
(a) a through revamp of the education and national school system
(b) more transparent approach to the whole issue of meritocracy in university admissions
(c) rethinking teachers and the teaching profession
(d) greater and more open social and cultural integration in public events and media
(e) a more enlightened and transparent affirmative action policy
(f) multi-ethnicizing the public service
(g) rethinking ministry amongst youth
(h) sports, the forgotten factor
(2)partnership with other concerned groups
Strategy 2: Creating Space for Discussion on Fundamental Issues.
These fundamental issues are
(a) the historical questions of the genesis of Malaysia and the tendency to rewrite history
(b) NEP and meritocracy
(c) Is Malaysia an Islamic state?
Strategy 3:Is the Christian Community genuinely Counter-Cultural?
(1) Some models of Christian counter-cultural action
(a) loving our neighbours in the early church
(b) finding social space in Latin Americas and Communist Eastern Europe
(2) Are we really committed to this country?
Hwa Yung's paper raised a lot of important issues in 2005 that has not been resolved even now in 2007. I am glad that CFM has decided to published the 2005 conference papers this year.
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I saw this report in Glad Sounds. Looks like its worth getting a copy myself.
ReplyDeletehi bob k,
ReplyDeleteI believe you should. There are some really thoughtful and really significant comments in there.
Hello! I am the Tornto-based co-author of The Spiritual Brain. Did you know that it is being translated into Bahasa Indonesia/Bahasa Meliyu?
ReplyDeleteWhen Malaysia's Tourism Minister was speaking in Toronto recently, I had the privilege of presenting him with a copy of the English language hard cover edition.
I hope you enjoy the book and that many Malaysians do. (My son-in-law is a proud citizen of Malaysia.)
cheers,
Denyse O'Leary
Toronto
hello denyse,
ReplyDeletewelcome. It is a pleasant surprise to receive your comment. I am sure the readers of this blog will enjoy your book as much as I have. I am also glad that it is being translated into Bahasa Malaysia.