by Ong Kian Ming, iBridge article
"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men." Matthew 5:13-15
Politics seems to have no place in the Malaysian church. Mention politics among polite church company and you are likely to receive a host of negative reactions:
"Politicians! A corrupt and self-serving bunch."
"Dishonest lot! Manipulative and full of double-speak!"
"We see them only once every 5 years – election time."
"Never trust a politician!"
The sanitized and white washed walls of the Malaysian church seem too pristine for politics to have any relevance in its midst. But we can no longer afford to ignore such a major part of Malaysian life in our Christian thinking and Christian action.
The impact of politics on our lives is undeniable although not obvious.
Locally, municipal councilors and state assemblymen ensure that rubbish is collected, water is flowing, and drains and roads kept clean. Sometimes they can make a difference whether a dioxin-spewing incinerator is built in our backyard or somewhere less hazardous. Nationally, MPs and ministers are responsible for good governance, political stability, economic development and social welfare. On the religious front, protection of the constitution safeguards our freedom to assemble, to worship and to express ourselves. Yet, we have taken these things for granted.
We sit back and watch our freedom snatched from us. Most of us have heard of the story of how the Nazis came and took away the Poles, the Gypsies, the Jews and no one stopped them. And when it was the time for Nazis to take away Christians, there was no one left to stop them. Of course, the Malaysian government is nowhere as wicked but history shows us the danger of turning our backs on the political arena. But to be true to our calling to be 'salt and light of the earth' we must engage the world holistically, and that inevitably includes politics.
Marvin Wong, in his recent book 'Between Friends,' argues that the Malaysian church has remained passive about politics because Christians fear being persecuted. Christians fear sharing the truth, or standing up for the minority, if this means going up against the ruling elite. "The result of this is a church that tends to engage with the government only in narrowly defined spheres, namely areas that directly impact itself," writes Marvin. "But a continuation of this trend will eventually destroy the church's witness to 'the world' and her credibility to speak on behalf of others for truth and justice."
My own interest in Malaysian politics was roused, when, as a child I devoured my father's copies of 'May 13 - Before and After' by Tunku Abdul Rahman and more infamously 'The Malay Dilemma' by Dr. Mahathir. Later, I saw my parents protest government policies by keeping sister out of school (SRJK Kuen Cheng). That was a movement that culminated in Operasi Lallang, a series of mass arrests that put my own uncle, a PRM member, behind bars. I later found out that a former pastor of my church was one of those who was arrested as well. In my university days, we would debate the NEP (New Economic Policy) and I even had the opportunity to meet Anwar in London a few months before his headline grabbing arrest.
Over the years, the seeds of conviction were sown. I am convinced that as Christians we need a thoughtful and prayerful approach to understand our own political scene.
Thus, I am excited to write this column. This is an opportunity to approach politics from a Christian perspective. In future articles, I will share my struggle, wrestling with the multifaceted issues in Malaysia. Is our justice system independent? How do we fare on human rights? Can we sustain economic viability? How do we vie in a globalised world? How do we preserve racial harmony? Is the sanctity of our languages and faith safeguarded? I hope my reflections will encourage us all to be discerning, civic conscious, and spur us on to contribute to nation building.
Personal Reflection and Suggestions for Action
1) Do I know who my state assemblyman or member of parliament is? How can I pray for him/her?
(You can find out by by looking up your constituency at the Elections Commission website at http://www.spr.gov.my. You can also find out details about how to register as a voter if you aren't one already.)
2) Are you familiar with burning political issues of today? How can I be more in touch with local political issues?
(The Local News section in your paper would be a good place to start.)
3) Can you explain the local political system to a foreigner if you were asked?
(Email me and I will be glad to introduce to you a few good books to kickstart.)
"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men." Matthew 5:13-15
Politics seems to have no place in the Malaysian church. Mention politics among polite church company and you are likely to receive a host of negative reactions:
"Politicians! A corrupt and self-serving bunch."
"Dishonest lot! Manipulative and full of double-speak!"
"We see them only once every 5 years – election time."
"Never trust a politician!"
The sanitized and white washed walls of the Malaysian church seem too pristine for politics to have any relevance in its midst. But we can no longer afford to ignore such a major part of Malaysian life in our Christian thinking and Christian action.
The impact of politics on our lives is undeniable although not obvious.
Locally, municipal councilors and state assemblymen ensure that rubbish is collected, water is flowing, and drains and roads kept clean. Sometimes they can make a difference whether a dioxin-spewing incinerator is built in our backyard or somewhere less hazardous. Nationally, MPs and ministers are responsible for good governance, political stability, economic development and social welfare. On the religious front, protection of the constitution safeguards our freedom to assemble, to worship and to express ourselves. Yet, we have taken these things for granted.We sit back and watch our freedom snatched from us. Most of us have heard of the story of how the Nazis came and took away the Poles, the Gypsies, the Jews and no one stopped them. And when it was the time for Nazis to take away Christians, there was no one left to stop them. Of course, the Malaysian government is nowhere as wicked but history shows us the danger of turning our backs on the political arena. But to be true to our calling to be 'salt and light of the earth' we must engage the world holistically, and that inevitably includes politics.
Marvin Wong, in his recent book 'Between Friends,' argues that the Malaysian church has remained passive about politics because Christians fear being persecuted. Christians fear sharing the truth, or standing up for the minority, if this means going up against the ruling elite. "The result of this is a church that tends to engage with the government only in narrowly defined spheres, namely areas that directly impact itself," writes Marvin. "But a continuation of this trend will eventually destroy the church's witness to 'the world' and her credibility to speak on behalf of others for truth and justice."
My own interest in Malaysian politics was roused, when, as a child I devoured my father's copies of 'May 13 - Before and After' by Tunku Abdul Rahman and more infamously 'The Malay Dilemma' by Dr. Mahathir. Later, I saw my parents protest government policies by keeping sister out of school (SRJK Kuen Cheng). That was a movement that culminated in Operasi Lallang, a series of mass arrests that put my own uncle, a PRM member, behind bars. I later found out that a former pastor of my church was one of those who was arrested as well. In my university days, we would debate the NEP (New Economic Policy) and I even had the opportunity to meet Anwar in London a few months before his headline grabbing arrest.
Over the years, the seeds of conviction were sown. I am convinced that as Christians we need a thoughtful and prayerful approach to understand our own political scene.
Thus, I am excited to write this column. This is an opportunity to approach politics from a Christian perspective. In future articles, I will share my struggle, wrestling with the multifaceted issues in Malaysia. Is our justice system independent? How do we fare on human rights? Can we sustain economic viability? How do we vie in a globalised world? How do we preserve racial harmony? Is the sanctity of our languages and faith safeguarded? I hope my reflections will encourage us all to be discerning, civic conscious, and spur us on to contribute to nation building.
Personal Reflection and Suggestions for Action
1) Do I know who my state assemblyman or member of parliament is? How can I pray for him/her?
(You can find out by by looking up your constituency at the Elections Commission website at http://www.spr.gov.my. You can also find out details about how to register as a voter if you aren't one already.)
2) Are you familiar with burning political issues of today? How can I be more in touch with local political issues?
(The Local News section in your paper would be a good place to start.)
3) Can you explain the local political system to a foreigner if you were asked?
(Email me and I will be glad to introduce to you a few good books to kickstart.)
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