工业区教堂的祈求...

工业地教堂 VS 阿都拉的座右铭：公正与公平

佳节期间，政治人物都应节发表佳节献词，没有太多人留意千遍一律的献词，缺乏新意和创意，读了第一段就可知道接下来的内容。

圣诞节当天，前往采访首相阿都拉出席的圣诞节门户开放节目，主办当局是大马基督教联合会，地点在梳邦再也UEP工业区内的一所教堂（Wisma Eagle）。

由于不知道地点，采访前拨电给首相新闻秘书张爱华，以免兜冤枉路误了时间。

[caption id="attachment_2289" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="宗教自由，公平与公正对待各正信的宗教是大家的共同愿望"][/caption]

抵达采访地点后，我问同行为何选择在工厂内主办门户开放日？ 1名西报记者说：“这不是工厂，是教堂！你看（转向其他记者），又有一位问同样的问题。”

我惊讶的表示为何不像教堂，它在100%的工业地，它是100%公司式的建筑物，一个十字架都没有，怎么可能是教堂。进入建筑物内才发现别有洞天。

他说，这就是行政偏差，梳邦再也市议会不允许十字架，祈祷场所地段不足被迫选用工业地…

压抑太久，大马基督和天主教社群乘着阿都拉面前呼吁政府，主动和敏锐地回应人民心声，并关注非回教膜拜场所地段不足的问题；并直接列出圣诞愿望清单。

大马基督徒福音联谊会（NECF）主席尤方成牧师主任说：

「20、30年前，宗教团体以商店和房屋作为祈祷场所是罕见的事情，可是今日基督教堂的情况日渐增加。」

「我们被迫使用工业地段作为膜拜场所，这个建筑物就是一个证明，说明缺乏作为宗教地段的规划地。」

「我们祈望是，受政府鼓励以发扬宗教的优点，希望我们能获得更多象徵性和真正的空间进行。」

他还举出其他关注事项，要求政府留意的事项计有：308政治海啸后人民求变意愿、治安不靖、失业率、百物价格上涨、国际山庄土崩衍生的事情、德士司机不愿使用计程表、一流建设需要一流思维、加强执行力、国文版圣经问题，以及林甘短片皇委会等。

听了尤方成的演说，内心痛快无比，这是一份没有捧大脚的演讲，讲出人民的心声，虽然不动听，却非常真实。

阿都拉在主桌旁静静聆听，没有太多脸部表情和肢体动作。他在较后致词时，也只轻描淡写地带过基督和天主教社群的诉求，重复表示政府将一视同仁公平与公正对待所有人。

由于尤方成的演词非常棒，我稍做简介，节录原文让大家感受基督徒的心声。

这份演词共29段，其中5段属于小段（只有一句），其余24大段中，13段关于基督社群的要求（占一半以上的篇幅），5段是肯定和感激阿都拉的贡献，以及3段重申基督社群与国家共赴挑战。

一名电视台记者说：“这是一篇政治演讲，圣诞节的政治演词。主席明显是有备而来…”

另一人说：“这是2008年总结演说，把今年所发生的大事情都纳入在内，更是一份清单。”

不管怎样，这是具分量和重量的演说，值得推荐。

精彩的节录如下：

訴求：

For many, the Mac 08 general elections is still fresh on our minds. Indeed it speaks if the vivid desire of the electorate for better government and governance and also a strong wish and hope for a united Malaysia for all people rather than one divided along communal lines.

The fact that we can gather together like this, this afternoon…. Is testimony that we are inching towards this goal of Bangsa Malaysia, and a Malaysia where there are equal opportunities for all. We want to continue to believe and hope that Bangsa Malaysia will not be an elusive dream but a glorious reality.

We are thankful for the reduction in petrol price, in tandem with world oil prices, But food prices and prices of many other commodities are still maintained at the level of peak oil prices. The growing unemployment and the perception that crime is on the rise resulting in the feeling of insecurity, need to be addressed,

As we celebrate Christmas, we urge the government to continue to be sensitive and pro-active to the many needs and concerns of the general population, after the Bukit Antarabangsa landslide, a former victim of the earlier Highland Towers landside remarked “after all the promises, it won’t be long before the tractors and the contractors start work again” – we must pause to ask why there is such cynicism in our country.

I was in recently at the Sg Wang Plaza trying to flag down a taxi – at least 3 taxis won’t take us unless we agreed to them not using the meters.

Obviously we have policies and mechanisms in place, but the strict enforcement of these is still lacking, the Christian community, today, hopes to work together, to see Malaysia a first world infrastructure with a first world mentality.

Indeed a shrinking economy and widening polarizations of the different communities are the biggest threats facing the country.

In your journey to finalize your last mission (to cool racial and religious tensions), may we suggest that the Government re-look at its restriction on the Alkitab.

Bahasa Malaysia is our national language. Therefore we continue to be perplexed by classification of the Bahasa Malaysia Alkitab under section 22 of the ISA as a document “prejudicial to the national interest and security of the Federation,” Though special exemption was made for the Alkitab to be used by Christians in churches, in this modern day and age, where almost anything can be accessed on the internet, it is regrettable that our Holy Scriptures is still seen as “prejudicial to the security” of the country.

25-30 years ago, it seemed strange when various religious groups started to use shop-houses for worship services. Today, we are experiencing the same malady but to a much greater degree. Churches in particular, now have to use industrial lots for places of worship.

This building, is testimony of the shortage of land designated as places of worship. Our prayer is that, as we are encouraged by the Government to promote the good of our various faiths, we all would be given more space, literally and figuratively, to do so.

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承諾：

With the looming economic crisis, we want to assure the government that Christians have been praying for the well being of our nation – and that we are committed to helping the government and the people, irrespective of race and religious, to weather the coming global crisis.

We stand committed and fervent in Nation Building, and we the Christian community, pledge our cooperation and our resources.

感謝：

The Christian community is indeed thankful to God for the unity among Malaysians as well as the progress and relative prosperity that our country and all people from different walks of life have experienced. This has come about due to the increasing focus of our government to ensure the welfare and well being of all Malaysians and the efforts of everyone.

Let me conclude by thanking our PM… under your PM-ship, we see the opening up of democratic space, more than ever before. There is now greater freedom of expression.

You have allowed a great deal of latitude in the media and this has translated into a more inquisitive society. Intellectual debates on issues once considered taboo previously are being discussed, commented and analyzed in the full glare of the public.

The infamous Lingam Royal Commission might not have been possible under former PM, the smooth transition to the opposition State Government after March 09 would have been difficult if not for your strong sense of peace and justice, your firm hand ensuring fair and smooth transition,

As we the Christian community continues to work towards the well being of all, to seek God’s blessings upon this nation and to pray for wisdom for the government to meet the challenges of the global financial meltdown, we shall certainly continue to pray for God’s blessing upon you and your dear wife as well.