CCM wants Mahdzir to apologise for blaming Christians

PETALING JAYA: The Council Of Churches of Malaysia (CCM) has expressed concern that newly appointed education minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid had alleged that the Christians and Jews 'are splitting the Malays'.
Noting that it was an 'unfair statement', CCM General Secretary Rev Dr Hermen Shastri said it is wrong to link the Christians with the Jews.
"It is highly misleading to even associate us with the Jews and worse still, to propose that we are in any way trying to split the Malays or any other group," he said in a statement.
Hermen said the group calls on Mahdzir to clarify his detrimental and divisive remarks and 'to apologise for making those obnoxious comments.'
"He should not make false allegations as it is harmful and can be regarded as undermining national unity.
"His comments have caused much anxiety among Christians and fair minded moderate Malaysians, particularly since he is the new Minister of Education. He should be promoting National Harmony and Unity, instead of spewing ill-will and polarisation in our country," he stressed.
Over the weekend, Mahdzir, who is also Umno Supreme council member, had warned Umno party members not to believe reports published on whistle-blower website Sarawak Report, which he claimed promotes Jewish and Christian agendas with the purpose of splitting the Malays.
He was reported saying this at the opening of the Hulu Langat Umno division delegates meeting, noting that this was the biggest threat facing the country's leaders who were being attacked within and outside the country.
Sarawak Report has been reporting exposes on alleged misappropriation of funds by 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) which has debts of RM42 billion.
Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) had blocked the site last month over ground that the reports could harm national stability, while police have issue a warrant of arrest for its editor Clare Rewcastle Brown, who is currently living in UK.