Speaking on behalf of PKR’s central leadership, Selangor executive councillor Elizabeth Wong said in a statement today that the seizure was “a most unwelcome development” as it would only further serve to damage foreign view of Malaysia as a moderate and fair nation where freedom of religion is concerned.
“More important than the foreign perception of our country, this move is a disservice to the Christian community in Malaysia which long before the country had gained its independence had performed sterling service to the various communities in providing education and healthcare liberally to all regardless of religion, ethnicity and gender,” she said.
Wong criticised the government for taking such extreme measures against one religious community, pointing out that no other community would ever want its religious books treated like illegal items.
“No community will ever want to suffer this indignity of having its sacred scriptures banned and prohibited as though it is some seditious material or a contraband product considered immoral.
“That this has been done repeatedly over so many years is an affront and insult to the religious community concerned and raises very serious questions about the status or religious freedom and respect for other religions in our country,” she said.
Wong added that the latest detention of 30,000 copies of the Bahasa Malaysia translation of the Bible in Kuching had come as a shock, particularly since the High Court had ruled in 2009 that the Catholic newspaper, Herald, could use the word “Allah” in its publications.
The case is however still pending in the appellate courts.
“We call on the federal government to release these 30,000 copies of scriptures with immediate effect and to give its assurance that such an unacceptable action should never again be repeated.
“Those responsible should take full responsibility for bringing the country into disrepute and causing hurt to our own citizens,” she said.
She added that PKR empathised with the “anguish and abhorrence” with which the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM), the country’s umbrella body for the Christian community, had voiced its indignation over the issue.
The Home Ministry has to date detained a total of 35,000 Malay-language Bibles worth RM78,000 in the ports of Klang and Kuching, sparking off anger from the Christian community in Malaysia.
Christians have 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, demanded yesterday that the government immediately release all Bibles detained.
Even Barisan Nasional component party MCA has agreed that “any restraint on the use of the Bible in the national language is tantamount to taking away non-Muslims’ right to practise 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 they can be circulated to churches here with proper supervision so that they will not be used as a political issue during the Sarawak election campaign.
