Pakatan: Seizure of Malay Bibles stoking tension between Muslims and Christians

Pakatan Rakyat has voiced concern over further straining of ties between Muslims and Christians following the raid yesterday by Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) on the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM), which saw over 300 Malay and Iban Bibles being seized.

PAS Parit Buntar parliamentarian Datuk Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa said that despite the JAIS raid being based on the Selangor Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation Among Muslims) Enactment 1988, the move has tarnished the concept of freedom of religion.

“The question of religious freedom enshrined in our Constitution, that takes Islam as the official religion of the Federation into account, seems to have been tarnished with the action by JAIS, and it also hints at something contrary to the word and command of Allah,” he said.

Mujahid said that the relationship of Muslims with non-muslims should be based on the verse saying that there should be "no compulsion in religion" (Baqarah: 256).

Furthermore, he said, it is an inadequate excuse to simply take action against those who merely use the word “Allah” in their Bibles without solid proof that there were any attempts to undermine the Muslim faith.

“If there is any specific evidence that there are parties spreading or confusing Muslims with the use of the word ‘Allah’, then those involved should be penalized for contravening the spirit of freedom of religion with regard to Islam as the official religion of the Federation," he said.

Mujahid said JAIS should uphold the principle where other religions, including Christians, should be given the rights to preserve their scriptures.

Meanwhile, PKR has offered to be the mediator between all parties involved, saying that the raid by JAIS contradicts core religious principles of religion, the Constitution of Malaysia as well as the concept of democracy.

"Conflict and tension that plague the country today clearly show that communication and understanding between Malaysians – on religion and ethnicity – remained at worrying levels, and requires an immediate solution," said PKR information chief Dr Muhammad Nur Manuty.

Muhammad Nur said PKR is confident that misunderstanding, prejudice between the adherents of Islam and Christianity lately, can be solved in a practical, and harmonious manner. He added that the practice of dialogue was in accordance with the commandments of Allah as contained in the Qur'an.

DAP's publicity chief Tony Pua in commenting on the matter said that the JAIS raid went against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's 10-point solution in 2011 that allowed Christians to use the Malay Bibles in Sabah and Sarawak as well as in the Peninsular.

In yesterday's raid, three BSM officials were also reportedly arrested. They were released after a few hours of questioning.

The Selangor Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation Among Muslims) Enactment 1988 prohibits non-Muslims from using 35 Arabic words in the Selangor state, including the word for God, "Allah”.

Christians comprise about 10 percent of Malaysia's population, or 2.6 million people.

Nearly two-thirds of these Christian are largely Bumiputeras in Sabah and Sarawak, where they use Malay and indigenous languages in their religious practices, including describing God as " Allah" in their prayers and scripture.