In his statement today, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein claimed the detention of 35,000 Malay-language bibles in Port Klang and Kuching port had been due to its pending court appeal over Catholic newspaper The Herald’s use of the word “Allah” in its publications.
But he gave his assurance that the matter would be resolved amicably among all concerned parties within the next few days to avoid turning it into an “emotive and polemic” issue.
“The appeal has yet to be heard by the court to resolve the bigger issue of content one way or the other.
“In respect of the bibles from Port Klang and Kuching Port, the ministry has since sought and obtained the advice of the Attorney-General and the two matters are being resolved amicably with the parties concerned, based on this advice, in the next few days,” he said.
He cited the example of the Sibu by-election last year, when rumours were spread that some “irresponsible groups” had seized and burned the bibles.
“These lies were clearly indented to stoke religious and racial emotions for political considerations,” he said.
Hishammuddin also accused opposition parties of using the protracted bible row as campaign fodder with an eye firmly on the impending Sarawak election, which must be called not later than the middle of the year.
The minister was responding to calls from various parties for the release of 35,000 Malay-language bibles worth RM78,000 presently detained in Port Klang and Kuching Port.
Hishammuddin’s ministry had come under fire for impounding the holy books as many parties have described the move as an infringement of the constitutional guarantee to freedom of religion in the country.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has also been dragged into the row, with Christian groups now blaming his administration for the intractable response to their repeated petitions for the bibles’ release.
The Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) has also lashed out at the federal government for what they see as a systematic move to deny their religious rights enshrined in the country’s highest law.
The CFM, which represents 90 per cent of churches here, as well other political parties including DAP and PKR have demanded the immediate release of all Bibles detained.
Barisan Nasional component party MCA has also agreed that “any restraint on the use of the Bible in the national language is tantamount to taking away non-Muslims’ right to practice one’s faith”.
In a recent statement, MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek suggested that Malay-language Bibles be printed locally by government-approved printers so that it can be circulated to churches here with proper supervision so that it will not be used as a political issue during the Sarawak election campaign.
Yesterday, Sarawak’s Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan had called for the bibles’ immediate release, saying the state government could not understand the rationale behind such treatment of the Bible or why the Bahasa Malaysia version could not be imported into the country.
In justifying the seizures, the ministry claimed that it was adhering to a 1986 Cabinet decision disallowing non-Muslims from using words like “Allah”.
A 2009 High Court ruling, however, had allowed the Catholic Church to use the word “Allah” in the Malay-language section of its news publication, sparking off a series of attacks on houses of worship nationwide.
The ministry has since filed an appeal on the decision in February last year and won a stay, pending a decision by Court of Appeal.
