Religious group accepts DPM denial but wants more

By Debra Chong - The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, April 13 — The Malaysian Consultative Council for Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) said it accepts Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s statement denying he had yesterday labelled the inter-faith committee “small fry”, but remains concerned at his apparent lack of commitment to the Cabinet initiative.
Its president, Reverend Thomas Philips, added that the national body of non-Muslim religions have yet to decide whether it will resume the suspended talks with their Muslim counterparts from the Islamic Development Department (Jakim), Malaysian Institute of Islamic Understanding (Ikim) and the National Unity and Integration Department (NUID) under minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon.
“We accept his statement that he did not say ‘small fry’ but even if it is ‘a small committee’, the people inside are still religious leaders of their respective religions,” Philips said in an immediate response to Muhyiddin’s statement this evening.
“The Majlis (council) has always been committed to inter-faith talks, and this is the first time the government has recognised this group with Jakim, Ikim and the National Unity Department,” he said.
He noted that the matter may not be over just yet, as the MCCBCHST had yet to see the deputy prime minister’s sincerity towards the Cabinet-endorsed committee to promote understanding and harmony among Malaysia’s diverse religions.
He explained that the MCCBCHST had high hopes in finally being able to speak directly to Islamic religious leaders to better understand the different religions, until Muhyiddin’s gaffe.
Philips declined to comment if the inter-faith dialogue would pick up now the matter appears to have been clarified.
He told The Malaysian Insider he would have to speak to the rest of the MCCBCHT’s executive committee members, which is to take place within the next couple of days.