Need for Interreligious Dialogue

Why is the Government so afraid of involving the local muslims in interreligious dialogue with the adherents of other religions?

For the past few decades, the muslims have been invited by the MCCBCHST to share their faith and its teachings with representative members of the Consultative Council but until today, this invitation still remains standing.

By engaging in interreligious dialogue. one does not derogate the position of one's religion. In the eyes of the Almighty God, all men including women are His creatures and children who belong to one human race. They are equal before His eyes. Throughout history, God through His prophets has handed and continues to hand down His revelations to His people in different countries at different times with a view to guiding them against worshipping idols and declaring to them that He is their God and they are His people. Yet the people unfortunately refuse to heed His words and continue to be led astray along the path to perdition. God wants us to live as one people under His command.

Interreligious dialogue helps promote racial and national integration among the people of different religions/faiths. Besides, along the way, it fosters peace, understanding and harmony - which factors are so crucial to national development, harmony and cohesiveness.

While religions may have their own differences, there are similarities as well where it comes to moral values. It is often pointed out or suggested that we avoid talking about differences but merely focusing on similarities. I personally do not see the rationale of this proposition.

In interreligious dialogue, we do not only talk about similarities but also differences. It is by understanding differences that people get closer to one another, trust one another better and enhance better friendship.

Once the camaraderie is established, the people can enter the next phase of operation and that is getting engaged in inter-religious programmes and activities for humanity - such as, charities like joint fund raising, helping the handicapped, the poor or needy, the aged, victims of acts of God etc. Is this not the noble long term objectives of 1 Malaysia?

If our PM is really serious about realising his vision of transforming the nation into 1 Malaysia, then he has to take firmer and bolder steps to overcome all the petty unfounded remarks and innuendos about the effects of having interreligious dialogue among all the followers of the major religions in the country. The BN Government has been postponing this decision for many years. First it rejected the proposed Interreligious Commission, then the Interreligious Committee and the name is now modified to Committee for Understanding and Harmony Among Religious Adherents. The purpose has been so diluted that I am not confident what the latter Committee could achieve except to reduce it to one of informal exchange of views.

Let us not impose any pre-conditions for talks and exchanges of views on religions. By having such unnecessary restraints and constraints, talks and exchanges may not be open, serious and effective. The Committee will just operate like a group of uncommitted personalities appointed by the unwilling to do the unnecessary. Let the dialogue be spontaneous and free of political influence.

Let the BN leadership be positive in its thinking for positive thinking begets positive expectations which give rise to positive results. Remove from our mind any suspicions and untowards consequences that may arise. Let us not count the chickens before they are hatched. If those involved are God-fearing people, then we can only expect the best and goodness to come out of the dialogue.