Yesterday, this blogger posted here a 1993 Vatican communique on their position that Catholic priest refrain from politics.
The reason being, as this blogger understand it, priests are messenger of Christian spiritualism and should be above the worldly pursuit for power and wealth. This blogger stand to be corrected.
This morning, this blogger found this piece of news from the Free Malaysia Today website here entitled "UMNO's Christian plot to bag Muslim votes.
News from a pro-opposition website with a title and content of such political overtone would usually be coming from an opposition leader making an accusation on the opponent party, Barisan Nasional or specific to the power block in BN, namely UMNO.
Such writing would usually have some fact twisted, pre-sumptions made without any factual truth or logic, and focus of a political nature, in this case, creating a negative perception or paint weakened political position of the political opponents.
Unfortunately, the news report was not of a politicians but a Catholic priest, Father Lawrence Andrew who is the Herald's editor.
The news reproduced below and comment interspersed:
‘Umno’s Christian plot to bag Muslim votes’
In an interview with the Vatican Radio, the Herald's editor Father Lawrence Andrew says the government is stirring up a controversy to revive Muslim support.
KUALA LUMPUR: The allegation of a Christian coup being planned is an attempt by the Umno-led government to stir up controversy to revive Muslim support, said the editor of the local Catholic weekly, Herald.
Speaking to the Vatican Radio, Father Lawrence Andrew claimed that the government felt that it was losing the popularity it once commanded.
“Because they are losing popularity, they will enjoy some uneasiness that will create confusion – that will create fear – in the people,” he said.
He said the allegation was absurd, pointing out that Christians made up less than 10% of the population.
The mentioning of UMNO and plot and the claim is made with such sureness is a political statement against a political party. The questionn now: Is the claim justified or mere conjecture?
In case no one remembers, Father Lawrence Andrew is the same editor of the Weekly Herald that was up in arms with the Ministry of Internal Affairs on the issue of using Allah for god in their Malay articles. Read this past news from MySinchew.com here.
Father Lawrence was speculating that the brouha over a group of Christians pledging to turn Malaysia into a Christian state was an UMNO orchestrated political propaganda to regain Malay votes.
Naturally, as a priest, he is out of touch with politics. UMNO does not need new propaganda to regain Malay votes. It is in quite a comfortable position in that area with Anwar and PKR in a self destruction mode and PAS is a self inflicted confusing phase.
UMNO does not need neither the Dato Trio's sex video expose help nor any new controversy. It only needs to improve the "middle level political structure and infrastructure." It is in quote and unquote as in for UMNO politician to understand.
Citing the heat on inter-faith issues does not serve the BN interest. Clearly, like everbody else, Father Andrew missed the plot too.
Andrew had also criticised Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein for the latter’s remarks regarding the issue.
The minister, he said, was not being “prudent” in describing the allegation as serious, and stating that the government would take action.
“If I were to have said that (a similar allegation about other faiths), I would have been arrested immediately, and I would have been brought to the police station.
“But (since) it is being done by the Muslims, none of them have been arrested till today,” he said.
Last Saturday, the Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia published a front-page report claiming that Christian leaders were conspiring with DAP to make Christianity the official religion in Malaysia instead of Islam.
On what ground is he demanding those people to be arrested?
Not on the ground that both bloggers asked if such a pledge occurred? And not on the ground that Utusan Malaysia had made fair reporting of both side of the issue? Read blogger RBF defense of Utusan here.
The police or MCMC is not dumb to charge and apprehend on a case that is not legally conclusive and about something with subjective interpretation such as blog posting.
And Hishamuddin is not wrong to say it is serious because anything that contravene the Constitution and more so, involving the "Social Contract" is serious. Social contract item includes right to practise religion, in case Father Lawrence lack understanding.
It is strange that Father Lawrence seemed determined to see someone get arrested. A priest without the heart for foregiveness and compassion. That is something new.
It is indicative of a priest with the heart and meanness of a politician has infiltrated inside the Malaysian Catholic Church organisation.
Hard truthQuestions were asked and denial was given. Thats it.
The report, based on unsubstantiated claims by pro-Umno bloggers, also accused the groups of praying for a Christian prime minister.
Both DAP and Christian leaders had denied the allegation, and lambasted Utusan for spreading dangerous lies.
In his interview with the Vatican Radio, Andrew said he agreed with Penang Chief Minister and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng that Utusan was “setting fire to the land”.
But why did DAP Penang and their Jelutong were hesitant with their denial. Lim Guan Eng said when pressed for an answer by an UMNO Youth member in public, he said Jeff Ooi told him that he is unaware as he was focused on his i-Pad.
That's a dicey answer but why did he gave a denial instead?
Furthermore, there was even an attempt to deny that DAP Jelutong was the host of the dinner given to 35 Sarawak pastors, including foreign pastors that helped DAP Sarawak's election campaign and are in town for a close door church convention.
The National Evangelical Christian Fellowship and Catholic Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur Tan Sri Murphy Nicholas Pakiam, had also denied the claim. Was NECF the host for them to deny? Pastors involve Protestants, so why must the Catholic Archbishop deny?
Everyone sounded like a kid caught stealing candy in the store with their hands in the jar. Jeff Ooi demand on behalf of the Christians for blogger Big Dog to apologise sounded as though he does not have a better political counterpoint to return. He can't represent Christians for he is a Buddhist.
Big Dog refuse for he will be deemed as admitting fault.
The rest of the news is all background story not worth repeating. Read it here.The blogs' postings were directed towards socialist DAP, who fights for secularism and outrightly are against theocratic state, especially Islamic state, but used the church machinery to campaign. Isn't that plot obvious?
Ah well then ... it is just typical of recalcitrants refusing to see the plot and go whacking on the wrong issue raised out of their own political convenience and preference.
Father Andrew is no different.
21 comments:
Bro
Jangan panggil dia Father Lawrence Andrew. Bunyi macam mat salleh.
Dia keras kepala pasal dia keling. Perangai keling memang suka kelahi dan gaduh.
Sama dengan arab.
Dia mungkin paderi tapi jiwanya masih keling makan tosai.
Brader,
Bloggers PapaGomo & Hantulautan dah suruh ISA-kan Big Dog & Marahku.
Engkau pulak nak pertahankan Big Dog lagi?
~ Pemuda Wangsa Maju
Salam Tuan,
Let the police investigate with the hope the biaDAPs don't politicise the police investigation as well. A fat hope.
You see a pattern here, that UMNO and DS Najib does not have the support of the Malays, and as you have rightly stated, pure hogwash.
DAP uses anything and everyone including their PR partners for their own survival.
As in the Sarawak SE use the Allah/Alkitab issue, mission accomplished, PAS and PKR sidelined.
Solid, well executed piece by your good self.
Thank you
Freddie
The times are changing my friend
Pemuda Wangsa Maju
Itu namanya "setuju untuk tidak bersetuju" (agree to disagree). Naluri manusia untuk berbeza pendapat.
Pendapat mana yang orang ramai mahu terima seharusnya berasaskan maklumat dan hujah masing-masing.
Saya belum baca Papagomo dan Hantu Laut tapi saya pasti semuanya terpulang samada ada benar berlaku incident itu.
Jika berlaku, pastor-pastor patut dikenakan undang-undang dan bukan whistleblower.
Andai kata berlaku tetapi Big Dog dan Marahku yang dikenakan undang-undang, ia tidak adil dan menunjukkan pihak berkuasa yang takut hadapi kebenaran.
Jika tidak berlaku, mereka ada asas untuk katakan kedua blogger patut dikenakan undang-undang.
Pada saya, tidak perlu ISA jika akta hasutan ada. Akta treason pun ada jika boleh diaplikasikan.
Namun begitu, hati saya kuat mengatakan ianya berlaku.
If such blatant unfounded allegations, which you say were merely questions asked, were not vehemently disputed you would possibly suggest that there must be an element of truth because the rebuttal was only a soft whisper, a sign of guilt. That is why right minded people spoke out in defence, not only the Christians.
NECF represents protestants Christians and therefore has to speak out. If I am not mistaken, NECF is a supporter or sponsor of the Unashamedly Ethical (UE) Seminar which is to get Christians professionals and business people to be ethical in their daily workplace. A good Muslim like yourself should have no qualms for such seminars. After all we all want a better Malaysia. The UE seminar is not limited to the protestants as Roman Catholics are also participating. Is it wrong for the Roman Catholics to speak out too?
"On what ground is he demanding those people to be arrested?"
On grounds of sedition, my dear blogger. Sedition Act S3(1)(3)
Seditious tendency is a tendency
to promote feelings of ill will and hostility between
different races or classes of the population of Malaysia
You should learn more about Malaysian law
"The National Evangelical Christian Fellowship and Catholic Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur Tan Sri Murphy Nicholas Pakiam, had also denied the claim. Was NECF the host for them to deny? Pastors involve Protestants, so why must the Catholic Archbishop deny?"
Aiyoh, your article got factual errors. The reason why the Catholic Archbishop was dragged into this was because the article said that the meeting/event was held on Catholic premises. The article also implicated priests as being involved (paderi dan pastor). Obviously the UM reporter is ignorant of the difference between priests and pastors.
Hence the Archbishop had to respond because the article falsely accused the Catholic church of being involved. The truth of the matter is that the event was organised by NCEF, a Protestant group
You are free to comment but it should be based on true facts. The defence of fair comment in defamation is that comments must be fair, without malice, and based on true facts. please check with lawyers
Brader,
Utusan & UMNO adalah institusi yang perlu dipertahankan.
Blogger2 yang dah jadi liabiliti pada kerajaan perlu dikorbankan.
Lagipun, blogger2 banyak dan berlambak sekarang ni. Takde sebab perlu diberi keistimewaan khas untuk blogger tertentu sahaja...
~ Pemuda Wangsa Maju
Father Lawrence has no business talking to the vatican radio, on what is basically an internal issue. That is an act of downright cowardice. The catholic church, if it's sincere in it's efforts in having a conducive atmosphere, must take action against this Father Lawrence. He has brought disrepute to the catholic church. He has cast doubts on the catholic church to regulate it's clergymen. I suggest that the catholic church suspends him with immediate effect. Failure to do so, would mean that the catholic church is just as guilty as this Father Lawrence is. In fact, if I were the Govt, I would insist that Father Lawrence is suspended, before the Govt negotiates with the catholic church. He is guilty of stirring hatred against the Govt, and between the muslims and catholics. I believe that he may have been paid to do all these. The Herald is worse than Utusan, in many ways and has it been instigating the people against the Govt. He is not fit to be a clergyman. The vatican uses people like Father Lawrence to create trouble. He must go, and there are no two ways about it. The PM, in his meeting with the christians tomorrow, in Putrajaya, must insist on this.
Kalau ayat dia seperti ni di buat kat Indonesia, He will be on the next flight home. "Home" dia entah ke mana pulak ek?
"The police or MCMC is not dumb to charge and apprehend on a case that is not legally conclusive and about something with subjective interpretation such as blog posting."
You're so funny!!!
You ARE joking right?!
BN/UMNO buat cerita sesuka hati, sebab siapa nak marah dan tangkap mereka. Hai susah macam ini. Waktu mengundi, perangai BN, pijak semut tak mati, habis mengundi, wah .... tak tahu nak sebut.
This article is confusing. What are you trying to say? Are you giving a confusing twist to something already spun beyond understanding?
Bro, hati u fikir ia berlaku?
Mana bukti? Sekarang ni samsul sudah delete blog dia dan menukar nama pun.. tanda2 dia dah kecut. BD pulak pura2 nak berdamai2 dalam posting terbarunya.. Pun dah takut kena tindakan.
Ingat, fitnah tu dosa besar
I am from Paris, and have been following the issues in Malaysia for quite sometime. And this piece of message should be read with cautions because of its untenable argument.
For example, "It is strange that Father Lawrence seemed determined to see someone get arrested. A priest without the heart for foregiveness and compassion. That is something new". Unless the writer is NOT a muslim, he should agree that it is better to be punished for one's sin rather than being punished in the "akhirat". Such malicious writing with twisted inferences -- the writer needs to be punished.
UMNO kehilangan modal,hingga sanggup sebarkan dusta untok kekalkan kuasa.
Akibatnya kredibility menjunam.
Anonymous...lu cakap "Jangan panggil dia Father Lawrence Andrew. Bunyi macam mat salleh." yang lu pulak pakai nama arab tapi muka macam puki-mak!!
Jeff Ooi took two days to deny.
The fact is it was Pusat Perkhidmatan DAP Jelutong that invited by SMS ... proofs are at the telcos uneraseable.
Anon 12:32 AM
Nanti saya organise sembahyang hajat di stadium.
Macam solat hajat Nik Aziz dan Anwar Ibrahim, kebenaran akan terserlah. :)
All in good times.
Having had more than 30 years of working life, my first instinct have not failed me.
If it turns out to be true, hope those who "refuse to acknowledge the plot" will own up.
Will not expect DAP supporters to ever own up.
Pemuda Wangsa Maju
Saya tidak berapa gemar pada penggunaan ISA melainkan:
... ianya kesalahan yang tidak ada undang untuk dicaj
... preventive measures.
Lebih banyak kesalahan dibuat pembangkang, asas apa dua blogger perlu ditahan bawag ISA?
Takkan atas sebab kerana skrg dah ramai blogger?
Masa perlu guna dia, masa tak perlu ISA dia?
Saya rasa bloggers naungan Tun Dr Mahathir tidak takut menimbulkan ketegangan diantara kaum utk mendapat hits. Ini tidak banyak bernbeza dengan politik Tun Dr Mahathir dimana dia cuba berpolitik menggunakkan isu bangsa dan ugama.
Maka dengan itu, saya tidak bersetujuj Big Dog dan Marahku dikenakan sebarang tindakan selagi Tun Dr. Mahathir dianggap sebagai negarawan.
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