NOW that he is retired, Bernard Dompok wants to continue with his life’s work – to see Christian communities advance, and to promote moderation – in the “New Malaysia”.

The former Sabah chief minister said the country under Pakatan Harapan governance is bursting with ideals and courage, and the time is ripe for fresh ideas and initiatives to flourish.

“I think it is an opportunity under the New Malaysia for us to do things, it brings forth a reset. I like the idea of a reset,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

During his time in politics, Dompok was known as a champion of Christianity in Malaysia. He was vocal over the seizure of Bahasa Malaysia-language Bibles by Muslim authorities in 2011, opposed the religious conversion bill in 2013, and highlighted the role of mission schools in nation-building.

Following his stint as an ambassador to the Holy See, cut short after PH took over Putrajaya, Dompok is brimming with ideas on improving the lot of Sabah Christians, especially children, through education.

He said only through education and mastering the English language can the state’s Christians boost their quality of life.

He said he previously proposed the setting up of Malaysia’s first Catholic university in Sabah, adding that the idea was well accepted by the previous Barisan Nasional government, but he is uncertain as to the current administration’s take on it.

Dompok said most Christians in Sabah are from indigenous communities, and suggested that their welfare had not been taken care of due to the BN government’s “different priorities”.

He has plans to promote moderation in Malaysia, saying he hopes to emulate Indonesia, where most Muslims are not involved in religious extremism as their actions are guided by the “panca sila”, similar to Malaysia’s Rukunegara.

He said there is no need for Muslims in Malaysia to mirror the practices of Arab Muslims, and instead, they should promote moderate Islam.

“It is the same for the Christians in Rome, where they are not claiming to be ‘pure’ Christians, instead, identifying themselves as just ‘Christians of Rome’.” – July 12, 2018.