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CHRISTIANS FOR PEACE AND HARMONY MALAYSIA (CPHM)

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12 December 2018

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https://twitter.com/gst183/status/1072709871307415553

PETALING JAYA: A Christian group will be hosting a Christmas dinner this week, expected to be attended by over 200 representatives from different ethnic and religious organisations including Malay rights group Perkasa and the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais).

In a statement, the Christians for Peace and Harmony in Malaysia Movement (CPHM) said the event was to celebrate the many communities living together in the country.

“CPHM seeks to be the catalyst to motivate and equip all citizens to better foster peace and harmony among the people by emphasising love and forgiveness and focusing on building bridges to other communities, seeking a better understanding of others, generating goodwill and building trust through positive interaction in nation building.

“CPHM hopes that the gathering of multiracial and multi-religious groups at this Christmas dinner will once again symbolise and reflect the best unique feature of Malaysia, of different communities with different religions and cultures living peacefully and harmoniously together as we celebrate diversity in the nation,” it said.

Aside from Perkasa and Jais, groups such as Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (Abim), the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) and PAS Youth have also confirmed their attendance.

CPHM said Azman Amin, the chairman of the Committee to Promote Understanding and Harmony Among Religious Adherents, would also attend, while representatives from the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) are expected to be present as well.

The dinner, which will be held at the Dorsett Grand Subang tomorrow, is open by invitation only.

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In short, we say thank you for the money but it will not be used to fish for votes.

Malaysiakini

8:55AM Jun 6, 2015

The acid test for Christians for Peace

COMMENT Most people would agree that if the Christians for Peace and Harmony Malaysia (CPHM) movement is being apolitical, it should be liberal in the way it provides funding of community projects with seed money of RM20,000 or RM30,000.

Its president, Rev Wong Kim Kong, has used the words “non-partisan” and openly declared that even before the organisation was launched recently by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, they have already raised all the money that they needed from within the Christian community.

As if spilling the beans with his own words, Wong had in fact denied federal funding, saying that this would at least spare his newly-established organisation from being perceived as being directly backed by Putrajaya.
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It cannot be denied that prominent Christian businessman Francis Yeoh and his family have always been known for their great generosity for a number of causes that they personally support.
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In his speech, Najib had even told the audience that the banquet for 1,200 in the five-star hotel was sponsored by YTL Corporation, the owner of the posh Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur.
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Money apparently was also pouring from other commercial entities. Without stating the obvious, big donations collected from the private companies to support the newly-established organisation often come from people who owe a favour to the people in the corridors of power.

Wong did not have to say it but most people know that, within the local context, a mere word from a sitting prime minister to any businessman is all that it takes for big amounts of money to be released.

But as one Christian has posted his comment, an organisation like CPHM should have taken a more humble approach during its launch. Instead of splashing it on a lavish banquet, it should have channeled whatever money that it has to where the real needs are.

With the kind of funding that Wong said CPHM has attracted, the money would have been better used on a non-partisan basis by organisations that are directly involved in the flood relief work in Kelantan, where homes are still not built and people are still living in makeshift tents.
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The money spent on 1,200 guests in a lavish banquet for a night could have been better used to feed a few hundred multi-religious, multi-faith street people or help the homeless Kelantanese. There is no need to give away bags of rice, with CPHM’s name (or even Najib’s portrait) printed on the bags.
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As I gather it, the reason why most people are unhappy about CPHM’s positioning is because the movement carries the label of being ‘Christian’ but appears to have some hidden motives, yet denying having any links with or backing from Putrajaya.

The Malay Mail Online has been more direct in calling it a ‘Putrajaya-backed’ movement, but I am merely saying that CPHM should have been more upfront about its real motives.

It’s a long article. Read the whole article in:

http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/300914

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AT THE DINNER IN A 6-STAR HOTEL

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http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=525092:it-takes-a-christian-to-catch-a-christian-najibs-hidden-agenda-in-cphm?&Itemid=2#axzz3c6jpWrcY

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A SELECTION OF TWEETS

*LIMITLESS FINANCIAL BACKING.

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Rev Wong of CPHM reckons Christians r taught to obey authorities. He has obviously never heard of Luther or the reformation.

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RESPECT FOR NAJIB? Does it mean that CPHM won’t question him?

How would Najib lend credibility to CPHM given the heavy criticism he continues to receive over his handling of debt ridden state fund 1MDB crisis?

CPHM President Rev Wong Kim Kong  said the Bible taught Christians to respect authority.

Is he saying that we should submit to the present government and maintain the status quo?

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Malaysiakini

8:14AM Jun 4, 2015

What could be the hidden agenda behind CPHM?

COMMENT Apparently, the people behind the Christian for Peace and Harmony (CPHM) movement have difficulties in upholding social justice in a country where double standards are being used.

This is why social justice is never on its agenda, despite Christians being exhorted to “let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” (Amos 5:24).

Peace, as defined by Jesus, is not what the world can give but deep-seated in our hearts, as uniquely endowed by him (John 14:27). It is synonymous to having peace in the eye of a storm.

In my opinion, if social justice is not upheld or seen being upheld through the political will of people in the corridors of power, at best CPHM would only be doing the firefighting.
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I have raised the question of motive behind CPHM with its president, Rev Wong Kim Kong. Setting aside all the misgivings, CPHM has stated clearly that it is out of its scope to deal with the ‘Allah’ controversy or the confiscation of Malay Bibles (the Alkitab) and other Christian publications in Bahasa Indonesia, but is it not true that religious tension is often played up by groups that centre around these sensitive issues?

See where the contradiction is? On one hand is the attempt to promote peace and harmony which is well and good; on the other hand, when certain groups do not adhere to the federal constitution on the rights of the non-Muslims to practice their religious affairs without interference, CPHM says it is out of its scope to intervene.

http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/300647

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“What is the bottomline of this initiative, if not to attract votes for Barisan Nasional in the coming general election? We have had enough of such good initiatives!”

Malaysiakini

8:40AM May 29, 2015

Is ‘peace and harmony’ group another gimmick?

COMMENT It is hard to believe when the prime minister and president of Umno attends a banquet dinner with Christian leaders, invited under the guise of peace and harmony, Najib Abdul Razak would not touch on politics.

This is the promise made by a reverend to guests invited to the banquet organised by a newly-established organisation known as the Christian for Peace and Harmony Movement (CPHM).

The banquet on June 2 will host 1,200 people, which (at the time of writing) will include, among others, representatives from Perkasa such as Ibrahim Ali and Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma).
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STEPHEN NG is an ordinary citizen with an avid interest in following political developments in the country since 2008.

http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/300012

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RESPECT FOR NAJIB? Does it mean that CPHM won’t question him?

– See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/christians-are-taught-to-respect-authority-says-new-group-on-najib?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter#sthash.3tns35jS.dpuf

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Malaysiakini

8:50AM Jun 2, 2015

We’re non-partisan, says leader of Christian group

Despite concerns over the launch of a new Christian group tonight with Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak as its guest of honour, the group’s chairperson, Rev Wong Kim Kong, is giving his assurance that the group is strictly non-partisan.

Wong appealed to members of the public to remain calm and to give his group – Christians for Peace and Harmony in Malaysia (CPHM) – some time to prove that it is sincere and honest in its cause.

“Let us, over time, prove our sincerity and confirm whether we are politically- motivated or not.

“Just give us time and allow us, through our future activities and our pursuits, to show whether we are politically-motivated or manipulated by other people,” Wong told Malaysiakini when contacted yesterday.

http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/300376

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Malaysian Insider

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Malaysian Insider

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The CPHM chairman is Reverend Wong Kim Kong, a former secretary-general of the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship (NECF).

Wong said the idea of a new grouping arose from concerns over the increasing tension over religion because of the ban on the use of the word Allah in Bahasa Malaysia in a Catholic weekly, and the seizure of Bibles, among other issues.

He said Najib’s endorsement of the new grouping was recognition “for us to work with not only Christians but with everyone” and would help to overcome misgivings when reaching out to those from other religions to work for peace and harmony.

http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2015/05/30/new-christian-grouping-to-be-launched-by-najib/

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New group seen as Malaysian govt ‘tool’ to win over Christians http://tdy.sg/1JdFMd9 

KUALA LUMPUR — Despite reservations by established organisations, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak is set to launch the Christians for Peace and Harmony Malaysia (CPHM), a group which critics have accused of being a tool to help the government reclaim confidence among the Christians.

Critics of the new group have questioned its inception, noting that the other prominent Christian groups like Council of Churches Malaysia (CCM) and Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) have distanced themselves from this non-governmental organisation.

Critics said that the government’s endorsement of this new group made it look as if the others had not been effective in their roles in uniting Christians.

Mr Najib’s involvement in the CPHM event have raised questions about a possible rift between the new NGO and the older ones which are critical of the government over a host of matters involving Christians.

These include the “Allah” issue, seizure of Christian materials, including Malay and Iban Bibles and the recent Taman Medan cross protest.

http://www.todayonline.com/world/asia/new-group-seen-malaysian-govt-tool-win-over-christians

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Malay Mail Online

Prominent Christians form BN-friendly faith group backed by Putrajaya

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Free Malaysia Today

New Christian grouping to be launched by Najib

Among those who will attend is Ibrahim Ali, head of the Malay rights group Perkasa. However Wong reported to be disappointed with opposition politicians who all declined because of Najib’s presence. “We sent invitations to two top leaders of each party. But some have replied to say that they cannot participate in an event where Najib is the guest of honour. They have shown that they do not understand the objective of this, that we must come together. They also forget that he (Najib) is still the PM of the land,” the report quoted him as saying.

http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2015/05/30/new-christian-grouping-to-be-launched-by-najib/

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