“BEHOLD I MAKE ALL THINGS NEW”

OPEN LETTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER

9th

May 2013

YAB Dato’ Seri Hj. Mohd. Najib Bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak

Perdana Menteri Malaysia

Pejabat Perdana Menteri

Bangunan Perdana Putra

Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan

62502 PUTRAJAYA

The Council of Churches of Malaysia wishes to congratulate you on your appointment as

Prime Minister of Malaysia for a second term, by His Majesty, the Yang Di-Pertuan

Agong on 6th

May, 2013.

As you prepare to form your new administration and seek to lead the country, the churches

assure you of our prayers as you embark on your program of national reconciliation.

In the light of the results of the 13th

General Elections held on 5 May, our churches also

take this opportunity to express our hopes for the future:

1. We commend you on your call for ‘national reconciliation.’ However, we also wish

to emphasize that true reconciliation would only be realized when all political

parties, civil societies, and faith communities are given space at the round table of

reconciliation. We hope that your new administration will not only pay heed to the

voices of those who voted for Barisan Nasional (BN), but more so, those who did

not, for the government must serve ALL Malaysians.

2. We beg to differ from your view that describes the election results as a ‘Chinese

tsunami’ against the BN. We believe that Malaysians of all races, especially the

younger generation, want a government that will live-up to high ideals of justice,

accountability and inclusiveness, at all levels of national life.

3. We hope your new administration will take cognizance that Malaysians have

rejected those so-called ‘champions’ of racial extremism and religious bigotry. We

have said it before, and we say it again that your new administration must show

ZERO TOLERANCE for persons or media that propagate racial and religious

extremism. Instead, your call for moderation must be seen and felt at all levels of

your administration, and in our country. We urge that you assure all Malaysians

that their aspiration for change and transformation would become a part of your

vision of a new Malaysia, which does not discriminate on the basis of race or

religion.

MAJLIS GEREJA-GEREJA MALAYSIA

COUNCIL OF CHURCHES OF MALAYSIA

26 Jalan Universiti 46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia Tel: 03-79567092/79608926/ 79551587 Fax: 03-79560353

E-Mail: cchurchm@streamyx.com/oikoumene321@unifi.my

4. We hope that your new administration will seriously look into the alleged electoral

irregularities that took place before and on 5th

May, and be committed to establish

an Election Commission which is totally independent, transparent and professional.

Bersih’s call for electoral reforms must be given top priority, as this is the demand

of the majority of the Rakyat.

5. The Council of Churches of Malaysia takes its role and work of reconciliation

among diverse communities very seriously, inspired by the teaching in our Bible (2

Corinthians 5: 18 – 19).

Finally, we wish to assure you of our prayers and support in every effort of the government

towards national integration based on the principles of the Rukunegara.

May the Almighty God bless, lead and guide you in your leadership as Prime Minister.

God Bless Malaysia.

Yours sincerely

Bishop Philip Lok Rev. Dr. Hermen Shastri

President General Secretary

and Members of the Executive Committee

1. Archbishop Datuk Bolly Lapok

2. Rev. Dr. Hermen Shastri

3. Mr. Andrew Lai

4. Ms. Chrisanne Chin

5. Mr. Koshy Thomas

6. Rev. Jensey Mojuin

Member Churches:·Anglican Diocese of Kuching · Anglican Diocese of Sabah· Anglican Diocese of West Malaysia· Basel Christian Church of Malaysia· Evangelical Lutheran Church in

Malaysia· Lutheran Church in Malaysia & Singapore· Mar Thomas Syrian Church· The Methodist Church: Chinese Annual Conference· Sabah Provisional Annual Conference· Sarawak Chinese Annual Conference· Sarawak Iban Annual Conference· Tamil Annual Conference· Trinity Annual Conference· Orthodox Syrian Church· Presbyterian Church in Malaysia· Protestant Church in Sabah· The Salvation Army·

Associate Members: · Bible Society of Malaysia· The Boy’s Brigade in Malaysia· Girls’ Brigade Malaysia· Interserve Fellowship· Malaysian Care· Mobilization Fellowship Malaysia· National

Council of YMCA’s· Seminari Theoloji Malaysia· Sabah Theological Seminary· YWCA· Prison Fellowship Malaysia . Open Doors Malaysia

Affiliate Member : Coptic Orthodox Church .