D40 : Celebrating a Truly Liberated and Free Malaysia!

Psalms 103: 6–12 declares that the Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He does not deal with us according to our sins nor repays us according to our iniquities, for as high as the heavens, so great is his steadfast love towards those who fears him. To realize Jubilee for the nation, the church needs to surrender the destiny of this nation to the Lord. We must acknowledge that our Lord is a sovereign God who is gracious and merciful and yet one who works righteousness and justice. This is where our hope for Jubilee and for a truly liberated and free Malaysia lies. As we praise and worship our Lord for this, we can trust and count on Him as the one who will truly bring about reconciliation, redemption and restoration to all that is lost in Malaysia and for His people. And as we experience redemption and restoration, we will also experience that He is gracious, compassionate and good!

Prayer Suggestions: • Pray for the church to put her full confidence in God. • Pray for God’s sovereign purpose to be fulfilled. • Pray that Malaysia will enter into her Jubilee.

D39 : Transcending Racial Divisions

Historically, politics in Malaysia has always been premised on communal lines. We see this in the composition of the three main component parties within the ruling coalition which are formed along racial-ethnic distinctions. Over the years, this has lead to segregation and polarisation of Malaysian society rather than a people united. Although it was our founding fathers’ aspiration that citizens of this land and the various ethnic communities come together and acknowledge themselves as “Malaysians” first rather than according to ethnic lines, the stark reality is that this aspiration still remains a dream. The time has come for the nation to abandon such a narrow and myopic mindset in favour of a more liberated outlook that truly represents the collective identity and will of the people as Malaysians.

Prayer Suggestions: • Pray for Jubilee to bring the people of various communities together. • Pray for the church to exemplify such unity and harmony in the nation.

D38 : Standing Against Religious Intolerance

The Federal Constitution provides that all religions may be practiced in peace and harmony and that every person has the right to profess and practice his religion. This the right of every religion to manage its own religious affairs without interference and undue influence. Recent events have demonstrated that this is not the case. Today, religious intolerance is on the rise. Religious authorities want to restrict the rights of others to profess and practice their faith. All sorts of dictates and conditions are now placed on believers of other religions in the practices and profession of their faith. The religious authorities also do not seem to respect the institutions of other religions and arbitrary do what serves their interests. Such an attitude and way of life will not create harmony and will eventually lead to fraction and division in society.

Prayer Suggestions: • Pray for continued religious liberty in this land. • Pray for religious intolerance to be wiped out. • Pray for the Lord to liberate those who are victims of religious intolerance. • Pray for the church to stand firm against this evil.

D37 : Towards a Corruption-free Society

Transparency International (Malaysia) has defined corruption as the “abuse of entrusted power for private gain”. In Biblical terms, corruption includes all that which distorts and brings decay due to the ravages of sin, the consequences of which is death to the nation and society. It includes bribery, illegal activities and all that is scandalous both private and publicly. For the third consecutive year, Malaysia witnessed a decline in her Corruption Perception Index. In 2011, Malaysia’s score of 4.3 is slightly lower than 4.4 recorded in 2010 (1). It is significantly lower than the government’s benchmark of 4.9. Although public awareness against bribery and corruption has arisen, not enough is being done to combat corruption on the grand scale. These include the practice of awarding mega projects and contracts without open tender, limited access to information that encourages secrecy and the close ties between business and politics in Malaysia.

(1)The Corruption Perception Index (CPI) is a composite index, a combination of polls showing how corrupt a public sector of a country is perceived to be. The index is a spectrum ranging from 1 which is the worst, to 10 which is the best.

Prayer Suggestions: • Pray for a culture of righteousness, transparency and morality to be restored and upheld. • Pray that the government will have the will and determination to stem out corrupt practices. • Pray for the church to be a beacon of light in our lives and daily practices so that we may be examples of ethical integrity to the nation.

D36 : Liberating The Oppressed

Minority communities such as the Orang Asli and the natives of Sabah and Sarawak have long been neglected. For the Orang Asli, many have not had title deeds to their land and run the risk of losing their land. We also know that many who have dwelled on their land for centuries from one generation to the next have not had their land recognised as Orang Asli land. Consequently, the Orang Asli are always subjected to abuse, discrimination and oppression, whether religious, racial or economic. Likewise, the natives or Bumiputera of Sabah and Sarawak face similar abuses, discrimination and oppression. Constitutionally, although the natives of Sabah and Sarawak are as privileged as the Malays to receive certain preferential treatment, in reality, it is often not the case.

Prayer Suggestions: • Pray that the government will recognise the Orang Asli’s rights to their land. • Pray for capable leaders to rise among the Orang Asli to represent their people. • Pray for all Orang Asli, and bumiputera of Sabah and Sarawak to enjoy the same privileges as their Malay counterparts.

D35 : Towards Poverty Reduction

Poverty deprives a person of his or her basic needs and consequently their welfare. It destroys a person and his or her family units. Many poor are women who are single heads of their households. Unmitigated poverty eventually leads to a breakdown in community. Poverty may be likened to sin that corrupts the body and eventually the soul. In line with the coming Jubilee of the nation, the church as the redemptive body of Christ must continue to pray against poverty and act by removing the barriers to sufficient income. By doing so, the church is alleviating the plight of the poor and hopeless as well as uplifting their social status for restoration and well being.

Prayer Suggestions: • Pray that the Lord will break and remove the poverty cycle in Malaysia. • Pray that the government will always have the interest of the poor at heart. • Pray that the church will continue her good works to address the root causes of poverty.

D34 : Stepping Forward to Global Missions

The growth and spread of Christianity in Sarawak has its genesis in the commitment of overseas missionaries from various denominations. There were many humble beginnings and these began with the most basic means of blessing the community – primarily through education and medical services. Many influential people in Sarawak, both in the public and private sectors, came from mission schools. Surely this is a testament to the commitment and sacrifices the early missionaries have made. In those days, it took months to sail from their homelands to Sarawak’s shores. It is time for the churches in Sarawak to rise up and take on Jesus’ vision for the nations. The world has gotten smaller because of air travel, and connectivity in communication means a message from one part of the world is received within a few seconds at the most!

May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations. Psalm 67:1-2

Prayer Suggestions: • Pray for God’s grace and blessings on Sarawak churches to send more missionaries and church planters from Sarawak. • Pray for genuine joy and personal victories in Sarawak churches as the launch pad into world missions. • Pray for abundant blessings on Sarawak churches so that great resources will be released for world missions.

D33 : Economic Development

Sarawak’s economy is based largely upon her vast natural resources. The major sectors of economy are Mining, Timber, Agriculture, Tourism, Construction, Manufacturing and Services. Although Sarawak is blessed with abundance of natural resources, the high proportion of poor people and low number of middle-income Sarawakians leave much to be desired in terms of a healthy economy.

Prayer Suggestions: • Pray for a better business climate in Sarawak through Government support by education, incentives initiatives and infrastructures. • Pray for more jobs to draw professionally trained Sarawakians home to promote state development. • Pray for positive mindset and work culture change that will enable Sarawak to meet current global challenges. • Pray for skills, funding and knowledge for rural business development. • Pray for more ‘Kingdom’ enterprises that will help alleviate the local economy. • Pray for Christian Professionals, Business Owners and Employees to work towards economic transformation of Sarawak.

D32 : Justice, Fairness, Righteousness, Wisdom, Godliness in Our State Government Administration

Malaysia was formed after 122 years of peaceful and harmonious rule of the British Government and Rajahs undergirded by strong Christian principles based on the Nine Cardinal Principles of Rule. As we wake into the 50th year of Malaysia, the need for a godly state government is more acute more than ever. The present state of the wellbeing of the Sarawakians, especially those living in the rural areas, calls for a more effective and efficient state administration in raising the people’s standards of living. We need leaders who are strong and righteous in managing the rich resources that the state is endowed with and increasing equitable distribution of income among the people groups. The perspective of ‘church and politics do not mix’ has created a serious lack of active involvement of Christian leaders in political arena in Sarawak’?

Prayer Suggestions: • Pray for a heightened awareness and strong commitment of the Sarawakians to their role in the political process (and as the responsible voting population) in the development of the state. • Pray for an active political system that ensures just and fair administration of the state. • Pray for a rise in the participation of the Christians in exerting their influence in the political arena. • Pray for a provision of political leaders who are courageous and stand fervently for righteousness. • Pray for the Fear of God to rule over those involved in the administrative system.

D31 : Raising the Next Generation Leadership

What shapes the younger generation of today? From the bigger cities to the smaller towns and to the villages in the interior of Sarawak, there is one common issue… exposure to cyberspace, networking through Facebook, YouTube or Twitter and the availability of all sorts of information through the Internet. What is the pressure this generation is experiencing? Pressure to be better than their peers, to attain straight A’s in their exams, to get a place in university to pursue a course of their choice and then finally to land a job that is considered prestigious in the eyes of society. How do young people cope with such pressure and what would be the keys for them to move on and sustain in life? How can the church be relevant and play a part to shape the destiny of our youth today? It is time like this that we need to hear the ‘still small voice of the Lord Jesus’ instructing and guiding us what to do and how to minister.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well Matthew 6:33

Prayer Suggestions: • Pray for God’s wisdom and understanding in handling truth and justice in a society that emphasize on materialistic, educational pursuit and career advancement. • Pray for parents, pastors or mentors to understand the needs and struggle of the next generation and to be Spiritual Fathers to them, guiding them as they face challenges and temptation while striving to live a meaningful, wholesome and fruitful life. • Pray for God-fearing young people to rise up and influence their peers through creative means in order to see another generation on fire for the Lord. • Pray for a willingness for Sarawakians to stay or to come back and fulfill the God’s calling and purpose

D30 : Unity of the Sarawak Christian Community

Since the first Christian missionary landed at the shores of Sarawak, Christian groups of different denominations or alliances, though highly commended for their hard work in bringing the church growth to where it is today, have operated largely within the confines of their own ‘missions’ of God. Interactions among the groups have been limited and often, by necessity, through loose alliances. However, the calls of the hour – to seek religious freedom as guaranteed under the Formation of Malaysia agreement, to respond to the eradication of extensive poverty among the rural poor, to focus on righteous state administration, etc. –now demand an unprecedented kind of unity among the Christian community. Many Christian leaders in recent years have awakened to this reality and sent out calls to rally other Christians in Sarawak to look beyond what divide them and stand together for the common causes.

I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me John 17:23

Prayer Suggestions: • Pray for Christian leaders to be sensitive to the call of God to unite His people for statewide causes. • Pray for these leaders to be courageous to stand for this call, looking beyond whatever boundaries that keep them from advancing forward. • Pray for Christian leaders from various denominations and alliances to seek reconciliation among themselves. • Pray for Christians in the State to break out of the confines that keep them away from uniting with other Christians.

D29 : Raising Up Christian Leadership and Godly Gatekeepers in Sarawak

Events in the recent years concerning the wellbeing of the Christian community in Sarawak highlighted the great need for local Christian leaders to be strong and courageous in leading God’s people in their hour of need. The key state Christian leaders, though well recognized in their respective groupings, struggle to unite fellow Christians from across different denominations and alliances. The great tasks of the hour call for unprecedented measure of leadership. With such diverse church and cultural backgrounds, the leaders we are looking for to unite the Christian community are not easily found. We must look to God Almighty not only for His provisions of such leaders but also for His anointing on them for the undertakings.

Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Joshua 1:7

Prayer Suggestions: • Pray for God-fearing Christian Leaders and Gatekeepers in Sarawak who are passionate about His presence and will for the kingdom in this time. • Pray that they may establish open doors to fresh waves of the Holy Spirit bringing revival and new awakenings in Sarawak. • Pray for God to grant greater spiritual authority and anointing upon these Gatekeepers to discern His Will and Purpose for this “Kairos” moment. • Pray for these leaders to lead from a posture of prayer, service and humility.

D28 : Stepping into the Statewide Community Transformation Process

Sarawak Christian leaders are increasingly aware that, despite their years of success in raising the Christian population in the State, the general welfare of the people of the land and the Christian influence in various arenas (education, business, family, politics, media and entertainment) remain comparatively backward, and thus community transformation has remained dismal. This has led to the recent surge of passion and call of God among the church leaders on the whole perspective of church’s active involvement in the transformation process of the community through the various societal arenas. God has begun doing a special work in the hearts of a number of Christian leaders of the State to look beyond the four walls of the church and seek Him for specific calls to impact the community. This has never happened at this scale before and we believe it is just the beginning.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven Matthew 5:16

Prayer Suggestions: • Pray for the Christian leaders of the State to receive fresh revelations on the meaning and process of community transformation in response to God’s commandment to ‘…go and make disciples of all nations’. • Pray for the more leaders to seek God for direction and strategies in influencing the community through various arenas or ‘mountains’. • Pray for the unity of the church leadership statewide on specific community transformation initiatives. • Pray for breakthroughs in the heart of the overall Christian community to do more than just church-based programs.

D27 : Malays

The Malays are the largest ethnic group in the Peninsula. In the 2010 census, Malays comprised 67.4% of the population. As the majority people they largely control the government administration. By law, all Malays are to be Muslims. Converting out of Islam is prohibited. Proselytizing to Malays is also prohibited and punishable in 10 out of the 13 states in the country. Conversion to Islam is mandatory when marrying a Malay. Conversion of minors is automatic when either parent or both convert to Islam. Malays are generally a tolerant, friendly, hospitable and helpful people. They are also an artistic people who love music and cultural dance. Many Malays are increasingly modernised and progressive but there are also pockets who feel that their religious, economic and political rights are being threatened.

Prayer Suggestions: • Pray for God to bless the Malays. • Pray for the Malays to enjoy the Jubilee.

D26 : Orang Asli

The Orang Asli are the indigenous minority peoples of Peninsula Malaysia. They are catergorised into three large groups under Negrito, Senoi and Proto-Malay, and are further divided into 18 sub-ethnic groups. In the early 1950’s, the British saw the importance of utilising the Orang Asli in winning the war against the communist insurgency. The Orang Asli were introduced to basic health facilities, education and consumer items. This period also saw the first important attempt at legislation to protect the Orang Asli through the Aboriginal Peoples Ordinance in 1954. This law was considered a milestone for it indicated that the government had finally admitted its responsibility to the Orang Asli. While this Act recognises some rights of the Orang Asli such as for the establishment of Orang Asli Areas and Reserves, it also grants states the authority to order any Orang Asli community to leave and stay out of an area. States wanting to re-acquire land can also revoke the land’s Orang Asli status, leaving the community with no other recourse but to move elsewhere. The Act also accords the Director-General of the Orang Asli Development Department (JAKOA) the final say in all matters concerning the administration of the Orang Asli. This has given rise to a situation where the Orang Asli have very little or no say in decisions made by JAKOA on their behalf.

Prayer Suggestions: • Pray for a major revision of the Aboriginal Peoples Ordinance to give the Orang Asli rights over their land and to represent and determine their affairs. • Pray for their status and rights to be included into the Federal Constitution. • Pray for the younger generation of Orang Asli to excel in their studies. • Pray for more Orang Asli professionals to rise and return to help their own communities.

D25 : National Day

Although today is Malaya’s Merdeka Day, the holiday is officially celebrated as the day of the nation’s independence from the British. The Federation of Malaya gained independence from the British on this date in 1957. Then on July 22, 1963 Sarawak gained independence followed by Sabah on 31 August the same year. On 16 September 1963, the Malaya, Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak came together to form Malaysia. In 1965, Singapore left the Federation. As an independent nation, Malaysia has made much progress. Today, Malaysia has become one of the leading nations in Asia. While we thank God for the independence and progress attained, we are now being confronted with new threats such as corruption, mismanagement, social ills, power abuse, racial disharmony and religious intolerance. If not kept in check, these threats could take away all that we have gained. Therefore, as we rejoice at what God has given and how far we have come, let us continue to remain vigilant and prayerful against these threats lest we lose this nation.

Prayer Suggestions: • Give thanks for all His blessings on Malaysia. • Pray for His continued transformation of this nation.

D24 : The Civil Service

The Malaysian public service has 1.2 million employees covering 28 schemes of service. These include the Federal Public Service, the State Public Services, the Joint Public Services, the Education Service, the Judiciary, the Legal Service, the Police and Armed Forces and others. They are the implementation arm of the government performing numerous duties including delivering services, handling public interest, ensuring public security and safety, and community development. As a professional force, the public service should offer impartial and appropriate advice, be loyal to public interests and obedient to the Minister and Cabinet. At the same time, they should be politically neutral which means complete loyalty to the government of the day regardless its political complexion or a change in government. The present Malaysian Public service is predominantly Malay. All other racial groups, including non- Malay bumiputras, are under-represented to varying degrees.

Prayer Suggestions: • Pray for God’s blessing on the 1.2 million employees in the public service. • Pray for increased efficiency, productivity, accountability and integrity within the public service. • Pray for more opportunities for other racial groups and non-Malay bumiputras to enter the public service.

D23 : Parliament

The Malaysian Parliament comprises the Senate (Dewan Negara) and the House of Representatives (Dewan Rakyat). It is the Federal legislative authority empowered to make laws, raise taxes and authorise expenditure headed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. The Senators, whether appointed or elected, serve a six-year term, while members of the House of Representative or Members of Parliament are elected for a fiveyear term in a single member constituency system. Presently, there are 70 Senators and 222 Elected Representatives. Since gaining independence from Britain on 31 August 1957, elections to the House of Representatives have been held regularly every five years or less.

Prayer Suggestions: • Pray for our Senators and elected representatives to enact laws that are just and fair. • Pray for our Senators and elected representatives to be courageous to hold the government accountable to their responsibilities and actions. • Pray for our Senators and elected representatives to speak up against corruption and injustice.

D22 : Putrajaya

Putrajaya is located 25km south of Kuala Lumpur and serves as the federal administrative centre of Malaysia. The seat of government was moved here in 1999 from Kuala Lumpur due to overcrowding and congestion. Kuala Lumpur remains Malaysia’s national capital, being the seat of the King and Parliament, as well as the country’s commercial and financial centre. The main government buildings including the Prime Minister’s office are located in Putrajaya. From this centre, the Federal Government administrates the affairs of the nation. The Federal Government is led by the Prime Minister and his cabinet and is responsible for defence, the police, and the railways, labour, broadcasting, post and finance, health, national security, education and more. Putrajaya’s population is overwhelmingly Muslim with the majority employed in the civil service.

Prayer Suggestions: • Pray for God to rain down righteousness and holiness upon our government. • Pray for our government to implement righteous and just policies. • Pray for the government to exercise prudent and transparent spending. • Pray for our Government to deliver their promises.

D21 : The Monarchy

Malaysia practices a system of government based on a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy. The head of State is the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong (King) and the head of government is the Prime Minister. As the Head of State, His Majesty has wide powers as provided for in the Constitution. His Majesty has prescribed roles and functions in the three branches of government, namely, the Executive, the Legislative and the Judiciary. The office of the King is not hereditary. He is elected and appointed by the Conference of Rulers. The current King is Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong Almu’tasimu Billahi Muhibbuddin Tuanku AlHaj Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah Ibni AlMarhum Sultan Badlishah. This is the second time he has been appointed as King of Malaysia.

Prayer Suggestions: • Pray for God to bless our King. • Pray for our King to rule wisely and justly. • Pray for our King to speak and act on behalf of all.