Biblical storm brewing for Najib?

FMT

MCA and DAP condemn the seizure of 35,000 Malay-language bibles, and Islamic youth group Abim wants Najib to clarify his stand.

KUALA LUMPUR: A storm is brewing over the Home Ministry’s seizure of 35,000 Malay-language bibles in Kuching and Port Klang.


Both MCA and DAP have condemned the action, while Islamic youth organisation Abim wanted Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to clarify his stand.

Careful not to step too hard on the toes of Umno, MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek put his view across in a diplomatic manner.

“MCA understands that religion is a sensitive issue and the party also appreciates that Islam is the official religion in Malaysia.

“However, every Malaysian has the right to protect and practice his religion freely as guaranteed and enshrined in the Federal Constitution,” he said in a statement.

In Sabah and Sarawak, Chua pointed out, the use of Bahasa Malaysia in the practice of Christianity had long been a common tradition.

“The national language is commonly used for the learning of the religion. It is used in the study of the bible, in sermons and also in prayers and is common in Sabah and Sarawak,” he said.

To avoid controvery, Chua proposed that bibles in the national language be allowed to be printed locally by approved printing houses sanctioned by the Home Ministry.

At present, the MCA president said, such bibles are printed in Indonesia and the churches have to import them to Malaysia.

“If bibles in the national language are printed locally, then it can be allowed to be circulated to churches with proper supervision.



“MCA believes that if such a consensus can be achieved between the churches and authorities, it will lead to better understanding by all sides,” he said.

Chua said the government must understand due to the emphasis on Bahasa Malaysia, the Malay language would be used more widely, especially among the younger generation.

“Any restraint on the use of the bible in the national language is tantamount to taking away the non-Muslim rights of freedom of practising one’s faith,” he said, adding that the issue should not be allowed to turn into political fodder during the upcoming Sarawak election.

Abim wants explanation
On a more hard-hitting note, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan End said that the seizure was unconstitutional and exposed the shallowness of Najib’s 1Malaysia concept.

He said these bibles do not pose a danger to other faiths, and the move to seize them ran contrary to Bahasa Malaysia’s position as the national language.

Meanwhile, Abim wanted Najib to explain the statement by the Christian Federation of Malaysia that the premier had confirmed there was no ban on such bibles and that he had ordered the release of the 5,000 bibles confiscated in Port Klang.

“As the chief executive of this country, any statement reflects the stand and policy of the government,” said the group’s secretary-general Mohamad Raimi Ab Rahim in a statement.

“In this context, the claim by CFM appears to state that the government has agreed to the distribution of Malay-language Bibles despite no official public notice on the matter,” he added.

He also said that any enactment governing the spread of other religions to Muslims must be adhered and respected.

In view of this, the Abim leader urged Najib to clarify the matter to avoid any misunderstanding which could threaten racial harmony.