The Home Ministry has defended its decision to place a ministry stamp on copies of the Al-Kitab Bible that were impounded in Port Klang and in Kuching, saying that it was not “defacement” but standard practice.
"(They were stamped) based on amalan (the standard practice) before...(like) even during (former premiers) Dr Mahathir (Mohamad) and Pak Lah's (Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's) time.
"There was no intention to deface the Bible... we will not entertain this kind of talk," Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein (left in photo) said at a press conference at the Parliament lobby today.
Hishammuddin also dismissed claims by the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) that stamping serial numbers on the holy book was a new practice.
"I am hearing all sorts of talk, about the size of the stamp, the colour of the ink... if they want to find fault they will find fault... you can even say the Bibles are smelly after being kept for so long
"It is not a real big issue to me... we have engaged (BSM) but you can only engage with people who want to engage, and resolve issues with people who want them to be resolved," he said.
"(They were stamped) based on amalan (the standard practice) before...(like) even during (former premiers) Dr Mahathir (Mohamad) and Pak Lah's (Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's) time. "There was no intention to deface the Bible... we will not entertain this kind of talk," Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein (left in photo) said at a press conference at the Parliament lobby today.
Hishammuddin also dismissed claims by the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) that stamping serial numbers on the holy book was a new practice.
"I am hearing all sorts of talk, about the size of the stamp, the colour of the ink... if they want to find fault they will find fault... you can even say the Bibles are smelly after being kept for so long"It is not a real big issue to me... we have engaged (BSM) but you can only engage with people who want to engage, and resolve issues with people who want them to be resolved," he said.
BSM yesterday cried foul over the ministry's decision to stamp the Bibles before releasing them, saying that it was done without their consent.
The society claims that in a 2005 agreement with the ministry, the Malay-language Bibles should only have the words “Penerbitan Kristian (Christian Publication)” and the sign of a cross embossed on its cover by the importers themselves.
'Look at the bigger picture'
Hishammuddin added that there was too much nitpicking on the matter, causing people to lose sight of the large issue that is the usage of the word 'Allah' by non-Muslims.
He added that the 30,000 Bibles were held in Kuching, despite the lack of an enactment on the matter in East Malaysia, because it was believed to be prejudicial to the government's appeal on the usage of the word 'Allah' by Catholic newspaper the Herald.
But the impoundment was lifted when the attorney-general advised that it would not prejudice the case.
The minister added that it appears that the issue has been revived just in time for the Sarawak elections, just like it was brought up during the Sibu by-election where there were allegations that the Bibles had been destroyed.
Asked if he believed that the Christian community is making it hard for themselves, he said: “It's not just them, the Buddists, the Hindus... there are sensitivities in the issues that come through my ministry, but we are trying to solve this rationally.”
Speaking to Malaysiakini on the sidelines, Home Ministry secretary-general Mahmood Adam said that the Bibles were stamped yesterday and that even the al-Quran has serial numbers on them.
“Is the al-Quran not a holy book too?” he asked.
The society claims that in a 2005 agreement with the ministry, the Malay-language Bibles should only have the words “Penerbitan Kristian (Christian Publication)” and the sign of a cross embossed on its cover by the importers themselves.
'Look at the bigger picture'
Hishammuddin added that there was too much nitpicking on the matter, causing people to lose sight of the large issue that is the usage of the word 'Allah' by non-Muslims.
He added that the 30,000 Bibles were held in Kuching, despite the lack of an enactment on the matter in East Malaysia, because it was believed to be prejudicial to the government's appeal on the usage of the word 'Allah' by Catholic newspaper the Herald.
But the impoundment was lifted when the attorney-general advised that it would not prejudice the case.
The minister added that it appears that the issue has been revived just in time for the Sarawak elections, just like it was brought up during the Sibu by-election where there were allegations that the Bibles had been destroyed.
Asked if he believed that the Christian community is making it hard for themselves, he said: “It's not just them, the Buddists, the Hindus... there are sensitivities in the issues that come through my ministry, but we are trying to solve this rationally.”
Speaking to Malaysiakini on the sidelines, Home Ministry secretary-general Mahmood Adam said that the Bibles were stamped yesterday and that even the al-Quran has serial numbers on them.
“Is the al-Quran not a holy book too?” he asked.
Indonesia is the largest muslim country has no problem with the word ALLAH and the same goes to the bible in Bahasa Indonesia.
ReplyDeleteWhy the racist assssno making a big fuss in malaysia?
GET LOST all the parties malaya in Sabah be it UMNO, MCA, Gerakan, PAS, DAP, or PKR and get your boat back to Kay Hell.
Sabahans DO NOT NEED those SATAN from malaya to come here to STEAL, KILL AND DESTROY our racial harmony and peace were practised by Sabahans since MERDEKA.
There are plenty of English speaking Muslim and they can read the English bible if they want to.
ReplyDelete