We, the undersigned Malaysian citizens from all walks of life, hereby register our hopes, admiration and above all, our support to the call for rational dialogue that was recently proposed by 25 right-minded, inspired and courageous citizens. Their widely published letter certainly ignites a bright and encouraging light at the end of Malaysia’s darkened tunnel of politics. We concur with the issues raised by this group of distinguished Malaysian Malay Muslims and appeal to the country’s leadership and especially the ruling political party to address the concerns raised vis-à-vis the “continuing unresolved disputes on the position and application of Islamic laws in this country”. Indeed Malaysia’s ability and “responsibility” in “demonstrating that justice is done and seen to be done”, is the very cornerstone of this multiracial, multi-religious and multicultural population once dubbed with hope as the ‘Rising Asian Tiger’. As much as we support unconditionally the belief held by the patriotic Group of 25 noble men and women in so far as Islam is concerned, we likewise call upon, along those same parameters, that all religions beholden to the various faithful be allowed “to continue to be relevant and universal in our times”; and the teachings of our respective faiths be allowed and continue to evolve without any agenda of fear, misrepresentation, oppression or blinkered justice. To our courageous, informed and well intended Group of 25, we salute you for your expressions of concern and for categorically speaking without fear or favour but in the best and sole interest of nation building. We assert that, no nation can progress when politics and religion get muddled with self-serving and narrow agendas; no progress can last when religion is made a scapegoat or pawn on the political checkerboard; no religion ruins civilisation when we take the moderate path that is universally proclaimed and cherished. For we too concur that religion has guided all of God’s creations professing their respective beliefs, through harsh and challenging times. Hence, the statement made by this inspired group that “there are many pressing issues affecting all of us that need the urgent leadership and vision of the prime minister, the support of his cabinet and all moderate Malaysians”, secures our unconditional support. The time is here and now and we must not be guilty as a nation for letting this opportunity slip by. This is a defining period in our quest for national transformation and so we must see to the rational dialogue on the application of Islamic laws and other laws in the country. The Federal Constitution must reign supreme for it has and shall always be the torch that leads us as a one nation of people, united, out of these darkening clouds of divisiveness, confusion and misguided justice. No right-minded Malaysian will let this nation be marred by any form of extremism – be it in politics, society, economy or the environment. We are certain too that millions more will defend our nationhood from any form of extremism. And in that spirit desiring to be free of fear, suspicion and hatred, we are heartened to note and do value the numerous rounds of applause within corporate corridors, the marketplace, on the internet and the media as people share their support for the matters of concern raised by the Group of 25. Signed: J. D. Lovrenciear, Director, Business Ethics Institute of Malaysia Brig General (R) Dato’ Mohd Arshad Mohd Raji, Chairman – Asian Public Relations Academy Dato’ Mahadev Shankar, Former Court of Appeal Judge and three-time Royal Commissioner Dato’ Saw Choo Boon. Former Chairman of Shell Malaysia Dato’ Pardip Kumar Kukreja, Chairman, Malaysia Nepal Business Council Dato’ Halim Abdullah, Retired Civil Servant, Former State Secretary Penang. Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, Trustee 1Malaysia Foundation Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam, Former Secretary General, Ministry of Transport, Dy. Sec. Gen Ministry of Finance. Datuk Wira (Dr) Ameer Mydin, Managing Director, Mydin Mohamed Holdings Berhad Tan Sri Yong Poh Kon, Former President FMM Datuk A. Vaithilingam, Founder and Former President of the MCCBCHST; Former President, Malaysia Hindu Sangam Dato Ramli Yusof, Senior Partner, Ramli Yusoff & Co. Michael Kang, National Vice President, SMI Association of Malaysia Sardar Harcharan Singh, Founder, Former President, Vice President of the Malaysian Gurdwaras Council Datuk Taizoon H. Tyebkhan, Former President, Penang Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry Dato’ SH Wong, Chairman, Malaysian American Electronics Industry (MAEI), AMCHAM Datuk Bhupat Rai Premji, Director India International Bank Wan Saiful Wan Jan, Chief Executive, Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) Dato’ Andy Seo, Executive Chairman of Alphaprima Engineering Sdn Bhd. Dato’ Kesav Aggarwal, Executive Director, Bharat Group of Companies. Lachman Naraindas JSM AMN Former President KL & Selangor Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KLSICCI) Dato’ Dr. R Palan, Chairman/CEO SMRT Holdings Berhad Selvaraja Chinniah, Advocate & Solicitor Stephen Nah, Founder & Member, Service Civil International (SCI Malaysia) Dato’ V. L. Kandan, Former Member of the Selangor State Executive Council Dato’ Din Merican, Senior Research Fellow, Cambodian Institute of Cooperation & Peace and Adjunct Professor Datin Dr. Kamsiah Haider, University Associate Professor and Dental Surgeon S. C. Shekar, Photo-journalist & Publisher Lynette Yeow, Advocate & Solicitor Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria, Secretary General, Proham Tan Sri Michael Yeoh, CEO ASLI Muhammad Sha’ani Bin Abdullah, Former Commissioner, Malaysian Human Rights Commission (SUHAKAM) Andrew Khoo, Advocate & Solicitor, High Court of Malaysia freemalaysiatoday/category/nation/2014/12/15/patriotism-by-universal-standards-is-alive-again-in-malaysia/
Posted on: Mon, 15 Dec 2014 04:59:40 +0000
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