MCCBCHST representatives meet Deputy British High Commissioner

“There is a worrying downward trend in inter-ethnic and inter-faith relations in the country,” said a spokesman of the MCCBCHST EXCO at a recent meeting between representatives of the MCCBCHST and the Deputy British High Commissioner of Malaysia, Mr. Patrick Moody.

How can Malaysia be a “model for dialogue as stated by Mr. John Prescott, the DPM of U.K. when he visited Malaysia recently”, another added.

Other religious representatives present also added their voices to concern of minority religious communities in Malaysia.

Mr. Moody, in his response assured the people present that the British government monitors very carefully the political developments in the country. “When our DPM Mr. Prescott visited Malaysia, the interfaith relation was not the single issue of his visit.” said Patrick Moody.

However, as a plural society, Malaysia has managed to retain political stability and to a considerable extent, its social cohesion”, he emphasized.

He is “following very closely, the different ways the Federal Constitution is being interpreted,” and in some ways “threatening the delicate balance that holds the country together”.

“He agreed with the MCCBCHST that dialogue between all parties” in interfaith relations is crucial. ”The more people are not talking together, the more they shall be talking against each other”, he went on to say.

He informed the MCCBCHST that the U.K. government encourages British Muslims with moderate views to visit Malaysia and share their experiences. One or two of such visits in the past have proven to be useful in the on-going dialogue process.

The meeting ended by MCCBCHST calling on the Deputy High Commissioner to organize occasional dialogue sessions so that the views of all religious communities in Malaysia will be taken into account. Such views should be communicated to visiting dignitaries of the U.K. government in the future.

The CFM EXCO was represented at that meeting by Rev. Thomas Philips, Rev. Dr. Hermen Shastri and Mr. Leonard Teoh.