Both the attorney-general (AG) and the Selangor Islamic Council (Mais) should decide either to bring charges against two Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) officials, or return the 300 copies of Alkitab which were seized by the Selangor Islamic Enforcement Department (Jais) from the society’s office on Jan 2.

I find it hard to see the logic behind Mais chairperson Mohamad Adzib Mohd Isa’s statement in Utusan Malaysia that the probe on the BSM has yet to be concluded, citing the AG’s request for more information.

To date, none of the two BSM officials have been hauled up for further inquiries at Jais’s office; therefore, what probe is being carried out that takes a longer-than-usual timeframe to conclude the investigation?

In my opinion, Mais should prove the case without a doubt that the Alkitab confiscated from the BSM office and warehouse in Damansara Kim, were indeed used to proselytise to Muslims in Selangor; otherwise, it is nothing but a fitnah, and according to the hadeeth of Samurah in Saheeh al-Bukhaari, the sin is punishable.

If there is no case, as suggested by the menteri besar of Selangor, the AG should instruct Jais to return the Alkitab to the rightful owners and end the episode that has largely soured the relationship between the Christian community and Jais.

Since the BSM exco has turned down the suggestion to write to the AG’s Office, Selangor exco member Elizabeth Wong has written on behalf of the state government to request the AG’s decision on legal perspectives relating to the raid.

On my part, I also appeal to the AG’s Office to close the case with urgency instead of allowing this sensitive issue to fester for too long. At the same time, I also appeal to the sultan of Selangor, who is head of Islam in the state, to instruct Jais and Mais to expedite the closure of the case either way.

Without a case, both Jais and Mais have no business keeping the physical copies of the Alkitab, especially since they were imported with the full approval from the Home Affairs Ministry.

The Christian community at large, whether in Selangor or elsewhere, is not impressed with the way how things have developed in recent years, where race, religion and royalty have been played up time and again.

This raid on the heart of Christianity has indeed rocked the Malaysian church, with pastors and church leaders from both east and peninsular Malaysia rallying together to pray for the country’s politics, which have gone awry.

From the cow head parade in 2008 to the firebombing of churches, water ‘crisis’ in Selangor and the ‘Boston Tea Party’ style of politics, it appears that no issue is spared in one’s quest for lost territories. We are a nation in birth pangs. Unless there is political will at the top to play the game of politics on a level playing field, I can say most of us are waiting to see the day when a new nation is birthed.

10-point pact fails to resolve debacle

A Christian brother of mine from Sarawak has recently raised this issue about the raid with grave concern, asking why the 10-point agreement signed by the prime minister himself has failed to resolve the on-going debacle over the use of the word ‘Allah’.

The prime minister has both the power and the obligation to protect the minorities in this country including Selangor, but until today, he has failed to do so despite his 1Malaysia campaign.

This has led even BSM chairperson Lee Min Choon to think that Selangor and other states with the Islamic enactments similar to the Selangor Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation Among Muslims) Enactment 1988, are no longer safe for Christians who read or carry a copy of the Alkitab.

Even though Lee has decided to move the BSM office out of its own premises in Damansara Kim, there is no guarantee that the BSM will not be raided again by other federal agencies.

Even in Seremban, the Agape Church was not spared from fitnah, when it was accused of using Bahasa Malaysia on Easter buntings to proselytise to the Muslims. The church’s spokesperson later clarified that it was merely following the specifications and requirements set up by the Seremban Municipal Council for outdoor advertisements.

Considering that the Selangor State enactment passed in 1988 was to protect the Muslims in the state against proselytisation, the AG should look at the context in which it is to be interpreted, taking into consideration Article 11 of the federal constitution which assures people of other faiths to have the right and freedom to practice their own religions.

Although the 10-point agreement is non-binding, the spirit of Article 11 should be have been upheld by the cabinet.

I am saddened with the cabinet’s decision of non-interference, unless of course, it is also the cabinet’s stand that Malaysia is a country with two sets of laws.

The AG owes it to the people to answer which set of law takes precedence. Unless Mais has a strong case, otherwise, the onus is on the AG to instruct Jais to do what is necessary to close the episode.

STEPHEN NG is a chemist by training. He dealt with printing ink, paint and emulsion polymer for 15 years before becoming a freelance writer.