DAP: Selangor govt failed minorities by ignoring Bible group move

DAP today said that the Selangor government has ‘failed’ to uphold the rights of minorities following the move by the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) to shift its offices to Kuala Lumpur.

Two top DAP leaders from Selangor expressed their disappointment at the Selangor state government’s “complete indifference” over the matter, zeroing in on Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim.

“The Menteri Besar has failed Pakatan Rakyat… in that he has failed to uphold our basic pledge to uphold the rights of minorities in a multi-cultural, multi-racial and multi-religious Selangor and Malaysia,” said Selangor DAP deputy chairman Gobind Singh Deo in a statement.

Gobind called on Khalid to take full responsibility for Selangor’s failure to solve the bible issue that resulted in BSM moving to Kuala Lumpur to avoid reach of the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (JAIS).

In January, JAIS raided BSM and seized over 300 Malay-language and Iban-language bibles containing the word “Allah”.

Earlier this month, Khalid said the state government has decided not to interfere in the ongoing controversy over the seized bibles, saying that it is up to BSM to officially write to the Attorney-General (AG) Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail to have the holy books returned.

BSM yesterday said it will move its headquarters to federal government-ruled Kuala Lumpur to get “better protection” and avoid future bible seizures by religious authorities.

“The Menteri Besar has displayed a total lack of interest and political will in his handling of the issue and this has resulted in a serious loss of faith not only from Christians but Malaysians as a whole in his leadership of Selangor,” said Gobind.

Alleging that this demonstrates the menteri besar’s “inability to understand and solve problems”, Gobind questioned if Khalid was “fit and able enough” to continue as the chief of the state.

Gobind said that this situation will cost Pakatan Rakyat in the next general elections, echoing the sentiment of Selangor DAP chairman Tony Pua.

Said Pua today: “The Selangor State Government must not take our overwhelming majority in the last general election for granted by failing to protect the basic rights and interests of the minority.”

Since the January raid conducted by Selangor Religious Authorities Department (JAIS), which reports to the Selangor Religious Council (MAIS) headed by the Sultan, the state government has issued various “vague promises” to help resolve the crisis, said Pua.

“There was however, a distinct lack of urgency or pro-active responses to deliver an acceptable solution for all parties, or at the very least, defend the rights of the victims.

“BSM’s decision to move embarrassed not only the state government but also Pakatan Rakyat in our ability and sincerity in upholding the rights of minorities in a multi-cultural, multi-racial and multi-religious Selangor and Malaysia,” said Pua.

“There can be no bigger insult to the injury Pakatan Rakyat suffered when BSM President Mr Lee Min Choon justified that move by claiming that ‘Putrajaya offers better protection to religious minorities’.”

Pua said that Pakatan Rakyat’s position over the term “Allah” cannot be any clearer.

“The term can be used by other religions like Christianity and Sikhism – as it has been for centuries, but must not be abused. In particular, the term shall not be abused for the purposes of propagation to Muslims, a position we respect as part of the Constitution,” he said.

However, Pua said Khalid was wrong to “nonchalantly” wish BSM “all the best”, he was also wrong to simply say that the state respects the law and the rights of everybody.

“With all due respect, Tan Sri Khalid cannot be more wrong. There are good laws, and there are laws which leave plenty of room for improvement. It is the responsibility of the Pakatan Rakyat government to uphold good laws, while seeking to improve the laws which does not reflect the position of the coalition, or the interest of the rakyat.”

Pua called on the Selangor state government to “display political courage and demonstrate moral leadership in standing up for what we believe in”, warning that if Pakatan fails, then it can “kiss our Putrajaya ambitions goodbye”.