24B-2000 04022000

Date: 4 Feb 2000.

Location: Restoran Baixian Setapak, Jalan Setapak.

Table of Contents

(A) Donate but do not question? [10:08 – 16:38]
  1. Xian Sheng reminded the organisers of any Baitiangong events that they should not maintain a record of the budget, donations, and expenses until we receive formal association approval. All it takes is one infiltrator within the organisation to obtain the report, leading to Xian Sheng’s arrest for running an unlawful society.
  2. He asked whether the followers still remember when Lam Ka Sum, Wong, and Liew Peng Wah falsely testified in court that he, Chew Choon Ming, collected monthly donations from the followers in order to purchase a photostat machine. Given their obvious intentions to lie in the court, Xian Sheng joked that they should have sworn as follows: “I swear to tell lies, all lies and nothing but lies.”
  3. Their intention behind providing this false sworn testimony in court was to frame Xian Sheng for running an unlawful society, as the charges would undoubtedly and 100% have held up in court. Fortunately, the judge believed in Xian Sheng’s counterarguments.
  4. Xian Sheng clarified that the Spiritual Movement had never collected monthly donations. Unbeknownst to him, a group of followers organised themselves to collect donations for purchasing the photostat machine, with Lam Ka Sum leading the effort. However, Lam Ka Sum attempted to falsely implicate Xian Sheng as the mastermind behind this initiative.
  5. Once more, Xian Sheng joked that Lam Ka Sum should have sworn truthfully as follows: “I will lie in court. I’m a good liar and I, Lam Ka Sum am a government agent.” Lam Ka Sum personally disclosed to Xian Sheng that he was indeed a government agent tasked with infiltrating the Spiritual Movement to document any illegal activities for the purpose of implicating him.
  6. Lam Ka Sum’s confession to Xian Sheng stemmed directly from the events at the Spiritual Retreat in Bukit Gasing, Petaling Jaya. During the Spiritual Meditation session, his wife burst uncontrollably into tears, leaving Lam Ka Sum shocked by her emotional outburst. He asked why she couldn’t control her emotions as it brought shame to him. His wife replied that it was beyond her control and that Baitiangong was indeed real and not a cult to exploit the followers.1
  7. It was after the incident at Bukit Gasing that Lam Ka Sum personally confessed to Xian Sheng that he was a government agent sent to document all the alleged illegal activities. Xian Sheng told him to fulfill his duty and instructed him to provide the government with all the information they sought. He emphasised that Lam Ka Sum should not withhold any details and should reveal all the facts. Xian Sheng confirmed that what he had just mentioned indeed occurred.
  8. Rather than presenting his findings truthfully and factually in court, Lam Ka Sum audaciously accused Xian Sheng of collecting monthly donations for the purchase of a photostat machine, even though the entire scheme had been orchestrated by him due to his failure to obtain any incriminating evidence against Xian Sheng.
  9. The government conducted a raid on the premises in search of documents that could demonstrate that the Spiritual Movement had been operating as an Unlawful Society under Section 42 of the Societies Act 1966. 
  10. This prompted Xian Sheng to make an announcement during the next sermon. He advised that if anyone wished to make a donation, they should refrain from discussing it. He further emphasised that if anyone insisted on discussing, questioning, inquiring, or demanding to see a record, it would be best that they do not donate.
  11. Starting from that day onwards, Xian Sheng announced that anyone wishing to reclaim their donations was welcome to take all of it back. 
  12. He would no longer issue any documentation as proof of donations. He emphasised that if anyone genuinely wanted to donate to the movement, they should do so without any conditions. 
  13. Nevertheless, he wanted to clarify that all along, he had never managed or held onto the donations. He stated that he had no desire to do so. He inquired if the followers were aware of this fact, and they responded affirmatively, saying they knew.
  14. The reason Xian Sheng never directly handled donations was that there is no need to do so.2
  15. On the contrary, Xian Sheng played a significant role in contributing funds to further the activities of the Spiritual Movement. 
  16. Recently, he made a personal donation of RM86k for preaching activities in China. He clarified that not a single cent came from the followers’ donations. He verified this with Sis Wong Chew Peng, who oversees the management of the donation fund, confirming that not a single cent had been derived from the donation fund.
  17. Xian Sheng stated that he required another RM100k for preaching activities in China and asked for a show of hands from those willing to contribute. He reminded them that he had already donated RM86k for this purpose. 
  18. He truthfully pointed out that he knew many followers had the financial means. (It appeared that no one was willing to make such a substantial contribution, as no hands were raised.) 
  19. He went on to announce that the Baixian staff, who were earning minimal wages, played a role in the RM86k he had contributed, as they had worked diligently to earn that money.3 Nevertheless, they do not question Xian Sh
(B) Preaching funds for China [16:40 – 18:11]
  1. Xian Sheng presented a hypothetical scenario where he mentioned that some might propose that it would be more beneficial for the Baixian staff if he were to distribute the RM86k as a bonus to them, instead of using the money for preaching activities in China. For instance, if the sum were RM100k and there were 50 staff members in Baixian, each would receive a bonus of RM2,000.
  2. He explained that receiving a bonus would hold no value for them, but there would be value if the money was used for preaching in China. However, this value would remain unknown to them during their lifetime. They would only recognise this value upon their death.
  3. Once more, he reminded the followers that the money he contributed to the preaching activities in China had come from the sacrifices made by the Baixian staff on minimal salaries. He stressed that they played an important role in this endeavour, underlying the huge difference from the standard donation.4
  4. Xian Sheng did not utilise any of the money from the donations for the preaching activities in China because he had the necessary funds. He hoped that those who had the financial means and could afford to contribute would join in the effort. The reason is that there are many blind people in Malaysia. (Blind to the truth that Baitiangong teaches).
(C) Blind politicians in Malaysia [18:11 – 23:36]
  1. Xian Sheng delivered a speech at the recent Annual Dinner and AGM of the Malaysia Heavy Construction Equipment Owners’ Association (PAJPBM). He has been the Founder and Chairman of the association since January 1991 and took on the role of President in 1996. In his speech, he discussed the sales launch of two 25-story blocks, comprising a total of 500 condominium units. He raised questions about how the developer, lacking a housing development license and failing to secure the required building plan approval (BA) and development order (DO), could proceed with its construction.
    Xian Sheng Chew Choon Ming, Founder and President of PAJPBM

    Link to PAJPBM

  2. He further inquired whether it was Ting Chew Peh or Mahathir Mohamad who was blind.5 How could two 25-storey buildings with 500 condominium units be allowed to be constructed in Malaysia when the developer does not have a development license and did not obtain a building plan approval? Furthermore, it was sold out even though the developer was not issued an advertising permit to advertise in newspapers.
  3. Once more, he inquired whether he was correct in stating that either Ting Chew Peh or Mahathir Mohamad was blind on this matter. He went on to clarify why he claimed that Ting Chew Peh was blind. He asserted that Ting Chew Peh is blind because he failed to see two towering condominiums that were illegally constructed under his jurisdiction as the Minister of Housing and Local Government. It was a coincidence that Xian Sheng stumbled upon this information while conducting his own research.
  4. Mahathir is blind because he blindly selected Ting Chew Peh to fill this ministerial post. Mahathir should choose a qualified candidate for this important position. Similarly, Mahathir blindly chose Fong Chan Onn as Minister of Human Resources.
  5. Xian Sheng mentioned his court case, in which he sued Fong Chan Onn for defamation.6 During questioning, Xian Sheng informed the Judge that either Fong Chan Onn did not understand English, as he evidently failed to grasp the speech delivered by Xian Sheng during the World Chinese Conference, or that he was a liar. As the questioning continued, Xian Sheng reiterated for the second time that either Fong Chan Onn did not understand English or that he was a liar. Upon the second mention, the Judge openly expressed his displeasure, creating a commotion. However, Xian Sheng asserted that he could not retract his statement, and the only available course of action was to advise Fong Chan Onn to file a lawsuit against him in response.
  6. Xian Sheng remembered an earlier court case when Liew Peng Kwai willingly admitted to being guilty of being a member of an unlawful society. He was subsequently fined RM1,000 for this admission. When the court inquired for further details, he explained he feared that if he and others attempted to leave the movement, they would face harassment and threats of assault. (The five who admitted to being guilty and subsequently fined RM1,00 each are Liew Peng Kwai, Liew Peng Wah, Chan Soo Khean, Maureen Lee and Chee Thong Yew)
  7. Xian Sheng tried to sue Liew Peng Kwai for the statement made in court. However, the court denied him, citing that Liew Peng Kwai was granted ‘absolute privilege,’ rendering him immune from legal liability for making defamatory statements during judicial proceedings. Unsurprisingly, Liew Peng Kwai, who had been found guilty and fined, was subsequently promoted to the position of Head Master at a school. This illustrated that the courts played favouritism by granting ‘absolute privilege’ to those they like, while those they dislike do not enjoy such legal protection.
  8. Fortunately, Xian Sheng’s claim that Fong Chan Onn is a liar has been supported by a recent article published in the Chinese newspaper, Sin Chew Jit Poh, which highlighted Fong Chan Onn’s manipulation of facts. This affirms the accuracy of Xian Sheng’s characterisation of Fong Chan Onn as a liar in court. 
  9. Despite the widespread prevalence of lies in all sectors of government, institutions, and society, Xian Sheng emphasised that Baitiangong followers must not tell lies. What is important is that if we make an error, we should acknowledge it and offer an apology. That is all that is required.
(D) Baitiangong followers must not be willfully blind people [23:36 – 26:32]
  1. Xian Sheng stressed the importance of Baitiangong followers not being willfully blind individuals. We must open our eyes and learn to see the truth.
  2. During the obsequies for Bro Yong Koon Sang yesterday, Xian Sheng spoke about blind individuals. These blind individuals failed to see that Xian Sheng had remained unchanged for the past 20+ years, consistently asking people to pray to the CREATOR. He inquired whether he had changed in his teachings, character, or even his facial appearance.
  3. Xian Sheng has consistently treated all individuals equally, regardless of whether they are wealthy or poor. He remains indifferent to their financial status.
  4. For the past 20+ years, Xian Sheng’s character has remained unchanged. If he is invited to any events or functions, he would gladly attend. If he is not invited, he would not feel offended by the lack of an invitation.
  5. He went on to say that not only did his character remain unchanged, but even his facial appearance remained unchanged. He humorously remarked that he does not possess a ‘假面具’ or fake mask. (He is not a pretentious person.)
  6. A few days ago, Xian Sheng met with two of his old friends. Despite being younger in age than Xian Sheng, they appeared older beyond their years. They commented on how Xian Sheng’s appearance hadn’t changed over the years and questioned why he looked as youthful as ever. They admitted they had grown old. Xian Sheng told them that they were to blame for looking old because they kept thinking of themselves as old. He explained that he never thought of himself as old but thinks that he’s getting younger, which is why he appears younger as well.
  7. He advised us that the philosophy in life is not to think old but to think good. When we think good, we will see good, hear good, speak good and do good. (Baitiangong’s third Spiritual Guideline) Conversely, when we think bad, everything will align accordingly, and we will also see bad, hear bad, speak bad and do bad.

(E) Xian Sheng prayed for Malay politicians too [27:26 – 34:21]
  1. Xian Sheng referred to the obsequies of Bro Yong Koon Sang yesterday and mentioned that Bro Yong might have considered him as his enemy, but Xian Sheng regarded him as his brother. The important point here is that even if he treated us as an enemy, we must treat him as a brother.
  2. Xian Sheng provided the example of Fong Chan On, who may have believed that Xian Sheng was his enemy. However, on the two occasions when Xian Sheng stayed behind after the court cases and encountered Fong Chan On, Xian Sheng extended his hand for a handshake. Fong Chan On appeared visibly uncomfortable, but he had no option but to reciprocate the handshake and exchange greetings for the New Year. Xian Sheng affirmed that it was his inherent nature to treat everyone as brothers and sisters.
  3. Xian Sheng recounted his interactions with Musa Hitam, the former Minister of Home Affairs, who approved the arrrest order for the followers of the Baitiangong Universal Spiritual Movement in October 1982 for participating in an illegal assembly. Xian Sheng shook hands with him and remarked, “Datuk, you see I’m still standing. I’ve not fallen yet.” Musa Hitam could only manage a smile and remained silent while shaking his hand. Xian Sheng then moved aside while Musa Hitam continued to greet arriving guests.7
  4. When Tun Hussein Onn, the former and third Prime Minister, arrived, he exchanged a formal handshake with Musa Hitam. Xian Sheng noted that Tun Hussein Onn did not embrace Musa Hitam. However, the instant Tun Hussein Onn spotted Xian Sheng, he made a beeline towards him and warmly embraced him with both hands, greeting him in Malay, “Chew, apa khabar?” which translates to “How are you, Chew?”
  5. Xian Sheng responded, saying, “Takkan Tun tak tahu apa khabar,” which translates to “Surely Tun would know what happened.” Xian Sheng went on to inquire of Tun Hussein Onn why some individuals would consider it a crime to pray to the CREATOR. He gestured towards Musa Hitam and remarked, “Tun, you go and tell this fella. He don’t know who are the good guys and who are the bad guys.”
  6. Xian Sheng was certain that Tun Hussein Onn, who passed away on 28 May 1990, would know that Musa Hitam failed to distinguish between a good person and a bad person. Xian Sheng queried the followers about the reason for his certainty. It was because Xian Sheng had prayed for Tun Hussein Onn after his passing. (A person who has passed away will know the truths that eluded them in life.)
  7. Xian Sheng said that he prayed for those who had passed away, regardless of whether they were Malays or other races. 
  8. He specifically mentioned that he prayed for Aminuddin Baki, who passed away on 24 December 1965.8
  9. Xian Sheng mentioned that he prayed for numerous Malay individuals, including Tunku Tan Sri Mohamed, the Director General of the Public Service Department (PSD) after the Independence, Aziz Ayub, Tun Hussein Onn, Tun Abdul Razak, Tan Sri Abdul Kadir Talib and a recently deceased friend who passed away in Mecca, Wan Ilal. Xian Sheng, Wan Ilal, YB Zaidin Tambi Chik and YB Zakariah were members of an anti dadah (anti drugs) committee in Selayang.
  10. The reason why Xian Sheng prays for them is so that they would know that Chew Choon Ming prayed for them. They would finally realise that Chew Choon Ming is the Disciple of GOD, and a Disciple of GOD prays on their behalf. He humorously suggested that these politicians would give him a favourable review.
  11. He revealed that UMNO had tried to dismantle the Baitiangong Spiritual Movement but ended up being deregistered themselves.9
  12. Xian Sheng asked Mahathir why he didn’t permit the Baitiangong Spiritual Movement to be registered with the Registrar of Society (ROS). Mahathir offered an excuse, citing certain complications. Mahathir implied that the Malaysia Chinese Association (MCA) was responsible for constraining his actions. Xian Sheng found this excuse unsatisfactory, as he pointed out that, as the Prime Minister, Mahathir had the authority to take action.
  13. Xian Sheng stated that he had personal acquaintances from the first Prime Minister to the current Prime Minister, namely Mahathir. He is also acquainted with the potential future Prime Ministers, whether it would be Abdullah Badawi or Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah. However, he remarked that this acquaintance with politicians proved to be pointless because when he approached them for assistance in registering the Spiritual Movement, they declined, citing various complications.
  14. He explained that Mahathir, as former Minister of Home Affairs does not face any complications in granting approval for the registration. The issue is simply his unwillingness to do so. He suggested that Mahathir believed MCA to be his staunch supporter but questioned whether MCA would maintain their support for him once he was no longer in power.
  15. He cited the example of Anwar Ibrahim, who was sacked from his position as Deputy PM and expelled from UMNO. He questioned whether any MCA politicians MCA visited him at his home to offer moral support. Would MCA politicians even dare to visit his home? He emphatically answered – NO!
  16. On the contrary, Xian Sheng brought five followers with him to visit Anwar Ibrahim at his home following his political ouster. Before his ouster, Anwar consistently used the phrase “我们设一家人,” translated as “we are a family,” when addressing MCA. However, not a single MCA politician dared to visit him after his arrest. He then posed the question of whether anyone would believe that MCA would visit Mahathir if he were to be arrested.
  17. Xian Sheng inquired if anyone had read the newspaper article that quoted PAS (Malaysian Islamic Party) President Nik Aziz stating that Mahathir would be arrested within the first month after his party came to power. Once again, Xian Sheng questioned whether MCA would extend a courtesy visit to Mahathir in prison. With a mocking tone, he remarked, “返去瞓覺啦,” translated as “go home to sleep,” implying that Mahathir can forget about it.
  18. Xian Sheng angrily rebuked anyone who believed our registration would encounter complications if MCA faced difficulties, stating that they would be exceedingly stupid to think so.10
  19. Once again, Xian Sheng questioned the complications the government might face in our registration. He questioned the significance of being a Minister of Home Affairs if one is powerless. Xian Sheng expressed his intention to meet with Abdullah Badawi, the Minister of Home Affairs, for a discussion on this matter.
  20. During the racial riots of May 13 1969, Xian Sheng held authorised roles under the Emergency Ordinance, serving as a member of the Goodwill Committee and as the Chairman of Pasukan Kawalan (Vigilante Corps). Abdullah Ahmad Badawi also served on the National Operation Council, which wielded executive power during the nationwide state of emergency. Consequently, Abdullah Badawi is very familiar with Xian Sheng.
(F) Xian Sheng hoped Chinese in China are not blind [34:21 – 37:04]
  1. Xian Sheng stated that irrespective of the registration status of the Baitiangong Universal Spiritual Movement, we would proceed as usual. However, he stressed that we must exercise caution to prevent the government from finding any faults within our activities. We must not allow the government the opportunity to declare our Spiritual Movement an unlawful society again.
  2. It is important that the Spiritual Movement avoids being labelled as an unlawful society, as such a designation would put at risk our chances of obtaining future registration. 
  3. Xian Sheng wanted to remind the followers, who may not be fully aware, that collecting donations requires permits and licenses. Xian Sheng, who is well-versed in Malaysian Law, asserts that the process of collecting donations is more complex than it might appear.11
  4. If we were to prepare an expenditure report, Xian Sheng mentioned that he would be the one facing arrest, and not the organisers, as the authorities would identify him, Chew Choon Ming, as the leader of an unlawful society.
  5. That is why Xian Sheng mentioned earlier that he would not provide any form of reporting or documentation to prevent any unwanted incidents. If anyone insists on a report, Xian Sheng told them not to make any donations at all, as he does not want their donations.
  6. He mentioned that he recently contributed RM86K, bringing his total to more than RM100K, to support the preaching activities in China, and he did this without any hesitation. He could have spent the money to travel around the world, but he chose to fund the preaching activities in China instead. Furthermore, Xian Sheng expressed his intentions to further increase the funding. He asked the followers to contemplate the reasons for this decision.
  7. The reason – if Malaysian Chinese are blind, he hopes the Chinese in China would not be blind. 
  8. Xian Sheng expressed his hope that Baitiangong followers keep their eyes wide open and not be blind. However, if they are indeed blind, it is truly regrettable.
  9. Xian Sheng conveyed the following message to the Baixian staff: If they refuse to act in unison, engage in constant arguments and disputes, and refuse to cooperate with each other, then they are truly blind as well. He lamented that it is most unfortunate that GOD blessed them with a pair of eyes, as they would be better off if they were literally blind. 
  10. They have chosen to join Baixian to cooperate with Xian Sheng, but if they refuse to mutually help, love and cooperate with each other, then they are indeed blind. 
  11. Xian Sheng urged these individuals to resign promptly and depart from Baixian. 
  12. Xian Sheng reemphasised the seriousness of his message because, in his perspective, they are blind and therefore useless to Baixian, if they refuse to cooperate and work together.
  1. Xian Sheng's curriculum vitae, showcasing his contributions to society and the country, would make him an outstanding citizen of Malaysia. However, his teachings about Baitiangong challenged established Chinese religious organisations, and their political patrons attempted to portray Baitiangong as an evil cult with Xian Sheng as the leader exploiting women and deceiving followers for personal financial gain.
  2. Donations were intended for the Spiritual Movement's activities, not Xian Sheng's personal expenses. The important aspect of donations was for the followers to accrue positive merits through their financial sacrifices. When followers boasted about donations, questioned or demanded reports, their positive merits diminished as donations were no longer a genuine sacrifice. This is why Xian Sheng repeatedly advised not discussing donations. Nevertheless, anyone misusing donations for personal gain would accumulate negative demerits. Furthermore, since all of Xian Sheng's efforts to register the Spiritual Movement with the Registrar of Societies (ROS) had been unreasonably rejected, he did not want any records that could potentially lead to another situation like the one with Lam Ka Sum.
  3. Xian Sheng established Baixian for several reasons, one of which was to provide financial support to the Spiritual Movement. He had just demonstrated that many followers were unwilling to part with their money, even for a noble cause like the preaching activities in China.
  4. Baixian staff on minimal salaries willingly gave up the money they would earn under normal circumstances so that Xian Sheng could use it to advance the activities of the Spiritual Movement. When an individual donates, the money is usually surplus, and they can afford to do without it.
  5. Ting Chew Peh was the Minister of Housing and Local Government, and Mahathir Mohamad was the Prime Minister at that time.
  6. Fong Chan Onn had falsely accused Xian Sheng of preposterous charges, including disloyalty to the country, sedition, inciting racial tensions with the bumiputras, attempting to create hostility between the governments of Singapore and Malaysia, criminal trespass, and manipulating the majority of the approximately 30,000-strong Chinese community who participated in the World Chinese Conference in Mauritius in April 1992.
  7. Xian Sheng wanted Musa Hitam to know that he is still standing tall despite the government's attempts to bring him down by deploying spies like Lam Ka Sum to collect false information and declare the 6th-anniversary celebration as an illegal assembly. The Chinese Assembly Hall mysteriously and abruptly cancelled our reservation at the last minute, compelling the organisers to relocate our anniversary dinner to privately acquired squatter land, which we have utilised as our Holy Hall for Sunday assemblies. This move became necessary as an alternative venue capable of accommodating over 100 tables on such short notice was not available.
  8. Aminuddin Baki was a well-known educationist in the 1950s and early 1960s who sought to safeguard the educational interests of Malaysians. Xian Sheng developed a close friendship with him during his active involvement in various teachers' unions when he was a teacher. Aminuddin Baki played a significant role in the development of education in Malaysia, particularly in the establishment of the Malay College Kuala Kangsar and the establishment of the National University of Malaysia (UKM). In recognition of his contributions to education, the Aminuddin Baki Institute was established in his honour as the main educational management institute in Malaysia, which trains people to be in the school's top management.
  9. UMNO was deregistered in 1988, and UMNO Baru was registered in its place on 13 February 1988. However, they maintained the name UMNO instead of adopting the new name UMNO Baru.
  10. Some followers still believe that MCA serves the Chinese community and fights for our right to register our association. In reality, MCA fears that Xian Sheng, given his strong political background, might lead the Chinese community to challenge their political influence if he succeeds in forming an association. Xian Sheng has refuted that he has any political ambitions, clarifying that his sole purpose on Earth is to teach the Chinese people the correct way to pray to the CREATOR.
  11. Organisations planning to collect donations in public spaces must be registered with ROS and they would need to acquire a license from the Royal Malaysia Police, PDRM.