1.Free Malaysia Today (http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/)
Sarawak DCM: Anyone can translate Bible, just not Mais
16 November 2017
PETALING JAYA: Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister James Masing has no issue with the Bible being translated into Malaysian languages, as long as the translation is not done by the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais).
Speaking to FMT, Masing said this was because he believed Mais would not be able to fully grasp and understand the nuances of Christianity.
“It can be translated into Malay or even the Chinese language. Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) can also publish it.
“But I will not agree to Mais being the translator,” he said.
Masing also questioned the fear surrounding the usage of the word “Allah” by Christians.
He said the faith of Muslims was not easily shaken, especially by the use of the word “Allah”.
“The word ‘Allah’ predates Islam. There are political leaders in Sarawak who studied the Bible, but that doesn’t make them less of a Muslim.
“So why are we so scared that by allowing the word to be used by Christians, it would shake the religious belief of Muslims?
“Isn’t it better if the Christians use the word ‘Allah’? Then all of us would be worshiping the same God.”
Masing said Malaysians had been able to remain united because they accepted each other’s religions and beliefs.
“We can’t be united if we are scared of each other’s religion. But some quarters are fearful even of their own shadows.”
Meanwhile, Sabah Council of Churches president Bishop Melter Jiki Tais, told FMT that Mais’ proposal for DBP to prepare an official Malay translation of the Bible was insulting to the Christians in Sabah.
“We are indeed very much offended by Mais lawyer Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla’s statement, and demand an apology from him,” he said.
Haniff reportedly made the suggestion in court on Wednesday, saying DBP could correct the Christians’ alleged error in using the word “Allah” for God.
He claimed that the Christian community in Sabah and Sarawak had wrongly used “Allah” for God in Bahasa Malaysia, arguing that they should instead use “Tuhan”, which would not deprive them of their rights.
Haniff made the suggestion while addressing the court during the hearing of a suit by a Malay-speaking Bumiputera Christian from Sarawak, Jill Ireland Lawrence Bill, against the home minister and the government to uphold her constitutional rights which she said were infringed by a local “Allah” ban in Christian publications.
“Let it be known to Haniff that his suggestion reflects his ignorance of the theology, and true and proper interpretation of the original language of the Bible.
“Let it also be known to him that we, the Christian community in Sabah, do not and will not accept any Bahasa Malaysia Bible prepared by Dewan Bahasa,” Melter said.
The majority of Malay-speaking Christians in Sabah, as well as in Sarawak, have been using the word “Allah” to refer to God in their worship as well as their publications long before the states joined to form Malaysia in 1963.
Melter said as far as the council was concerned, nobody and no party could dictate that Christians express their faith in whatever language they want.
“We will continue to use the term ‘Allah’ for God verbally or in written form until ‘Thy kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven’,” he said.
(End)
2.Free Malaysia Today (http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/)
TKM Sarawak: Sesiapa pun boleh terjemah Bible, kecuali Mais
oleh Nawar Firdaws and Tracy Patrick
16 November 2017
Majlis Gereja-gereja Sabah berkata cadangan Mais mencadangkan Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka sediakan terjemahan rasmi Bible menghina orang Kristian Sabah.
PETALING JAYA: Timbalan Ketua Menteri Sarawak Tan Sri James Masing tiada masalah jika Bible diterjemah ke mana-mana bahasa di Malaysia, kecuali jika ia dilakukan oleh Majlis Agama Islam Selangor (Mais).
Ini kereana Mais tidak akan dapat menangkap dan memahami nuansa agama Kristian.
“Bible boleh diterjemahkan ke dalam bahasa Melayu atau Ciina. Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) boleh terbitkan terjemahan itu.
“Cuma saya tidak setuju Mais jadi penterjemah Bible,” katanya.
Masing turut mempersoalkan ketakutan sekitar penggunaan kalimah “Allah” oleh Kristian.
Beliau berkata kepercayaan orang Islam tidak mudah tergugat, terutamanya dengan penggunaan nama “Allah”.
“Kalimah ‘Allah’ ada sebelum Islam. Ada pemimpin politik di Sarawak yang mengkaji Bible, tetapi tidak pun menyebabkan mereka kurang Islam.
“Jadi mengapa kita takut sangat kononnya membiarkan penggunaan kalimah itu oleh orang Kristian akan menggugat kepercayaan orang Islam?
“Bukankah lebih baik orang Kristian menggunakan perkataan ‘Allah’? Dengan itu kita semua menyembah Tuhan yang sama.”
Masing berkata rakyat Malaysia masih bersatu kerana mereka menerima kepercayaan dan agama lain.
“Kita tidak boleh bersatu kalau kita takuti agama lain. Tetapi ada sesetengah pihak takut pada bayang-bayang sendiri.”
Sementara itu, Presiden Majlis Gereja-gereja Sabah Bishop Melter Jiki Tais berkata cadangan Mais mencadangkan DBP menyediakan terjemahan Bible rasmi bahasa Melayu menghina orang Kristian di Sabah.
“Kami sangat tersinggung dengan kenyataan peguam Mais, Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla, dan mahu beliau memohon maaf,” katanya.
Haniff dilaporkan membuat cadangan itu di mahkamah pada Rabu, mengatakan DBP boleh membetulkan kesalahan yang didakwa dilakukan orang Krisian apabila menggunakan kalimah “Allah” sebagai merujuk kepada Tuhan.
Beliau mendakwa masyarakat Kristian di Sabah dan Sarawak tersalah menggunakan kalimah “Allah” sebagai merujuk kepada “God” dalam bahasa Malaysia, dan berkata mereka sepatutnya menggunakan “Tuhan”, yang tidak akan mengurangkan hak mereka.
Haniff membuat cadangan itu kepada mahkamah di pendengaran tuntutan oleh seorang Bumiputera penutur bahasa Melayu dari Sarawak yang beragama Kristian, Jill Ireland Lawrence Bill, terhadap menteri dalam negeri dan kerajaan supaya menegakkan hak perlembagaan beliau yang menurutnya dilanggar oleh larangan penggunaan kalimah “Allah” dalam penerbitan Kristian.
“Haniff harus tahu cadangannya itu mencerminkan kejahilan mengenai teologi, dan tafsiran bahasa asal Bible yang betul dan baik.
“Haniff harus tahu kita masyarakat Kristian di Sabah sama sekali tidak akan menerima Bible bahasa Malaysia yang disediakan DBP,” kata Melter.
Majoriti penutur bahasa Melayu beragama Kristian di Sabah dan Sarawak menggunakan kalimah “Allah” sebagai merujuk kepada Tuhan dalam upacara dan penerbitan sebelum kedua-dua negeri menyertai pembentukan Malaysia pada 1963.
Melter berkata majlis berpendirian tiada pihak boleh tentukan bahasa yang boleh digunakan orang Kristian dalam menyatakan kepercayaan mereka.
“Kita akan terus menggunakan kaliimah ‘Allah’ sebagai merujuk kepada Tuhan secara lisan atau bertulis hingga akhir zaman,” katanya.
（Tamat）
