Pope must issue "deep" apology for Islam remarks
Pope must issue "deep" apology for Islam remarks
Pope Benedict XVI must apologise and withdraw his recent remarks linking Islam and violence that have offended Muslims all over the world, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said.
"The Pope must not take lightly the spread of outrage that has been created. The Vatican must now take full responsibility over the matter and carry out the necessary steps to rectify the mistake," the prime minister told Malaysian journalists covering the 14th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) here, Friday.
Abdullah, who is chairman of the 57-nation Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), said it was regrettable that the remarks showed insensitivity to Muslim feelings and would surely hinder the fostering of good relations between Islam and Christianity.
Benedict provoked the outcry on Tuesday when he quoted criticism of Islam and Prophet Muhammad by 14th century Byzantine Christian Emperor Manuel II Palaeologus in a theological lecture in Germany.
"It is unfortunate that such an eminent figure like the Pope has not shown leadership in promoting good relations between religions.
"Instead, his statement has had the effect of sowing more seeds of discord and will not be conducive for dialogue among religions," Abdullah said.
He said that judging from the reactions of various quarters around the world, obviously, the Pope's words could lead to further tension between religions.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar urged Muslims to be patient and not to get too emotional.
However, he said that the Muslim world should condemn the statement so that it was not repeated.
He said such statements were not good for world security and stability besides hampering efforts to avoid cultural and religious clashes.
Abdullah, who is attending the summit, also met Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Lebanese President Emile Lahoud (Lubnan), Belarus Prime Minister Aleksander Lukashenko and Prime Minister of the Republic of Dominica Leonal Fernandez Reyna.
He said he also had discussions with United Nations secretary-general Kofi Anan on the deploymant of UN peacekeeping troops in Lebanon.
He said the Lebanese president had no problem accepting Malaysian troops for peacekeeping duties in the country which was torn by war between Israel and the Hizbollah fighters.
Pope Benedict must issue a "deep and persuasive" apology for quotes used during a speech this week that described Islam as "evil and inhuman", The New York Times said in an editorial on Saturday.
"The world listens carefully to the words of any pope. And it is tragic and dangerous when one sows pain, either deliberately or carelessly," the Times said.
"He needs to offer a deep and persuasive apology, demonstrating that words can also heal," it added.
In a speech in Germany on Tuesday, the Pope quoted the 14th century Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Palaeologus, who said: "Show me just what Mohammad brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached."
Muslims worldwide have reacted angrily to Benedict's choice of quote and many have said he should apologise to dispel the impression he had joined a campaign against Islam.
Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi defended the Pope's lecture and said he did not mean to offend Muslims.
The Times editorial said this was not the first time Benedict has fomented discord between Christians and Muslims.
It cited a 2004 comment, when he was the Vatican's top theologian, against Turkey's joining the European Union because as a Muslim country, it was "in permanent contrast to Europe".
"A doctrinal conservative, his greatest fear appears to be the loss of a uniform Catholic identity, not exactly the best jumping-off point for tolerance or interfaith dialogue," the editorial said.
Criticism – a matter of politics and Government
The decision to reprimand Deputy Higher Education Datuk Ong Tee Keat for his statement directed at the Education Ministry was made based on government principle.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the decision was made at the Cabinet level in the presence of all Barisan Nasional component party heads.
“When it comes to the Government, the principle is very clear that you can't transcend another ministry's responsibility,” he told reporters after launching and presenting the DRB-Hicom-Deftech special scholarship fund at the Defence Ministry here yesterday.
He was asked to comment on some Barisan leaders questioning the Cabinet's move to reprimand Ong for alleging misuse of funds meant for Chinese schools' refurbishment, when Umno Youth leaders were allowed to hurl criticism at Penang Chief Minister Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon alleging him to have neglected issues concerning the Malays in the state.
“That's all, that's enough. It is a matter of principle. One is politics; the other is the Government,” he said when pressed further by reporters.
The reprimand was issued through Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed on Wednesday.
Mustapa, in his apology to the Education Ministry over Ong’s remarks, said the Cabinet decided that it was not appropriate for a government officer to openly criticise fellow officers in other ministries.
The apology came after Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein brought up the matter to the Cabinet.
On another matter, Najib said that Malaysian soldiers have been trained to be part of the peacekeeping force to be deployed to Lebanon.
However, Najib, who is also Defence Minister, said Malaysia had yet to receive the green light from the United Nations.
“We have not heard anything but we've done the training.”
On former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's remarks questioning the need to send the peacekeeping force to Lebanon when the intention of the UN was to protect Israel from being attacked by Hezbollah rather the civilians in Lebanon, Najib said: “ We will implement the mandate by the UN to ensure a ceasefire in that area and to stabilise Lebanon. That's all.”
"Datuk Ong Tee Keat was reprimanded by the Cabinet because he overstepped the line and commented on another ministry’s affairs."
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said there was a clear distinction between making statements on government affairs and political issues.
"When it comes to government, the principle is very clear, you cannot transcend into another ministry’s responsibility," he said.
"I am his boss". This is Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed’s explanation for apologising to Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein on behalf of his deputy Datuk Ong Tee Keat.
"I am his boss in the government while (Datuk Seri Ong) Ka Ting is his boss in politics," he said after opening a forum entitled "Media, the Higher Education Ministry and Unity" here yesterday.
Tee Keat has come under severe criticism from the Cabinet especially from Hishammuddin for infringing on matters under the jurisdiction of the Education Ministry.
He came under fire after he recently made an allegation that government officers had misused funds earmarked for refurbishment of several Chinese schools in Johor.
Tee Keat allegedly said this at a dinner with teachers and board members of a Chinese school in Muar but he denied it the following day.
The Ong Tee Kiat affair has exposed two political scandals, wrote Lim Kiat Siang – (1) no government seriousness in combating corruption after getting 91% parliamentary seats in the last general election where voters were asked to give full support to Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as a Prime Minister who will become a “modern-day Justice Bao” to wipe out corruption; and (2) Barisan Nasional (BN) double-standards of one rule for Umno and another for other BN component parties.
Ka Ting has said that there was no need for him as MCA President to apologise for Tee Kiat, seeking justification in the explanation given by the Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak who advanced the argument of a “clear distinction between making statements on government affairs and political issues”.
When asked about the BN double-standards as UMNO Youth leaders were allowed to hurl criticisms at Penang Chief Minister Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon alleging neglect, discrimination and marginalization of the Malays in Penang, Najib said: “One is politics; the other is the Government.”
Stressing that the Cabinet decision to reprimand Tee Kiat was made “in the presence of all Barisan Nasional component party heads”, Najib said: “When it comes to the Government, the principle is very clear that you can’t transcend another ministry’s responsibility.”
Malaysia Mahathir Ahmad Badawi Hishammuddin Hussein Ong Ka Ting Ong Tee Kiat Pope Benedict muslim
Pope Benedict XVI must apologise and withdraw his recent remarks linking Islam and violence that have offended Muslims all over the world, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said.
"The Pope must not take lightly the spread of outrage that has been created. The Vatican must now take full responsibility over the matter and carry out the necessary steps to rectify the mistake," the prime minister told Malaysian journalists covering the 14th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) here, Friday.
Abdullah, who is chairman of the 57-nation Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), said it was regrettable that the remarks showed insensitivity to Muslim feelings and would surely hinder the fostering of good relations between Islam and Christianity.
Benedict provoked the outcry on Tuesday when he quoted criticism of Islam and Prophet Muhammad by 14th century Byzantine Christian Emperor Manuel II Palaeologus in a theological lecture in Germany.
"It is unfortunate that such an eminent figure like the Pope has not shown leadership in promoting good relations between religions.
"Instead, his statement has had the effect of sowing more seeds of discord and will not be conducive for dialogue among religions," Abdullah said.
He said that judging from the reactions of various quarters around the world, obviously, the Pope's words could lead to further tension between religions.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar urged Muslims to be patient and not to get too emotional.
However, he said that the Muslim world should condemn the statement so that it was not repeated.
He said such statements were not good for world security and stability besides hampering efforts to avoid cultural and religious clashes.
Abdullah, who is attending the summit, also met Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Lebanese President Emile Lahoud (Lubnan), Belarus Prime Minister Aleksander Lukashenko and Prime Minister of the Republic of Dominica Leonal Fernandez Reyna.
He said he also had discussions with United Nations secretary-general Kofi Anan on the deploymant of UN peacekeeping troops in Lebanon.
He said the Lebanese president had no problem accepting Malaysian troops for peacekeeping duties in the country which was torn by war between Israel and the Hizbollah fighters.
Pope Benedict must issue a "deep and persuasive" apology for quotes used during a speech this week that described Islam as "evil and inhuman", The New York Times said in an editorial on Saturday.
"The world listens carefully to the words of any pope. And it is tragic and dangerous when one sows pain, either deliberately or carelessly," the Times said.
"He needs to offer a deep and persuasive apology, demonstrating that words can also heal," it added.
In a speech in Germany on Tuesday, the Pope quoted the 14th century Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Palaeologus, who said: "Show me just what Mohammad brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached."
Muslims worldwide have reacted angrily to Benedict's choice of quote and many have said he should apologise to dispel the impression he had joined a campaign against Islam.
Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi defended the Pope's lecture and said he did not mean to offend Muslims.
The Times editorial said this was not the first time Benedict has fomented discord between Christians and Muslims.
It cited a 2004 comment, when he was the Vatican's top theologian, against Turkey's joining the European Union because as a Muslim country, it was "in permanent contrast to Europe".
"A doctrinal conservative, his greatest fear appears to be the loss of a uniform Catholic identity, not exactly the best jumping-off point for tolerance or interfaith dialogue," the editorial said.
**********
Criticism – a matter of politics and Government
The decision to reprimand Deputy Higher Education Datuk Ong Tee Keat for his statement directed at the Education Ministry was made based on government principle.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the decision was made at the Cabinet level in the presence of all Barisan Nasional component party heads.
“When it comes to the Government, the principle is very clear that you can't transcend another ministry's responsibility,” he told reporters after launching and presenting the DRB-Hicom-Deftech special scholarship fund at the Defence Ministry here yesterday.
He was asked to comment on some Barisan leaders questioning the Cabinet's move to reprimand Ong for alleging misuse of funds meant for Chinese schools' refurbishment, when Umno Youth leaders were allowed to hurl criticism at Penang Chief Minister Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon alleging him to have neglected issues concerning the Malays in the state.
“That's all, that's enough. It is a matter of principle. One is politics; the other is the Government,” he said when pressed further by reporters.
The reprimand was issued through Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed on Wednesday.
Mustapa, in his apology to the Education Ministry over Ong’s remarks, said the Cabinet decided that it was not appropriate for a government officer to openly criticise fellow officers in other ministries.
The apology came after Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein brought up the matter to the Cabinet.
On another matter, Najib said that Malaysian soldiers have been trained to be part of the peacekeeping force to be deployed to Lebanon.
However, Najib, who is also Defence Minister, said Malaysia had yet to receive the green light from the United Nations.
“We have not heard anything but we've done the training.”
On former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's remarks questioning the need to send the peacekeeping force to Lebanon when the intention of the UN was to protect Israel from being attacked by Hezbollah rather the civilians in Lebanon, Najib said: “ We will implement the mandate by the UN to ensure a ceasefire in that area and to stabilise Lebanon. That's all.”
"Datuk Ong Tee Keat was reprimanded by the Cabinet because he overstepped the line and commented on another ministry’s affairs."
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said there was a clear distinction between making statements on government affairs and political issues.
"When it comes to government, the principle is very clear, you cannot transcend into another ministry’s responsibility," he said.
"I am his boss". This is Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed’s explanation for apologising to Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein on behalf of his deputy Datuk Ong Tee Keat.
"I am his boss in the government while (Datuk Seri Ong) Ka Ting is his boss in politics," he said after opening a forum entitled "Media, the Higher Education Ministry and Unity" here yesterday.
Tee Keat has come under severe criticism from the Cabinet especially from Hishammuddin for infringing on matters under the jurisdiction of the Education Ministry.
He came under fire after he recently made an allegation that government officers had misused funds earmarked for refurbishment of several Chinese schools in Johor.
Tee Keat allegedly said this at a dinner with teachers and board members of a Chinese school in Muar but he denied it the following day.
The Ong Tee Kiat affair has exposed two political scandals, wrote Lim Kiat Siang – (1) no government seriousness in combating corruption after getting 91% parliamentary seats in the last general election where voters were asked to give full support to Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as a Prime Minister who will become a “modern-day Justice Bao” to wipe out corruption; and (2) Barisan Nasional (BN) double-standards of one rule for Umno and another for other BN component parties.
Ka Ting has said that there was no need for him as MCA President to apologise for Tee Kiat, seeking justification in the explanation given by the Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak who advanced the argument of a “clear distinction between making statements on government affairs and political issues”.
When asked about the BN double-standards as UMNO Youth leaders were allowed to hurl criticisms at Penang Chief Minister Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon alleging neglect, discrimination and marginalization of the Malays in Penang, Najib said: “One is politics; the other is the Government.”
Stressing that the Cabinet decision to reprimand Tee Kiat was made “in the presence of all Barisan Nasional component party heads”, Najib said: “When it comes to the Government, the principle is very clear that you can’t transcend another ministry’s responsibility.”
Malaysia Mahathir Ahmad Badawi Hishammuddin Hussein Ong Ka Ting Ong Tee Kiat Pope Benedict muslim
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