1.The Malaysian Insight(http://www.themalaysianinsight.com/s/23755/)
Dewan Bahasa Bible not Mais’ idea, says council head
by Diyana Ibrahim
20 November 2017
THE proposal for Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) to provide a translation of the Malay Bible, or Al-Kitab, did not come from the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais), said chairman Mohamad Adzib Mohd Isa.
He said Mais did not know about the proposal, made by its lawyer, Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla, as the council had never issued any instructions on the matter.
"No, translating the Bible into Bahasa Malaysia is not our suggestion. It is not Mais’ stand Share this quote Share this quote,” Adzib told The Malaysian Insight.
“We never held any discussions or gave instructions on Bible translations.”Haniff is Mais' counsel in Sarawakian Jill Ireland’s suit against the government over the constitutional right to use the word “Allah” for “God” in Christian publications.
He proposed that DBP come up with an official translation of the Bible in Bahasa Malaysia on the grounds that Christians in Sabah and Sarawak had been using the word wrongly.
Adzib, who was asked to comment on Haniff’s proposal and whether it had been the council’s suggestion, said Mais had yet to decide whether it should ask the lawyer for an explanation.
“We do not know why, I am not sure why he said that, but that is his stand as a lawyer. So far, we can verify that it is not Mais’ official stand.”
Haniff told The Malaysian Insight that he stood by his statement and welcomed “intellectual feedback” to his proposal.
He also refused to apologise to Christian leaders who had taken offence at his suggestion.
There has been protest from Christians groups, such as the Christian Federation of Malaysia, which today said Haniff’s proposal was an infringement of the constitutional rights of religious groups to manage their own affairs and holy scriptures.
Inter-faith group the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism said Haniff was being illogical, and if DBP were allowed to translate the Bible, other holy books might suffer the same fate. – November 20, 2017.
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2.The Malaysian Insight (https://www.themalaysianinsight.com/s/23689/)
Top Christian body slams proposal for Dewan Bahasa Malay bible
20 November 2017
THE outcry against a lawyer’s suggestion that Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) provide an official translation of the Al-Kitab or Malay bible continues, with the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) calling it an infringement of the Federal Constitution.
CFM chairman Archbishop Julian Leow Beng Kim said the suggestion by Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla was patronising and also a “heinous” offence against Christians who believe that Scripture is divinely inspired.
Haniff is the counsel for the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) in Sarawakian Jill Ireland’s suit against the government over the constitutional right to use the word “Allah” for “God” in Christian publications.
He proposed that DBP do an official translation of the Bible in Malay on grounds that Christians in Sabah and Sarawak have been wrongly using the word. Haniff later told The Malaysian Insight that he stood by his statement.
“This is patently another attempt to infringe upon the constitutional right of Christians, as enshrined in Article 11 (3) of the Federal Constitution, to manage their own religious affairs.
“The Holy Bible and the Al-Kitab in Bahasa Malaysia form part of the sacred patrimony of Christians and any attempt by any person not authorised by the Christian churches to provide an authoritative version will be firmly rejected,” Leow said in a statement.
“This is not just an outrage to Christians and their sensibilities. It will be a most heinous form of offence against what all Christians believe to be divinely inspired scriptures, the word of God.”
Leow said “Allah” has been used “since time immemorial” by local Christians as well as those in the Middle East.
The archbishop said everyone should remember the recent statement by Selangor’s ruler, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, that all the state’s citizens should respect the main principles in the Federal Constitution for the country’s harmony and peace.
He also said Malaysians should remember the statement on October 10 by the Conference of Rulers which upheld the core principles of the Constitution which were drafted based on the country’s religious and ethnic diversity.
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