I conduct a weekly bible study with some students from my church and recently a couple of them told me that they have been participating in the NECF initiated 40-day Fast & Prayer. It was wonderful to hear of our youth involved in this, both the exercise of fasting and praying and also in concern and awareness of the needs of our nation. I think as the generation preceding theirs we owe it to them to also fast and pray for the nation, at the very least out of our concern about the heritage we are leaving to this generation. To whichever degree we are able to participate in the fasting we should be free to do so, but surely we can all participate fully in the praying. Let me encourage all readers of The Micah Mandate to embark on a period of sustained praying for our nation.
Here are some news items that we can be praying over:
Ibrahim Ali follows Tee, tells those who disagree to get out
Datuk Ibrahim Ali today told those who disagreed with the “social contract” that they can leave the country, in a refrain brought up last week by Mingguan Malaysia columnist Dr Mohd Ridhuan Tee.
The Perkasa chief also castigated Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon for suggesting he should focus on the well-being of Bumiputeras instead of their equity, saying the minister in charge of unity had failed in criticising those who hurt the feelings of the Malays.
“Whoever does not respect the social contract which is (Article) 153 of the Constitution can get out of this country.
“Go back to the place of their forefathers, do not become hypocrites,” the Pasir Mas MP said in a text message to The Malaysian Insider.
The truth: Racism is rife in Malaysia
From housing to jobs, education to citizenry, bigotry in Malaysia is a simmering cauldron.
Since MCA’s boldly brazen demand last weekend for an end to the 30% bumiputera equity, it’s not only the politicians and NGOs who are openly slamming each other over a broad range of unfair policies but the man-on-the-street is also spewing his disgust.
In Kuala Lumpur, a recently married engineer, who declined to be named, said he had trouble renting a double-storey property in a housing estate in Old Klang Road because he was Indian.
“It’s not the first time I have faced this problem. A Chinese landlord is not likely to rent you a room or house. It took me three months to find a landlord who would rent a house to us and even then we had to reassure him many times… I had to show him my payslips!” he said.
In Penang, Nabriza Ghazali, a private sector employee, said racism was rife in the commercial sector which is controlled by the Chinese community.
She said the situation was so bad that it was difficult for Malays and Indians to secure high-paying jobs in certain sectors although they had the right qualification.
“Many Malays and Indians who have been in employment for years and who are qualified for higher posts don’t move up. This is mostly because the Chinese who are less qualified and with lesser experience are given priority.
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/fmt-english/news/general/9498-the-truth-racism-is-rife-in-malaysia
Pakatan wants to ‘destroy’ constitutional monarchy, claim Malay groups
An umbrella body of Malay rights groups today accused the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) of having “grand designs” of turning Malaysia into a republic, citing the Penang sermon issue and last year’s resistance to the Perak political putsch.
Malay Consultative Council (MPM) secretary-general Dr Hasan Mad claimed that there have been four cases where PR have shown their “utter contempt” for the rights of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong as well as the Sultan of various states in the country.
“Quarters in society, mostly from Pakatan Rakyat, are trying to destroy the concept of constitutional monarchy. They want Malaysia to be a republic, and do away with the rights of our kings,” Hasan told reporters here.
The remarks from MPM, which is led by Perkasa chief Datuk Ibrahim Ali, come on the back of allegations made by Penang Umno liaison chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi that several mosques in the Tasek Gelugor, Permatang Pauh and Jelutong areas had replaced the name of the King with Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng in Friday sermons.
And here is an interesting reflection on racial politics in Malaysia by a Malaysian Insider reader.
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/breakingviews/article/racial-politics-still-a-game-today-delimma/
For those who wish to participate in the 40-day fast, here are some resources in PDF format provided by NECF Malaysia:
For adults: English BM Mandarin Tamil
For children: English BM Mandarin
Or visit the NECF website.
The Micah Mandate is a Christian-based public interest advocacy ministry that seeks a transformation of our nation through justice, mercy and humility.
August 25th, 2010 at 12:03 pm
Here is a word of encouragement from God spoken to Priscilla Van Sutphin of Upstream Ministries early this year.
In our prayers, I think we should declare the Word of God and prophecy against the enemy that rules over Malaysia and the psyche of the nation, i.e. the false prophet and the spirit of racism which promotes the deception of racial superiority:
“I will break every chain that has encumbered you. You only have to
receive the truth that I will impart to you. Scoffers abound. But scoffers should not be in the church of JESUS CHRIST ! Remember what I said to Corazin?
Remember what I said about such cities, and how I rebuked them, for if I had gone to Tyre and Sidon, and done the miracles I did, they would have repented. And so it shall be in this hour in many places. For the hearts of many have grown cold and faithless. But once again, I am pouring out from on high, that all those who will come can receive the fullness of what I have to give in order to reap the coming Harvest of souls, and to endure the time to come.
….I did not come to exalt man. I came to free him from self exultation. I came to set an example of humility, of kindness, of peace, of love and joy. I AM the LIGHT of the World, and NO MAN comes to the Father, except through ME. So take in the TRUTH of My WORD, and do not be deceived by the lies and perversions of truth that are in the world and in the church that has gone a whoring after other gods. CLING TO ME. ABIDE IN ME and I will abide in you. Flee from corruption and liars, and all false authorities, who make themselves to be something they are not.”
August 25th, 2010 at 2:41 pm
Another prayer item is to ask God to destroy the demon of tribal rivalry in this country. Everytime the tribal groups such as Perkasa/Utusun Melayu/Hindraf declare a racist defense of their policies, explain to them and the public that this is simply tribalism, which is shameful in a multi ethnic melting pot like Msia.
Jeremiah 17:7-8 NKJV “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. 8 For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.
“Destroy the demons of tribal rivalry and ethnic fear & hatreds, and judgments by loving one another as I have loved you” says the Lord !
“Treat others as you would want to be treated !”