KOTA BHARU — In a gathering hosted at the official residence of the Kelantan menteri besar, Cardinal Sebastian Francis conveyed the Catholic Church’s stance, in particular that of the Diocese of Penang on diverse concerns.
During the Kelantan Mahabbah-Fratelli Tutti dialogue held on November 1, Cardinal Sebastian summarised the Church’s position using the words from the Lord’s prayer, Jadilah Kehendak Tuhan di atas Bumi sebagaimana di Syurga – ‘Thy Will be Done on Earth as in Heaven’.
The menteri besar YAB Dato’ Panglima Perang Ustaz Dato’ Haji Mohd Nassuruddin Daud, his deputy Dato’ Dr Mohamed Fadzli Hassan and state officials welcomed the cardinal’s entourage comprising of Fr Konstend Gnanapragasam, FMM and FSIC Sisters and parishioners from Kota Bharu. Also present at the dialogue session were representatives from the other Christian denominations, Buddhist and Hindu representatives, as well as members of the PAS Supporters Club.
Embracing the spirit of human fraternity envisioned by Pope Francis and Sheik Ahmad Al Tayyeb in the 2019 Abu Dhabi Declaration on Human Fraternity, the gathering aimed to strengthen relationships between Christian and Muslim communities.
During the dialogue session, Sr Florence Nemesius, FSIC, reflecting Malaysia’s multi-racial and multi-religious landscape, raised queries about how a PAS-led government at the federal level would navigate such diversity. The menteri besar highlighted Kelantan’s model of harmony and tolerance among different races, emphasising the state’s motto, Membangun Bersama Islam (Developing With Islam). Dr Mohamed Fadzil emphasised the state government’s commitment, tracing it back to the late Tok Guru Nik Aziz Nik Mat, in promoting respect and positive interaction among religious communities.
Cardinal Sebastian reminisced about the late Tok Guru Nik Aziz, whose spiritual influence remains strong in Kota Bharu.
Touching upon the Palestine-Israeli conflict, Cardinal Sebastian highlighted the Holy See’s recognition of Palestine’s statehood in June 2016, stressing Pope Francis’ plea for peace amidst conflict. The cardinal reiterated the pontiff’s call that we all stand for peace in the face of war’s devastating consequences on communities and future generations.
The dialogue underscored the humanitarian crisis faced by the Palestinian people, drawing solidarity from Muslim and Christian communities worldwide, all echoing a collective call for peace.
For over eight decades, the Catholic community has established a significant presence in Kelantan. The inception of the Church of Our Lady of Fatima in Kota Bharu in 1950 marked the beginning, swiftly accompanied by the development of a convent and kindergarten. This parish serves the residents of Kota Bharu, Jeli, Tanah Merah, Kuala Krai, University Malaysia Kelantan, University Sains Malaysia (USM) Health Campus, as well as individuals affiliated with the police and army, with a notable portion hailing from Sabah and Sarawak.
