The selective collection below is the postings on the Malaysian Christian website "The Micah Mandate" from March till May 2011. The issue is basically "Alkitab", the Bible in Malay, the sole National Language of Malaysia since the year 1967. Please forgive me for the delay in reproducing and updating the information due to the big natural disasters hit in Japan on 11 March 2011. (Lily)
The Micah Mandate (http://www.themicahmandate.org)
(1) Detention of Bahasa Malaysia bibles yet again, 10 March 2011
by Administrator
10 March 2011
MEDIA STATEMENT BY CFM
The Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) is greatly disillusioned, fed-up and angered by the repeated detention of Bibles written in our national language, Bahasa Malaysia. This time yet again at the Port of Kuching in Sarawak.
30,000 copies of the “Perjanjian Baru, Mazmur dan Amsal” i.e. the “New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs” are currently being withheld.
This is notwithstanding that the Government in its attempt to to justify its position against the use of the word “Allah” in the Alkitab, the Government had given the assurance that the Bible in Bahasa Malaysia, will be freely available, at least in Sabah and Sarawak.
Since March 2009, all attempts to import the Bible in Bahasa Malaysia, i.e. the Alkitab, whether through Port Klang or the Port of Kuching, have been thwarted.
The previous consignment of 5,000 copies of the Alkitab imported in March 2009 is still being held by the Ministry of Home Affairs in Port Klang. This is despite repeated appeals which resulted in the Prime Minister making a decision to release the Alkitab held in Port Klang in December 2009 which was reported to CFM leaders by several Cabinet Ministers and their aides.
In absolute disregard of this decision, the 5,000 copies of the Alkitab remain detained. The Prime Minister when told about the continued detention of these 5,000 Bibles at a hi-tea event last Christmas expressed surprise that the order to release the same held in Port Klang had not been implemented. However, nothing has been done by the authorities to ensure their release.
Prior to March 2009, there were several incidents where shipments of the Bible in Bahasa Malaysia were detained. Each time tedious steps had to be taken to secure their release. It would appear as if the authorities are waging a continuous, surreptitious and systematic programme against Christians in Malaysia to deny them access to the Bible in Bahasa Malaysia.
Malaysian Christians, many of whom have grown up with Bahasa Malaysia as their principal medium of communication as a result of the Government’s education policies, must have access to Bibles in Bahasa Malaysia in order to read, comprehend and practise their faith.
The freedom of religion guaranteed as part of the fundamental liberties under our Federal Constitution is rendered meaningless if adherents to a religion are denied access to their religious texts in a language that they can understand.
It is an affront to them that they are being deprived of their sacred Scriptures. Many are wondering why their Scriptures are considered a threat to national security. All these actions in relation to the detention of the Bibles continue to hurt the Malaysian Christian community.
We would ask how the Government’s transformation programme can be successfully implemented if civil servants can blatantly refuse to obey the Prime Minister’s order? Is the Government powerless to act against these “little Napoleons” who substitute their own interests and agenda in place of the Prime Minister’s directives?
We call upon the Government to act now and prove their sincerity and integrity in dealing with the Malaysian Christian community on this and all other issues which we have been raising with them since the formation of the Christian Federation of Malaysia in 1985.
As an immediate step, we insist upon the immediate release of all Bibles which have been detained.
Bishop Ng Moon Hing
Chairman,
and the Executive Committee,
Christian Federation of Malaysia
(2) Holy Scriptures desecrated, 17 March 2011
by Administrator
CFM MEDIA STATEMENT
The Christian community in Malaysia is deeply hurt that the Government has desecrated and defaced the Bible.
Initial news that the Government had agreed to release copies of the Bible in Bahasa Malaysia which had been impounded in both Port Klang and Kuching was greeted with joy.
However, this joy soon turned into grief and mourning when it was discovered that the release was subject to certain conditions. Each copy has to be stamped with a serial number, the official seal of the relevant department of the Bahagian Kawalan Penerbitan Dan Teks Al-Quran, and the words “by order of the Minister of Home Affairs”.
This means that the Bahasa Malaysia Bible is now treated as a restricted item, and the Word of God has been made subject to the control of man. This is wholly offensive to Christians. Any person who respects the Holy Scriptures of any religion would be appalled by this action.
The Christian community in Malaysia has always acted in good faith and with great patience to find amicable solutions without compromising our fundamental beliefs. But that good faith has not been reciprocated by the Government. It is the Government that has moved the “goal posts” over the years through a systematic imposition of unreasonable conditions and restrictions.
We have never agreed to any wording to be endorsed on Bibles to say that it is only for Christians. The 1982 order issued under the Internal Security Act 1960 did not state that any form of words had to be endorsed on any copy of the Bible in Bahasa Malaysia.
The latest letter from the Ministry of Home Affairs dated 15 March 2011 is therefore a set of new conditions imposed on the release of the impounded Bibles which is wholly unacceptable to us. We will never accede to any desecration of the Bible since the Word of God to us is sacred.
We also wholly reject the Government’s contention that the Bible in Bahasa Malaysia is prejudicial to the national interest and security of Malaysia, and treated as a subversive publication.
As Christians we wonder how our Holy Scriptures can become a national security threat where countless number of us find it helpful in bringing hope and healing to broken lives and homes which we can testify to. Besides it commands us to be better citizens of our beloved nation.
We therefore insist that the Government withdraw the conditions imposed on the release of the Bibles impounded in Port Klang and Kuching. Given that copies may already have been endorsed, we will NOT take delivery of those endorsed copies.
We call on all Malaysians, from Semenanjung and in Sabah and Sarawak, and from all walks of life, to come together in unity to reject any attempt to restrict the freedom of religion in our beloved country.
We invite all Christians in Malaysia to remain calm and to continue to pray for a dignified and respectful resolution of this issue. As Sunday 20 March 2011 marks the 2nd anniversary of the impounding of the Bibles at Port Klang, we call on all those in Malaysia and elsewhere to dedicate themselves to a day of prayer and quiet reflection.
Yours sincerely,
Bishop Ng Moon Hing
Chairman and the Executive Committee,
Christian Federation of Malaysia
(3) Are Christians making an unnecessary fuss over the stamping of the Alkitab?, 24 March 2011
by Dr. Ng Kam Weng
Some government officials have claimed that Christians are making an unnecessary fuss over the recent stamping of the Alkitab seized in Port Klang and Kuching.
After all, they say, the Government also requires copies of the Quran to be chopped/stamped with a notice of government approval before they are sold in the shops.
Even some Christians also wonder why such a big deal is being made about the stamping since Christians, unlike Muslims, do not regard printed copies of the Bible with reverence. It is just a printed text. What matters is the message conveyed by the Bible.
This article seeks to address the failure to understand the reason for rejecting the stamping of the Alkitab. The terms of the debate need first be clearly defined to ensure accuracy in my analysis and coherence of my argument.
Since the issue is whether the government officials committed desecration of the Holy Bible let me begin with some definitions taken from the Oxford English Dictionary.
Holy
1. Of a thing, place, etc.: kept or regarded as sacred; set apart for religious use or observance; consecrated.
2. Of a god or icon: (to be) held in religious veneration or reverence; spec. in the Christian Church, free from all contamination of sin and evil, morally and spiritually perfect.
Sacred
1. Consecrated to or considered especially dear to a god or supernatural being.
2. Set apart for or dedicated to a religious purpose and so deserving veneration or respect;
consecrated, hallowed (in names of animals and plants indicating ancient or traditional
veneration).
Desecration 1. Remove or violate the sacred nature of, profane;fig. spoil or treat with contempt (something venerated or admired).
From these definition I shall say that when Christians refer to “The Holy Bible” they are commending it as something set apart or dedicated to religious activity and thus to be held in reverence.
There is some diversity among Christians in the way they approach the Bible. Some devout Christians approach the text with veneration. Other Christians feel they do not need to revere a printed book, but they will still consider the text to be indispensable in leading them into the presence of the Holy God.
We should also keep in mind that Muslims display great reverence for their holy text, as is evident from the way they physically handle the printed Quran and how they protest (violently in some cases) when the Quran is reportedly mishandled or desecrated.
How do we decide when a holy text has been desecrated, that is, violated and treated with contempt? Let us consider several scenarios pertaining to how the holy text could be treated:
1.A government official stamps on copies of the Quran to declare they are legally approved by the authorities.
2.A Christian stamps his name on the inside cover to declare ownership of a copy of the Bible.
3.A Christian highlights a scripture text while reading the Bible.
4.A critical scholar scrawls on pages of his Bible with the word “LIES AND MYTHS” while a militant atheist cuts off sections of the Bible he considers out of date and irrelevant (for example – miraculous stories).
5.A Nazi mob burns a heap of seized Bibles with wood carved in the form of the Swastika.
Comments on the above scenarios:
1.Obviously, stamping on these Qurans is not an act of desecration. Rather, it positively declares that these copies of the Quran are to be accepted as authoritative texts to be used by Muslims in their devotion. Its intention is one of positive regard in contrast to desecration that treats the text with contempt.
2.This action has no expressed valuation on the Biblical text. The owner simply declares his ownership of the book. The question of desecration does not arise.
3.For this devout Christian, highlighting the texts emphasizes his response while engaging with the text – as a human listening to the voice of God speaking through the text. It represents thepersonal response of the reader as he is led into the presence of the divine. Obviously, the reader’s attitude is one of reverence rather one of triviality and contempt.
On the other hand, other Christians may hesitate to highlight the text even when they experience spiritual uplift while reading the text because of their cultural background and personal sentiments. In this case, both these groups of Christian should respect each other and give allowance to one another so long as both groups respect the Bible and more importantly, obey the spiritual injunction of its teachings.
4.There is no desecration when a critical scholar declares he does not regard the Bible as the revealed word of God. He may even exercise his academic freedom and publish articles that criticise the Bible. The scholar is entitled to his view but the militant atheist is expressing contempt for the Bible and commits desecration by cutting up the Bible.
5.The Nazi mob is expressing publicly their contempt towards the Bible. The fire symbolically declares the intention of the Nazi movement to destroy both Christianity and the Bible. This is a desecration and a violent declaration of war.
The Question
Obviously, the issue of desecration is a complex one. We need to take into account the cultural values and the intention of the actors in making judgment when someone makes a mark on a holy text. We need to be sensitive to both the intention of the actor (message sent) and the perception of the believers of the holy text (message received). They may or may not coincide.
How then do we evaluate the action of the government officials when they stamped the Alkitab with the words: “FOR CHRISTIANS ONLY” “BY ORDER OF THE HOME MINISTER”.
Background Information
The root cause of the problem can be traced back to the December 1981 when the then Deputy Minister of Home Affairs gazetted the prohibition of the Alkitab in Malaysia under Section 22 of the Internal Security Act 1960 (PU (A) 15/82).
It was a draconian order prohibiting absolutely the printing, publication, sale, issue, circulation or possession of the Alkitab. The gazette contained a very serious accusation, which might even be considered seditious, stating that the prohibition was made on the grounds that the Alkitab is prejudicial to the national interest and security of the Federation.
In March 1982, a subsequent decision of the Deputy Minister repealed the above order in recognition of the fact that it is unacceptable to prohibit Christians from using their Holy Scriptures.
This was done vide PU (A) 134 which, while retaining the prohibition, subjected it to the condition that “this prohibition does not apply to the possession or use in Churches of such publication by persons professing the Christian religion throughout Malaysia”.
It should be emphasised that such a restriction is unacceptable by any standard of modern democracy. But even then the Christian community went along with the government. As such, there was no attempt to display and sell copies of the Alkitab in public bookstores like MPH.
In December 2005, Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi made an agreement with Church leaders whereby Christians were allowed to import the Alkitab on condition that its front cover has the words “Penerbitan Kristian” along with the symbol of the cross.
Although the word ‘compromise’ is used here, it was actually the case of Christians giving ground. After all, even the unacceptable gazette in 1982 did not require imprinting of the words “Penerbitan Kristian” and the symbol of the cross.
So when Cabinet Minister Max Ongkili now suggests that Christians should compromise in a spirit of give and take, he should be reminded that it has always been the case of the Christians compromising – the Christians are always giving and the government is always taking.
Analysis
The issue of desecration did not arise when Christians agreed to print the cross with the caveat onto the cover of the Bible since it was to assure the government that Christians are not engaging in covert evangelism.
Unfortunately, this did not stop the government from continuing to seize the Alkitab and other Christian teaching materials. The harassment from the government climaxed with the recent stamping of the Alkitab without consent from the Christian community.
To add salt to injury, the chop includes in bold print the words, “FOR CHRISTIANS ONLY” “BY ORDER OF HOME MINISTER”. This imprint amounts to discrimination against Christians and displays contempt towards their Holy Scripture. Two concerns arise immediately.
First, Christians cannot in good conscience limit the Word of God only to Christians. It is for anyone who freely seeks him including the animists in East Malaysia, atheists, secularists, Buddhists, Hindus, etc. By the same token the Buddhists and Hindus also say their holy writings are also for every interested seeker.
They don’t have to apologise for their view and Christians respect their freedom to share their holy writings to all and sundry. Christians want to ask the government: “Why single out Christians and the Bible?” This is religious discrimination to say the least.
Second, the government officials obviously displayed contempt towards the Alkitab in the act of stamping it. How else can Christians react but to reject such an imposition? Why should Muslims feign surprise that Christians feel their Holy Bible (Alkitab) has been desecrated?
Indeed, some Muslims would respond with violence if their Quran is treated in the same manner. Be assured that Muslims understand the need to respect and give reverence to printed copies of holy texts.
Further, the government acted with arrogance towards both Christians and the Alkitab when they went full throttle to stamp on the Alkitab, even while the Christians cried “Desecration!” This is nothing less than an “in your face” insult.
To cap the arrogance, the government now arrogates for itself power over God’s Word with the bold imprint, “BY ORDER OF HOME MINISTER”. Such a statement imposed and imprinted upon the Alkitab is alarming as it can amount to BLASPHEMY (arrogating for oneself the honor and authority which belongs to God).
It is already an act of defacement when the government utterly disregarded the fact that Christians regard the Alkitab as Holy Scripture.
It is a hostile and contemptuous action that ignores the protest from Christians. In the light of these factors, any self-respecting Christian who loves God and His Holy Scripture can only judge the government’s action as one of DESECRATION of God’s Word.
(4) Holy Scriptures desecrated, 28 March 2011
by Administrator
MCCBCHST MEDIA STATEMENT
25th March 2011
The Christian Federation of Malaysia’s (CFM) Media Statements of 10th and 17th March, 2011 stated that the Malaysian Christian community “is greatly disillusioned, fed-up and angered by the repeated detention of Bibles written in our national language, Bahasa Malaysia” – the Al Kitab. He was referring to the impounding of over 35,000 copies in Kuching, Sarawak and in Port Klang in total since March, 2009.
Repeated appeals were made to the Prime Minister and the CFM was informed in December 2009 that the 5,000 copies in Port Klang would be released. They were not. And when he was so informed last Christmas, he could only express surprise that the Al Kitab are still being held by the authorities.
This situation begs a first pair of questions, “Does our current Prime Minister wield any authority? And, if he does not, who does?”
Now the CFM has discovered that the release will be effected subject to certain conditions, every copy to be stamped with a serial number, an official seal and the words, “by order of the Minister of Home Affairs.” This means that the Al Kitab (Bahasa Malaysia version) is now considered a restricted item and “the Word of God has been made subject to the control of man. The full details are contained in the CFM’s Media Statements referred to above.
Since the the above facts have become public, many respected and responsible Malaysian organisations and individual personages like the Malaysian Gurdwaras Council, the PAS ulamas, Puan Zuraidah Kamaruddin of Wanita Keadilan and the Federation of Taoist Malaysia have already come out in support of the CFM and decried the stand and actions taken by the authorities. Many more are expected to come out in public support of the CFM in the forthcoming days.
It would appear that the authorities would have Malaysians (especially the Malays and/or Muslims) believe that the current developments about the release of the Al Katib, make it an Islam/Christianity or Muslim/Christian conflict in our beloved country.
It would be relevant here to briefly return to our history to ascertain certain historical facts. Malaya’s (and Malaysia’s) founding father, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra al-Haj, our first and most loved Prime Minister, prince and premier, truly a statesman, said in 1957 of the new nation, Malaya, “Let freedom be secured for all the law-abiding people. There shall be freedom of worship, freedom of speech, freedom from want, freedom of association, freedom of assembly and freedom of movement.”
The political leaders definitely do not have a finger on the pulse of the nation. They are definetly wrong in what they are doing.
In the face of what has been alluded to the Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) in the narrative about “The Promise to St. Catherine”, it is highly suspect that the Islamic high officials in our country do not even know their own religion!
The preceding now begs a second set of questions: “After the Christians have been ‘fixed,’ who next? ”
The MCCBCHST unequivocally endorses the points made in the CFM press statement and supported by the Malaysian Gurdwara Council, the Federation of Taoist Malaysia and the many other right-thinking organisations and individuals who already have so spoken out and the many more that will speak out in the days to come. We also vehemently oppose the present line of action being pursued. If anyone intelligently follows the little evidence laid out above (and we can promise you even more of the TRUTH where that came from) you must understand and appreciate why we, and all right-thinking Malaysians (of whichever race or religion), must take the stand that we do.
Reverend Dr. Thomas Philips – President
Daozhang Tan Boon Sin – Deputy President
Venerable Ming Ji – Vice President
Sardar V. Hacharan Singh – Vice President
Mr. RS. Mohan Shan – Vice President
(5) Protect and defend Christians’ right to use the Alkitab, 30 March 2011
by Administrator
CFM MEDIA STATEMENT
30th March 2011
We are grateful to Almighty God for bringing together Christian leaders from across churches in Semenanjung, Sabah and Sarawak to address the current controversy surrounding the impounding of Bahasa Malaysia Bibles, the Alkitab, at Port Klang and Kuching. This decision weighs heavily on us because of the implications not only for Christians but for all Malaysians.
We are united in our reaffirmation of the freedom of religion and worship. Therefore, our position is that there should be no restrictions, proscriptions or prohibitions whatsoever on the Bible or the use of the language of our choice in the practice of our religion, as it was in the days before and after the formation of Malaysia.
Christians, like any other Malaysians, are not demanding for anything beyond our constitutional and fundamental human rights as enshrined in Article 11(1) of the Federal Constitution and Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The current controversy surrounding the Alkitab is just one of many issues that concerns Christians. There has been a systematic and progressive pushing back of the public space to practice, to profess and to express our faith. For example, the wearing and displaying of crosses and other religious symbols, using religious words and constructing places of worship have been restricted.
When Christians express this concern, we do so not just for ourselves but on behalf of all Malaysians. Our faith forms a critical component of our identity as Malaysians in nation-building as enshrined in the first pillar of our nation’s Rukunegara: Belief in God.
As regards the offer made by the government on 22 March 2011, we respectfully state that this does not address the substantive issues. In point of fact, our previous offer made in 2005 to use the term “A Christian Publication” was only honoured in respect of one shipment of the Alkitab. Subsequent shipments were similarly held up and subjected to further arbitrary conditions for release.
In order to move forward, we call on the Government to commit itself once and for all to remove every impediment, whether legal or administrative, to the importation, publication, distribution and use of the Alkitab and indeed to protect and defend our right to use the Alkitab.
This includes revoking all orders made under the Internal Security Act 1960, which have declared the Alkitab as a threat to national security. Neither can the Alkitab be considered a threat to public order under the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984. We categorically reject the characterisation of our Holy Scriptures in this manner.
Instead, we see our Holy Scriptures as providing enlightenment and direction. In the words of the psalmist, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” (Psalm 119 : 105). In the New Testament is stated the teaching that we hold dear and true : “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (II Timothy 3 : 16)
We remain committed to work with the Government for a viable and long-term solution where the detailed processes and procedures are made clear and unequivocal and so long as our fundamental liberties as enshrined in the Federal Constitution are not infringed.
As for the copies of the Alkitab that have been impounded and desecrated, we reiterate our position that the action of the Ministry of Home Affairs (KDN) in stamping the Bibles amounts to an act of defacement, disrespect and treating with disdain the holy book of the Christians.
Given the unfortunate experience of KDN’s tendency of taking arbitrary action without consulting affected parties or respecting the religious sensitivities of the Christian community, any decision to collect copies of the Alkitab which have been stamped and serialised would be with a view to prevent the possibility of further arbitrary acts of desecration, disrespect or destruction being committed against the Holy Scripture of the Christians by KDN and its officers.
We have left it to the 2 importers to decide whether or not to collect the Alkitab, based on their different specific circumstances and level of trust in the authorities and the processes in their local context.
Nevertheless, no matter what their decision is, we remain united in our common stand to uphold the principle of freedom of religion which includes the free availability without hindrance or obstacle of the Alkitab and all sacred scriptures in Malaysia.
We continue to call on all peace-loving Malaysians to pray for a dignified resolution to these critical issues in the life of our nation.
Dated this day 30th March 2011
(signed)
Bishop Ng Moon Hing
Chairman and the Executive Committee
The Christian Federation of Malaysia
(6) Bible Society collects stamped Alkitab – as museum piece, 31 March 2011
by Administrator
by Debra Chong
KUALA LUMPUR, March 31 — Despite denouncing the federal government for “desecrating” 5,000 Malay bibles with the Home Ministry’s seal, the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) has finally picked up its two-year-old cargo worth RM70,000 from Port Klang.
The importer said the stamped and serialised bibles, which it collected yesterday, cannot be sold and will instead be preserved as museum pieces and a reminder to future generations of Malaysian Christians of what it maintains was a deliberate and unjustified government move to deface their holy book.
“The 5,000 copies of the Alkitab that has been defaced by KDN (the Home Ministry) cannot be sold to Christian buyers.
“Instead, they will be respectfully preserved as museum pieces and as a heritage for the Christian Church in Malaysia,” the BSM said in a statement last night.
It was silent on the present location of the holy books and the Christian museum.
When contacted, the society’s general secretary, Reverend Simon Wong, told The Malaysian Insider the details would be disclosed later, but gave no date.
BSM said it decided collect the bibles because it feared the ministry may carry out what it considered further acts of desecration or disrespect on the bibles which it had seized from port on March 20, 2009.
The society pointed to the ministry’s officials who hastily moved to stamp and serialise every copy without first consulting its organisation two weeks ago.
BSM also rejected the Cabinet’s offer for certain Christian donors to reimburse BSM for the costs of the marked cargo, valued at RM70,000.
The government’s Christian minister, Datuk Seri Idris Jala, in his statement on March 22, said that certain Christian donors had also offered to fully replace, free of charge, the two marked cargoes at Port Klang and Kuching, which had been seized and detained by home ministry officials.
“Concerning the offer to compensate BSM for the costs of this shipment, BSM wishes to make its stand clear that BSM will only accept a cheque from KDN and will not accept any money from so-called ‘Christian donors’,” it said.
Earlier yesterday, the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) rejected the federal government’s overture in the Alkitab row, saying it did not resolve the core issue which is the erosion of basic human rights protected by the Federal Constitution.
The umbrella body representing over 90 per cent of churches here was referring specifically to Putrajaya’s offer to mask the Home Ministry’s stamp and serial numbering of 35,100 copies of the Malay bibles shipped in from Indonesia last week, as laid down last week by Jala, who is in charge of government and economic transformation.
“Our position is that there should be no restrictions, proscriptions or prohibitions whatsoever on the bible or the use of the language of our choice in the practice of our religion, as it was in the days before and after the formation of Malaysia,” CFM said in a statement here today, adding that the Alkitab issue was not the only restriction.
It noted that there has been a “systematic and progressive pushing back” of Christian rights — dating back to the 1980s — namely the right to practise, profess and express their faith.
It pointed to a series of restrictions imposed on Christians, such as the freedom to wear and openly display religious symbols, like the cross; the building of churches; and even what words can be used in a Christian religious context.
CFM, however, had said it would leave the decision on what to do with the marked cargoes to the two Alkitab importers in Selangor and Sarawak.
The Sarawak importer, a local branch of global Christian group, The Gideons, has yet to announce its decision.
Malaysia’s biggest state with a majority Christian population will head to the ballot box for its state polls on April 16.
・This article is from The Malaysian Insider.
(7) Press statement of Bible Society of Malaysia, 31 March 2011
by Administrator
The Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) today collected 5,000 copies of the Al Kitab, the Bahasa Malaysia Bible, which has been detained by the Home Affairs Ministry (KDN) since 20 March 2009.
In compliance with a letter from KDN dated 22 December 2005, BSM imported 5,000 copies of the Al Kitab with the sign of the cross and the words “Penerbitan Kristian” embossed on the front cover. In spite of this, the shipment of the Al Kitab was unjustifiably detained. In spite of many appeals, KDN refused to release the shipment for nearly two years.
On 15 March 2011, KDN faxed a letter to BSM informing that while the Bibles will be released, they must be stamped with new conditions. Before BSM can indicate their acceptance or rejection of these new conditions, KDN at 5 pm on 16 March 2011 informed BSM that the Bibles had already been stamped by KDN and asked BSM to collect the Bibles. BSM had since then made known their position that the action of KDN in stamping the Bibles amounted to an act of defacement and disrespect of the holy books of the Christians.
In view of KDN’s tendency to take arbitrary action without consultation of affected parties or respect for the religious sensitivities of the Christian community, BSM decided to collect the 5,000 copies of the Al Kitab to prevent the possibility of further acts of desecration or disrespect being committed against the holy books of the Christians by KDN and its officers.
The 5,000 copies of the Al Kitab that has been defaced by KDN cannot be sold to Christian buyers. Instead, they will be respectfully preserved as museum pieces and as a heritage for the Christian Church in Malaysia. This unfortunately will result in a loss of RM70,000 for BSM.
Concerning the offer to compensate BSM for the costs of this shipment, BSM wish to make its stand clear that BSM will only accept a cheque from KDN and will not accept any money from so-called “Christian donors.”
The Bible Society of Malaysia
29 March 2011
(8) Kebebasan Beragama, 31 March 2011
by Administrator
Note to readers:
“The Micah Mandate had posted an article entitled ‘Kebebasan Beragama’mistaking it to be from Sidang Injil Borneo (SIB) Sarawak when in fact it was from a group calling itself Sidang Injil Baru (SIB) Sarawak. While the group did spell out its name, the affinity of its name to Sidang Injil Borneo (SIB) smacks of imposture and we have therefore removed the article from our website to avoid unnecessary confusion.”
(9) Importing bibles into Malaysia – rights and favours, 04 April 2011
by Peter Young
The Sunday Star on 3 April 2011 reports:
PETALING JAYA: The Government has decided to allow the Bible in all languages, including Bahasa Malaysia and Indonesia, to be imported into the country.
The Bible can also be printed locally in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak and in indigenous languages such as Iban, Kadazandusun and Lun Bawang.
For Sabah and Sarawak, there will be no conditions attached to the importation and local printing of the Bible in all languages, with no requirement for any stamp or serial number.
For Peninsular Malaysia, the Bible in Bahasa Malaysia/Indonesia, imported or printed, must have the words “Christian Publication” and the cross sign printed on the front cover.
No restriction would be imposed on people who bring their Bibles and Christian materials on travels between Sabah and Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia.
These were part of a 10-point solution announced in a statement yesterday by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Idris Jala, who said the views of the various religious groups, including Muslims, had been considered.
1. RIGHTS
Do not let us think that the government is doing the church a FAVOUR. Firstly, they have NO RIGHT to make any conditions concerning the importing of Bibles into this country. Secondly, the church has the right to import Bibles in any language and there is never any need to seek permission from the government.
2. FAVOURS
We have THE RIGHT in Peninsular Malaysia to import the Bible in Bahasa Malaysia/Indonesia without any restrictions. If it is agreed that there will be additional words on the front cover, then the church is doing the government a FAVOUR.
Whether or not this favour should be granted is up to you to decide!
Having been so firm on this issue, it is good to learn the statement of Senator Datuk Seri Idris Jala, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, part of which is quoted below:
“The government and our civil servants are not perfect as indeed all human beings are ‘beautifully imperfect’ in the eyes of God.
And for all our shortcomings in handling the Bible issue, I hope the Christians will find it in their hearts to forgive us.”
(10) COMC – A new Christian voice, 04 April 2011
by Peter Young
Although formed in the latter half of March 2011, COMC (Coalition Of Malaysian Christians) has speedily moved into action. On Saturday, 26th March 2011, they lodged a police report against the government and the Home Minister over the stamping (defacing) of the Bahasa Malaysia Bibles. The report was lodged at the Petaling Jaya Police Headquarters.
Ronnie Klassen, from Sabah, the COMC spokesman, said that the COMC has refused the Home Ministry’s initiative to stamp any text or marking on the Christian Holy Book and wants the ministry to return the “desecrated” copies of the Bahasa Malaysia Bibles to the publisher and to bear the cost of new ones.
Since 14th January 1986 (over 25 years), the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) has taken over the responsibility of representing the church in Malaysia when there is a need to negotiate with the government. Currently, the CFM is engaged in long drawn-out discussions concerning the defacing of the Bible.
Will the COMC “rock the boat” or will it be an additional voice expressing the RIGHTS and the RESPONSIBILITIES of the church in Malaysia?
Only time will tell!
(To be continued.)
