BY BARU BIAN, PKR CHIEF, SARAWAK
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
I have been informed today by the Consignee of the 30,000 BM Bibles seized or impounded at the Kuching Port that two conditions had been imposed by the officer from the Kementerian Dalam Negeri (KDN). These conditions are:
1 That each Bible be chopped or stamped with “For Christians Only”; and
2 That the said Bibles be stamped with serial numbers.
In the midst of a seemingly compromising gesture from the BN Government in lined with what they called “1Malaysia spirit” it had been announced that the 30,000 BM Bibles are now purportedly released. From the newspaper, I sensed that some of the BN leaders were not too sure whether the order to release the Bibles was according to the law or not. In the meantime, some naïve Christians applauded and celebrated the announcement without knowing the conditions imposed on the purported release. I strongly sense that the BN leaders in particular UMNO leaders are not too certain that the release is altogether legal. They are saying that this is permissible because Sarawak has no official religion and no State Enactment that prohibits the use of the word “Allah”.
LET’S MAKE NO MISTAKE that all these are mere politicking gesture to appease the huge number of Christians in Sarawak as the State Election looms. The decision to release the said Bibles is not because of our accorded rights enshrined under Article 11 of the Federal Constitution but a political exercise to please Sarawakian Christians. Therefore as a Christian PKR leader in Sarawak, I wish to make the following stand:
1. That the two conditions proposed by the KDN officer(s) are unwarranted, unlawful, illegal and unconstitutional.
2. The freedom of the use of BM Bibles should NOT only be allowed or lawful and permissible for the state of Sarawak but throughout Malaysia as guaranteed under article 11 of the Federal Constitution. This freedom of religion includes not only the right to profess but to propagate one’s belief and the educating and upbringing of members in the faith. These Bibles are therefore necessary for the above purposes.
3. That such conditions imposed are deemed a restriction and harassment of our religious freedom in Malaysia and a blatant misuse and abuse of powers by the relevant authorities. No one should be allowed to dictate the Christians as to how they should use their Holy Scriptures, just as no other holy books of other faiths should be tampered with.
4. Lastly, if the government is serious and sincere about resolving this issue once and for all then they should not only release these Bibles but must withdraw their appeal in the Herald Case and admit their unlawful act in the SIB’s case, both pending in Court.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
I have been informed today by the Consignee of the 30,000 BM Bibles seized or impounded at the Kuching Port that two conditions had been imposed by the officer from the Kementerian Dalam Negeri (KDN). These conditions are:
1 That each Bible be chopped or stamped with “For Christians Only”; and
2 That the said Bibles be stamped with serial numbers.
In the midst of a seemingly compromising gesture from the BN Government in lined with what they called “1Malaysia spirit” it had been announced that the 30,000 BM Bibles are now purportedly released. From the newspaper, I sensed that some of the BN leaders were not too sure whether the order to release the Bibles was according to the law or not. In the meantime, some naïve Christians applauded and celebrated the announcement without knowing the conditions imposed on the purported release. I strongly sense that the BN leaders in particular UMNO leaders are not too certain that the release is altogether legal. They are saying that this is permissible because Sarawak has no official religion and no State Enactment that prohibits the use of the word “Allah”.
LET’S MAKE NO MISTAKE that all these are mere politicking gesture to appease the huge number of Christians in Sarawak as the State Election looms. The decision to release the said Bibles is not because of our accorded rights enshrined under Article 11 of the Federal Constitution but a political exercise to please Sarawakian Christians. Therefore as a Christian PKR leader in Sarawak, I wish to make the following stand:
1. That the two conditions proposed by the KDN officer(s) are unwarranted, unlawful, illegal and unconstitutional.
2. The freedom of the use of BM Bibles should NOT only be allowed or lawful and permissible for the state of Sarawak but throughout Malaysia as guaranteed under article 11 of the Federal Constitution. This freedom of religion includes not only the right to profess but to propagate one’s belief and the educating and upbringing of members in the faith. These Bibles are therefore necessary for the above purposes.
3. That such conditions imposed are deemed a restriction and harassment of our religious freedom in Malaysia and a blatant misuse and abuse of powers by the relevant authorities. No one should be allowed to dictate the Christians as to how they should use their Holy Scriptures, just as no other holy books of other faiths should be tampered with.
4. Lastly, if the government is serious and sincere about resolving this issue once and for all then they should not only release these Bibles but must withdraw their appeal in the Herald Case and admit their unlawful act in the SIB’s case, both pending in Court.
No comments:
Post a Comment