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http://www.necf.org.my/html/berita_f.htm PP5872/12/2006 JULY–AUGUST 2006 EDITORIAL “The world has a memory of only 100 days.” n Aug 31, 1983, the Russians condominium-cum-office block shot down a Korean Airlines under construction at Jalan Sri Ocommerical flight that had Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur. veered off-course into Soviet airspace. More recently, the Ulu Klang All 269 souls on-board perished. The landslide claimed four lives and Russians refused to explain what really swept away several longhouses. In quick happened. When asked why, they replied response, the Government ordered that the world had a memory of only have dominated the news. How do we 100 days. Within 100 days, they said, see through all these and make an impact something else would happen and in our nation? everyone’s attention would be turned to the latest issue. And they were right. Discern the times Does this sound familiar? A lot of (Jesus) said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud things have been happening in our nation. rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going Each time disaster strikes, there is strong to rain,’ and it does. And when the south wind reaction. For example, the nation was blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. stunned when corporate figure Dr. Liew Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the Boon-Horng was killed when a two- probes and passed new laws. Whether appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it tonne iron mould fell on his car from a they are doing enough is not the issue that you don’t know how to interpret this present here. What is important is the public’s, time?” (Luke 12:54–56) INSIDE and especially the Christians’, attitude Where is our nation heading? What THIS ISSUE towards these events. Do we just vent are the signs pointing to? There are many our anger and disappointment in the heat issues out there, but not all of them are • Shamala Specifics...........3 of the moment and then let the issue pass equally important. into obscurity? How long is our The religious liberty issue is a crucial • Aye to Article 11..............4 memory? one with long-term implications. One • Vote for Continuity ...........5 Christians are called to make a high-profile case is the Lina Joy court case. difference. We are not just citizens of Lina, a Christian convert from Islam, had • Foundation Update...........6 Malaysia. We are citizens of heaven (Phil. applied to have the word “Islam” deleted 3:20), called to be salt of the earth and from her identity card. The National • What’s Up Youths?..........8 light of our Father’s world. Registration Department refused to allow • Adoption – Doing It Right But in the midst of so many issues the application and wanted her to .......................................11 and controversies, where do we begin? produce a declaration from the Syariah Lately, the controversies over the Court that she was no longer a Muslim • State Spot – Johore........14 “crooked bridge”, APs, Proton, the “indecency” definition, and many others • SEE PAGE 3 NECF MALAYSIA COUNCIL From The Chairman Rev. Eu Hong Seng Chairman Rev. Eu Hong Seng Vice-Chairman Elder Kong Yeng Phooi Let’s begin with Honorary Secretary Mr Samuel Ang Honorary Treasurer Dr Khoo Kay Hup holiness Committee Members Rev. Justin Wan thank the Lord for the honour absenteeism’ from honouring God on Rev. Dexter Low and privilege to serve in NECF Sundays, ‘itching ears’, proliferation of Rev. Ng Kok Kee Malaysia as Chairman. I am also ‘other gospels’ and the increasing Rev. Foo Moy Peng Rev. Lim Soon Hock very thankful for the foundation availability of pornographic materials. Rev. Simon Chandran laid by my predecessors, Mr There is a rise of the same spirit of Pr Tay Wah Seng IDavid Boler and Rev. Datuk Prince laxity, compromise and unholiness of Elder Chua Keng Seng Guneratnam during their tenure as Nadab and Abihu in their service to Mrs Grace Hee Chairman, for we cannot begin to be God, which got them killed in God’s Advisor effective in nation building without a solid presence in Leviticus 10. Elder David Boler, K.M.N. Rev. Datuk Prince Guneratnam foundation. All these forms of uncleanness will Today, we are living in very challenging chip away our effectiveness and NECF MALAYSIA STAFF and transitional times, both for this nation testimony. Secretary-General and for the Church – for it is the end- There is so much to do, and the Rev. Wong Kim Kong, J.M.N. time hour. danger is to rush out to do it without Executive Secretaries Ann Low (Prayer) On one hand, it has been a season of due regard to the Lord’s yardstick of Kathryn Tan (Finance) growth for the Church where we have holiness. At the end of the day, we may Patrick Cheng (Leadership seen more and more Christian leaders look like ‘heroes’, but would we be holy? Development ) emerging and churches being planted. At Without holiness, there will be very Lim Siew Foong (Research) the same time, disasters loom over the little fruit in everything we do. Ngeh Hoong Eng (Chinese) world and conflicts erupt worldwide Without holiness, suspicion and Alfred Tais (Bahasa Malaysia) Ong Juat Heng (Communications) with ever-increasing frequency. disunity will creep in. Tham Sing Kheong (Administration) Locally, we brace ourselves for bigger Without holiness, God will not release Rev. Lai Moo Him (Special Projects & and more unsettled times ahead with the His resources. When there is lack, we do Church Relations) Lina Joy court case, the constitutional crisis not have a financial problem; we have a Sandy Tan (Secretary-General’s Office) spilling forth and where the Government spiritual problem. Confidential Secretary of the day is being “unusually questioned” JC Ryle said, “Holiness is written on Ching Bee Gaik Administrative Secretaries by the former premier. everything in heaven…”. Yvonne Chin But we have been called for such a My prayer is that this would be true Sangan Mutang time as this, and the challenge is to move of everything NECF does. My Administrative Assistants forward – to grow, to advance, to be a encouragement to all members is that Jouslly Buaya light unto this nation. we serve and sacrifice in such a manner EDITORIAL And how may we achieve that? as to be found by Him without spot or Editor In the morning of the BGM itself blemish, as admonished by Apostle Peter. Rev. Wong Kim Kong, J.M.N. on May 20, God spoke to me in my I look forward to working together Assistant Editor & Writer quiet time from 1 Peter 1:16, “because with all members of NECF towards Ong Juat Heng it is written, “Be Holy, for I am holy.”. achieving greater unity in the Lord’s ADDRESS I sense that the first order of the day church and growth for our Lord’s 32, Jalan SS2/103, is holiness. kingdom in this nation. 47300 Petaling Jaya Selangor, Malaysia Our fullest experience of God will Tel: 603-7727 8227 only come when our lives are holy and Excited about the future, Fax: 603-7729 1139 our hearts are pure. E-mail: [email protected] The enemies of holiness are just too Printed by Akitiara Corporation 1 & 3, Jln TPP1/3, Tmn Industri Puchong many. We see the rise in uncleanness in Batu 12, 47100 Puchong, Selangor many forms, such as ‘acceptable 2• Berita NECF JULY – AUGUST 2006 and filed an application for declaration that it was null and void. Shamala Specifics The HC ruled that it had no jurisdiction to hear the case as the matter was within the purview of the Syariah Court (SC). Do you remember? Shamala’s application was dismissed with costs. She is appealing against this decision to the Court of Appeal. IT was the S. Shamala court case that initiated the Article 11 group (see next page). Her unfortunate story and the courts’ Shamala had filed an application for custody of the two judgements (both civil and Syariah) sent shock waves and clearly children in the HC. The HC judge granted an interim custody exposed the dilemma of the dual-legal system in the country. order giving her custody of the children and Dr Jeyaganesh But do you remember her grievances? Specifically, she and right of access. In the meantime, Dr Jeyaganesh obtained a SC her estranged husband, Dr Jeyaganesh C. Mogarajah (Hadanah) custody order. He then used the HC order to gain (Muhammad Ridzwan) have filed five appeals (all relating to access to the children. Once the children were with him, he their children) at the Court of Appeal. At press time, the court sought to rely on the SC order and refused to return the children. was still hearing the appeals. Shamala cited him for contempt of the interim HC order. He argued that the SC order prevailed over the civil court Shamala’s children, aged 4 and 2, were converted to Islam order. The HC did not accept his argument and cited him for by Dr Jeyaganesh. Shamala contended at the High Court (HC) contempt. Dr Jeyaganesh is appealing against this decision. in 2004 that she had no knowledge of the children’s conversion • SEE PAGE 6 •FROM FRONT COVER calling for our lives. will we make? Some of us are (which was called to preach Define the boundaries impossible to obtain). the Gospel. That It is said that before someone can do Lina took her case is a high calling. things, there must be things he or she will to the High Court Some of us may not do.