Selangor government should return seized Bibles

Apr 10, 2014

PETALING JAYA: The Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) has joined the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) in urging the Selangor government to call for the return of the Bibles which were confiscated by the Selangor Islamic Department (Jais) early this year.

Its chairman Rev Dr Eu Hong Seng said the CFM is disappointed with the state government’s attempt to “wash its hands” of the Jais raid at the BSM premises on January 2 and the seizure of more than 300 Bibles in Bahasa Malaysia (Al-Kitab) and Iban (Bup Kudus).

“The fact remains that Jais had acted under powers purportedly given to it by a State enactment. These Bibles remain in their possession,” he said in a statement on Apr 4.

On Apr 2, Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim advised BSM to write to the Attorney-General for the return of the Bibles, saying that the state exco had agreed that BSM take this course of action.

 “We suggest this as under the present circumstances it would be best for them to write to the attorney-general. This is also to show that the BSM is keen to get back the seized copies,” he had said.

Calling Khalid’s statement “unacceptable”, Eu said it was nothing short of “passing the buck.”

“The Selangor state government is duty bound to act in this matter and must not shirk its responsibility. Order the return of the Bibles now,” he said.

In response to Khalid’s statement, BSM said it will not write to the A-G as was suggested, adding that it considered the latest statement as the state “washing their hands of the problem”.

“The action of Jais in raiding BSM and the move by the state government today, washing their hands of their responsibility, is a clear statement to the people that Selangor rejects the 10-Points Solution,” it said.

It claimed that the Selangor exco had made many promises to return the Bibles and reiterated its call to the state government to correct this unjust situation.

“BSM was raided by Jais, a Selangor government department. The Bibles are held by Jais in their office in Shah Alam, a stone’s throw from the menteri besar’s office,” BSM said on Apr 2.

“So, this problem was caused by a department of the Selangor state government.”

CFM, on Apr 4, concurred with BSM, saying that Jais officers are authorised to act only after consultation and on the advice of the Selangor State Government.

“The Selangor state government is accountable as in the raid of BSM, Jais acted as an agency of the Selangor State Government. It is therefore perverse that Selangor is now asking BSM to look to the Attorney-General to resolve this matter.”

“It is a ludicrous suggestion that Jais had the necessary power to seize the Bibles, but that it is only with the approval and authorisation of the Attorney-General that these very same Bibles can be released,” Eu added.

Khalid’s advice to the BSM comes as a surprise as on Mar 31, Khalid had said the state was in the final stages of finding a solution to the matter.

“Of course it is almost completed, not much longer now,” he had said previously.

DAP Serdang MP Dr Ong Kian Ming said in a statement that Khalid should not abdicate his responsibility of seeking a fair and just solution to the Bible seizure.

He also reminded the MB that they have not heard the outcome of the JAIS investigation into the BM and Iban Bibles which the MB had needed to be completed before the Selangor state government decided on the next course of action. We urge the MB to request JAIS for more timely updates on the progress of this investigation and whether it is necessary for ALL 300 copies of the BM and Iban Bibles to be kept while the investigation is ongoing. -- The Malaysian Insider/ Agencies