Leaders appeal for calm

Malay Mail 
by FAIZAL NOR IZHAM

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 3 — Political leaders from both sides of the divide urged the public to remain calm following yesterday’s raid by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) at the Bible Society of Malaysia’s (BSM) premises here.

Copies of both the Malay-language and Iban Bibles that contained the word ʻAllah’ were seized during the raid.

The society’s chairman, Lee Min Choon, and office manager, Sinclair Wong, were taken to a police station for questioning, then released on bail.

 

MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said enforcement groups should not take action without valid reasons as they could create an uproar.

“We still do not know the reasoning behind this and so I urge the relevant authorities to investigate. I’m concerned about this and will look into it myself,” he said.

Former Temerloh MP Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah also asked the people to keep calm while the matter was being handled.

“Malaysians are generally sensible people but when such actions are taken, people become unhappy,” he said.

“We are still getting information as to why Jais has conducted the raid.”

He said two ministers in the Prime Minister’s Department — Tan Sri Joseph Kurup and the minister in charge of Islamic affairs Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom — were in contact with each other over the issue. 

“Also, the National Unity Consultation Council, launched in November, will have its first meeting on Monday. As a member, I will bring up this matter.”

PKR strategic director Rafizi Ramli asked the people to remain calm. 

“This is a delicate issue and it is important to look at it with the facts in hand,” he said.

Local churches also appealed for intervention from the federal and Selangor governments following the raid.

In a statement, the Council of Churches of Malaysia (CCM) said the governments should step in and prevent a repeat of such actions.

“The CCM also calls on the prime minister, the menteri besar of Selangor and all Christian lawmakers to act immediately to stop such actions and future raids,” the statement, signed by the council’s secretary-general, Rev Dr Hermen Shastri, said.

It also noted that the raid had taken place “right at the beginning of the new year” and that it believed “Islamic bodies lack the powers to inspect non-Muslim places”.

“The CCM believes that Islamic authorities do not have the authority in law to enter the premises of non-Muslim religious establishments for inspection,” it said.

It also pointed to the guarantee of freedom to practise and regulate one’s own faith, a right enshrined in the  Federal Constitution.

“The Federal Constitution guarantees by Article 11 (3) the right of religious communities in Malaysia to establish and maintain institutions and premises to freely profess and administer their affairs,” it said.

“The CCM further calls upon the churches in the country to stay calm, and pray that the proper authorities will act with wisdom and sensitivity and protect religious rights as provided under the Federal Constitution.”

Health Minister and MIC deputy president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam hoped the matter could be resolved amicably. 

“Religion is a sensitive and emotional issue. The nation has been built on the basis of understanding, tolerance and mutual respect. I hope all parties will exercise restrain and remain calm,” he said.

“I believe the present situation can be resolved in the spirit of national unity.”