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KL prelate elected as CFM chairman

PETALING JAYA – Most Reverend Julian Leow Beng Kim, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur, was elected Chairman of the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) at the recent Biennial CFM General Conference for a two-year term. He replaces Rev Eu Hong Seng who has served in the capacity for the last two biennial terms.

Established in 1985, CFM is the official representative of the Christian community in Malaysia to the government. It comprises the three Christian component bodies — Roman Catholic Church Malaysia (RCCM), Council of Churches of Malaysia (CCM) and NECF Malaysia.

Another Catholic prelate elected to the CFM Executive Committee for 2017-2019 was Most Rev Simon Poh, Archbishop of Kuching. He was named one of three Vice- Chairmen together with Methodist Bishop Ong Hwai Teik and Rev Eu who is also the Chairman of the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship (NECF).

Archbishop Leow in his maiden speech expressed his thanks to the outgoing EXCO for a job well done and for the tremendous responsibility that they had undertaken during their tenure.

Making reference to the many statements that had been issued by CFM, the archbishop said, “It is not an easy task, having to weigh what to say and when to say it. I am aware that I am inheriting a hornet’s nest as there are still a lot of unresolved and ongoing national issues, but we are a ‘people of hope’.”

While stating that the new EXCO would build on what has been established before them, Abp Leow said there was a need to be more creative these days in order to become ‘bridge builders.’

Quoting Pope Francis, the archbishop said that in order to obtain a different outcome, we cannot be doing the same thing. “We need to change things, change our way of looking at things or situations and change our way of thinking or reflecting in moving forward,” he said.

Emphasising on the key phrase ‘Unity in Diversity,’ Abp Leow said that the EXCO in coming together and working together, not as individuals, but united for the common good, would further perpetuate their role as peacemakers in the nation. – Herald

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