The Sun
PETALING JAYA (March 13, 2011): The consignment of 30,000 bibles in Bahasa Indonesia is being held at Port Klang and Kuching Port due to a pending court case.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said the withholding of the books was due to the pending appeal by the Catholic Herald over the use of the word "Allah" in its publication -- as this term is used in the Bahasa Melayu and Bahasa Indonesia texts.
"The ministry have since sought the advice of the Attorney-General and the matter is being resolved amicably with the parties concerned," he said, adding that the issue is expected to be resolved in the next few days.
A 2009 High Court ruling had allowed the Catholic Church to use the word “Allah” in the Malay-language section of its news publication, sparking off a series of arson attacks on houses of worship.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said the withholding of the books was due to the pending appeal by the Catholic Herald over the use of the word "Allah" in its publication -- as this term is used in the Bahasa Melayu and Bahasa Indonesia texts.
"The ministry have since sought the advice of the Attorney-General and the matter is being resolved amicably with the parties concerned," he said, adding that the issue is expected to be resolved in the next few days.
A 2009 High Court ruling had allowed the Catholic Church to use the word “Allah” in the Malay-language section of its news publication, sparking off a series of arson attacks on houses of worship.
The ministry then filed an appeal on the decision in February last year and won a stay, pending a decision by Court of Appeal.
Urging all parties not to listen to wild allegations, Hishammuddin, in a statement today, stressed that the ministry will act based on the law.
He also tried to assure Christians that the bibles are being kept in good condition.
The Home Minister's statement comes following criticisms from the Christian community as well as the Sarawak Government which had demanded that the bibles be released immediately.
Meanwhile, the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) said the 30,000 copies of 'Perjanjian Baru, Mazmur and Amsal' also known as the New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs, which cost US$26,000 (RM78,000) were meant for Christians in Sarawak.
CFM chairman Bishop Ng Moon Hing claimed that since March 2009, all attempts to import the bible in Bahasa Malaysia through Port Klang and Port of Kuching have been thwarted by the authorities.
"The previous consignment of 5,000 copies of the Alkitab imported in March 2009 is still being held by the Ministry of Home Affairs in Port Klang," Ng said in a statement.
"This is despite repeated appeals which resulted in the Prime Minister making a decision to release the Alkitab in Port Klang in December 2009 which was reported to CFM leaders by several Cabinet Ministers and their aides.
Ng claimed the Prime Minister was informed about the matter during a hi-tea event last Christmas and despite being assured of its release, nothing has been done by the authorities.
"It would appear as if the authorities are waging a continuous, surreptitious and systematic programme against the Christians in Malaysia to deny them access to the Bible in Bahasa Malaysia," he said.
"This is the Christian holy book. If Christians are not allowed to read the holy book in their own language, then we can’t talk about religious freedoms,” he added, referring to the Bumiputera Christians whom he said formed the biggest segment of believers in the country.
Christians make up close to 10% of Malaysia’s 28 million population with large numbers in Sarawak and Sabah, where the Bahasa Malaysia is used in sermons in churches. -- theSun
Urging all parties not to listen to wild allegations, Hishammuddin, in a statement today, stressed that the ministry will act based on the law.
He also tried to assure Christians that the bibles are being kept in good condition.
The Home Minister's statement comes following criticisms from the Christian community as well as the Sarawak Government which had demanded that the bibles be released immediately.
Meanwhile, the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) said the 30,000 copies of 'Perjanjian Baru, Mazmur and Amsal' also known as the New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs, which cost US$26,000 (RM78,000) were meant for Christians in Sarawak.
CFM chairman Bishop Ng Moon Hing claimed that since March 2009, all attempts to import the bible in Bahasa Malaysia through Port Klang and Port of Kuching have been thwarted by the authorities.
"The previous consignment of 5,000 copies of the Alkitab imported in March 2009 is still being held by the Ministry of Home Affairs in Port Klang," Ng said in a statement.
"This is despite repeated appeals which resulted in the Prime Minister making a decision to release the Alkitab in Port Klang in December 2009 which was reported to CFM leaders by several Cabinet Ministers and their aides.
Ng claimed the Prime Minister was informed about the matter during a hi-tea event last Christmas and despite being assured of its release, nothing has been done by the authorities.
"It would appear as if the authorities are waging a continuous, surreptitious and systematic programme against the Christians in Malaysia to deny them access to the Bible in Bahasa Malaysia," he said.
"This is the Christian holy book. If Christians are not allowed to read the holy book in their own language, then we can’t talk about religious freedoms,” he added, referring to the Bumiputera Christians whom he said formed the biggest segment of believers in the country.
Christians make up close to 10% of Malaysia’s 28 million population with large numbers in Sarawak and Sabah, where the Bahasa Malaysia is used in sermons in churches. -- theSun
1 comment:
There will be NO court case, if the umno govt did not impose the ruling .
And so, the churches went to the court and the high court rules in favour to the churches.
It ended there and then.
But umno govt went to file an appeal against the High court ruling.
It is another way of the umno govt saying Fuck You.
Pardon my choice of word there, but that is the most appropriate word and direct word that all of you can understand.
The word FUCK is found in the Wikipedia ( incase the church people are too naive or too shy to learn up the F word )
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