Missionaries contributed to nation-building, Sabah church group tells Hadi

Christian missionaries in Sabah and Sarawak have contributed to nation-building, a Sabah church group says in rebuttal to PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang’s negative remarks against preachers. Sabah Council of Churches president Datuk Jerry Dusing said the work of mission workers have been transparent and centred on three areas – the church, hospitals and schools. He said all three have proved to be successful without any report of bribery or inducements for converting to Christianity. Hadi alleged that Christian missionaries brought their work to Malaysia only after experiencing failure in the West. He also said they spread their religion not by using knowledge and reasoned argument, but by baiting their targets with money and other forms of aid. “People who are hemmed in by the difficulties of living would easily accept their assistance and, in the end, become influenced by them,” Hadi said. Hadi’s remarks were published in the PAS organ, Harakah. Dusing hit out at Hadi’s remarks as “false and untrue”, saying the Islamist party chief’s statements reflected his ignorance of the central tenets of Christianity. He said Christians believed that the ability to choose new beliefs, thoughts and feelings was an individual’s discretion. “Therefore, accusing Christian missionaries of using money and aid for people to convert to Christianity is grossly irresponsible as firstly, such a practice is clearly against our beliefs. “As Christians, cheating and bribery, inducements and compulsion are not justifiable and simply, are sins,” he said, adding that Hadi’s statement was meant to ignite religious sectarianism and create discord and hatred in society. Dusing also said the efforts of the pioneering missionaries in the then remote parts of the Sarawak jungles had brought much-needed healthcare and education to the Lunbawang tribe. “It was their sacrificial efforts which contributed to the Lunbawang’s survival,” Dusing said. He added that in terms of education, prominent leaders of the country at various levels of society have benefited from mission schools. “If Datuk Seri Hadi Awang would have cared to read the profile of our chief minister in the official Sabah government website, he would have noticed that our chief minister attended mission schools for his primary and secondary education.” – January 23, 2016.