Church body gives RM401k to fund
Contribution to Tabung Harapan meant for new govt to uphold religious freedom
PETALING JAYA: In a gesture of solidarity and patriotism, churches from all over Malaysia, through the Council of Churches of Malaysia (CCM), has contributed RM401,100 to the Tabung Harapan Malaysia.
Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, who received the donation from CCM, vowed that the new government will uphold religious freedom, engage in constant dialogues with all religious leaders and protect the interest of mission schools.
He also assured that Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is fully committed to the efforts of the Finance Ministry to clean up the national economy, which he said was “urgent and long overdue”.
“The “Reform Agenda” that the people supported and voted for holds a central place in the policies of the new government.
“Under our new administration, we intend to uphold the policy of religious freedom, which is guaranteed in our Federal Constitution.
“We hope to work with the whole spectrum of Malaysian society to contribute to mutual respect and goodwill among all racial communities and religions in our country as well as to celebrate diversity.
“We shall also protect the interests of mission schools as an important element of education and nation-building,” Lim said in his speech at the CCM’s 70th anniversary dinner here on Wednesday. It was attended by heads of churches and Christian organisations.
Lim said mission schools administered by the various church authorities had played a significant role in offering quality education to generations of Malaysians, including political leaders like himself.
“With a new government committed to speaking truth to the people, we have come a full circle towards restoring fully democratic principles and practices,” he said.
CCM acting president Bishop Dr Ong Hwai Teik said that the contribution to the fund was made to aid the cause of nation-building by the Pakatan Harapan government.
“Our prayers is with the new government to retain their reform agenda for a strong, prosperous, just and compassionate Malaysia, where all her people, regardless of race or religion, would have an equal place under the Malaysian sun,” he said.