MCA backs inter-faith dialogue

By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 12 — MCA believes that an inter-faith dialogue will be good for the country after the spate of church in the country.

The party’s deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek (picture) stressed that the dialogue will create a better understanding between different religious groups.

“The party believe and all the time we have been asking even at the state level that there should be a forum or a mechanism there is an inter-faith dialogue so that there will be better understanding.

“If there is any issue related to religion then it can be discussed with full understanding and without slogans, shouting and high emotions. I think it is good for the country. In fact, we discussed about the inter-faith at the meeting,” he told reporters after attending the party’s presidential council meeting at Wisma MCA here.

The government has announced that it plans to hold a private inter-faith dialogue but refused to make it into a public affair because the forum may open to sensitive issues.

Meanwhile Pakatan Rakyat (PR) pro-tem chairman Datuk Zaid Ibrahim has also stated the opposition’s intention of pushing for a state inter-faith advisory council to discuss touchy religious issues without resorting to the courts or the government’s executive powers for solution.

It is understood that the PKR bureau that met on Saturday had endorsed the proposal. PAS is also backing inter-faith dialogues to find solutions to religious issues that have divided the country’s 27 million population.

That's the way to go .