DAP, PAS assemblymen take aim at Putrajaya, Selangor over seized Bibles
BY JAMILAH KAMARUDIN
APRIL 09, 2014
The Pakatan Rakyat-led Selangor government and Putrajaya drew criticism from two of its assemblymen over the handling of the Bible seizure by the state religious affairs deparment (Jais).
DAP’s Damansara assemblyman Yeo Bee Yin said the Selangor government and Putrajaya did not seem to be committed to resolving the issue.
"Both seem to be trying to wash their hands off the issue. The Bible seizure issue is not a racial or religious issue but something which involves basic human rights which is guaranteed by the Federal Constitution," Yeo lamented debating the royal address.
Yeo said Article 11 of the Federal Constitution guaranteed Malaysians the freedom to practice their respective religions.
"The Al-Kitab (pic) and Bup Kudus which were seized from the offices of the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) has become an issue being kicked here and there by the state government and Federal government.
"This is a moral issue and authorities should not try to avoid it.
"A proactive and sincere approach should be adopted to ensure the return of the 321 seized Al-Kitab and Bup Kudus as soon as possible," Yeo said.
PAS Taman Templer assemblyman Zaidy Abdul Talib chided the state government over the issue.
"The state government should set the example in properly administering to the needs of the various religions and races in Selangor."
He said if Pakatan Rakyat was committed in its march towards Putrajaya via the "Kajang Move", the issue of handling various religious and ethnic issues should also be dealt with by the state government.
"After several decades of independence, it is impossible we still do not understand cultural and religious traditions," Zaidy said.
Selangor Menteri Besar last week drew criticism when he told the BSM to write to the Federal government to get back the seized Bibles.
The BSM said the Selangor government was washing its hands of the problem and insisted it would not write to the AG.
In a statement, BSM said that the Selangor government had made many promises to return the Bibles.
"This problem was caused by a department of the Selangor state government," the BSM said.
"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 Khalid's office."
Describing the original raid by Jais as an "assault by Selangor authorities against the rights of the Christian community in the state," BSM urged the state government to correct this unjust situation.
The BSM said it adhered to the 10-point solution.
"We have imported the Bibles in Bahasa Malaysia many times over the past two years, and the Federal government has kept its side of the deal by having the Bibles promptly cleared and released without delay," BSM said.
"Therefore, 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 of Selangor that Selangor rejects the 10-point solution," BSM said.
The society also expressed its belief that the MB's statement showed that the state government does not intend to accord Christians in Selangor, as well as the rest of Malaysia, access to their holy books in the national language. – April 9, 2014.
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