KUCHING: It is retired Anglican bishop Datuk Bolly Lapok’s democratic and political rights to join politics, said Datuk Liwan Lagang.
“After all, he is a free retired man,” said Utilities (Rural Electricity) Assistant Minister when contacted yesterday.
He said this when prompted for comments on recent news that Bolly — former bishop of the Anglican Church in Sarawak and archbishop of the Anglican Province of South East Asia — had joined Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB).
“As believers, what should be our attitude and involvement with politics? Is it really true that ‘religion and politics don’t mix’? Can we have political views outside the consideration of our Christian faith?” said Liwan, who is also Belaga incumbent assemblyman.
He said the Bible gave two truths regarding believers’ stance towards politics and government.
The first, he said, was that God’s will permeates and supersedes every aspect of life.
“Understanding of this truth will help us to see that politics is merely a method God uses to accomplish His will,” he said.
Secondly, Liwan said the fact which must be grasped is that it is believers who are the light of the world and the salt of the earth.
“Political entities are not the saviour of the world. Providence has given to our people the choice of their leaders, and it is the duty and the privilege and interest of believers to select,” he said.
Earlier, 69-year-old Bolly was quoted in news reports to have said he had been invited by other political parties to join them. However, after much consideration, he had decided to join PSB.
Bolly had said he suspected that many would be surprised upon hearing that he was joining politics, noting that not only was this unconventional but also for some reasons difficult to reconcile with the image he had been associated with.
