NECF 40-Day Fast & Prayer - Part 2: Government

August 12 - 16

The government has three independent branches. The first is called the Executive. At the federal level, the Executive branch consists of the Prime Minister and his cabinet and at the state level, it is the Chief Minister and his cabinet. The second is the Legislature consisting of Parliament at the Federal level and at the state level, the State Assembly. This branch of the government makes the laws of the nation but the laws must be consistent with the constitution. The third branch is the Judiciary, which interprets and applies the constitution and the laws of the nation.

The constitution is the basic law by which all other laws and governmental actions stand to be judged. The government, the civil administration, the Prime Minister, his Cabinet, members of Parliament and judges must all affirm to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution while upholding the rule of law. Hence, the government and its officials are all subject to and bound by the constitution and the rule of law.

Of course today, there are much negative remarks about the government of the day in what they should or should not be doing. Much is said regarding the policies and practices of the government that seem to not promote the common good of all but towards a select community of people. In times such as these, it is easy to feel a sense of hopelessness and disappointment.

As beacons of light and “agents of change” in the sphere of government, the Church must now actively engage the national life of the nation. The responsibility of Christians is to support the government in the execution of her legitimate function as servant and/or ministers of God for the good governance of the nation. Christians are to actively seek the peace and prosperity of our nation. To do so, a Christian should participate meaningfully in the processes and structures of democratic government and participative democracy for the common good of the nation. As a voter, a tax-payer, a consumer and as someone exercising a profession, a Christian has a meaningful role to play in the affairs of the nation. And in playing out this role, Christians need to be responsive to the issues arising out of the events, policies and laws generated by the processes of politics and governance.

YB Hannah Yeoh & Eugene Yapp