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Blessed Christmas to the Malaysian Christian community 2002 Christmas Message by Kerk Kim Hock (Petaling Jaya, Tuesday): Once again, Malaysian Christians will be celebrating Christmas to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas is a season of joy and peace, binding family and friends together in a joyous spirit of celebration and thanksgiving. Christians, like Malaysians of other religious persuasion, are free to profess and practice their faith in a pluralistic society like ours. Though this freedom to worship is a fundamental liberty guaranteed to all races by the Federal Constitution, we must not take it for granted and must always beware of the possible threats posed by religious fanatics, extremists and bigots. In the present post September 11 mood, Malaysians must also always be on guard to ensure that the fight against the threat of terrorism will not be carried out at the expense of justice and human rights. DAP wishes to take this opportunity to repeat our calls that the government should convene a national conference on terrorism so as to build greater national consensus and unity towards addressing the threats of terrorism. As the world faces an uncertain future with strife in many places and the threat of terrorism casting a gloomy shadow over it, we should feel thankful and blessed that in Malaysia, festivals can be celebrated in peace and in the great Malaysian spirit of Muhhibah. The Christmas message of love, joy and peace is one that can be shared and embraced by all peace-loving Malaysians to foster greater unity and integration with each other. On this joyous occasion, lets also spread the message and hope that the Malaysian society can be a safer, better and just place for all if all Malaysians play their part to make it so. I wish all Malaysian Christians a blessed Christmas. (24/12/2002) * Kerk Kim Hock, DAP Secretary General and MP for Kota Melaka