Christians make up only 9 percent of (Malaysia’s) population but their willingness to take political positions in recent years suggests that they will be a factor to reckon with in the new political landscape. (Joceline Tan, The Star)

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“Among the non-Muslims, Christians are among the most active and vocal in political advocacy,” said UCSI University don Dr Ong Kian Ming.

A key reason, said Dr Ong, is the way government decisions on religious matters have impacted on them over the last few years, chief of which was the court ruling on what has become known as the Allah issue. The controversy surrounding the High Court decision on the use of the term “Allah” was a tipping point of sorts for the Christian community.

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Christian sentiment has not been this politicised in years and many congregations had prayed over (a recent call for electoral reforms by a civil society group, Bersih) while church members and even some pastors were known to have joined the protest. The thing is, Bersih’s call for free and fair elections resonated with biblical concepts of justice and righteousness.

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The Christians are too small in numbers and … too spread out to be considered a powerful vote.

But, said Dr Ong, they are influential because they know their rights and have become very vocal about it.

FULL STORY

Minority with a major role (The Star)

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