PETALING JAYA: Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim must take full responsibility for failing to resolve the Bible issue, said Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo.
The DAP National Legal Bureau chairman said Khalid’s failure led to the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) relocating its Selangor headquarters to Kuala Lumpur to avoid issues from Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais),
"The Menteri Besar has displayed a total lack of interest and political will in his handling of the issue and this has resulted in a serious loss of faith of not only the Christians but most other Malaysians in his leadership in Selangor," said Gobind in a statement issued on Wednesday.
He added that Khalid had "failed Pakatan Rakyat" as well.
"He has failed to uphold our basic pledge to uphold the rights of minorities in a multi-cultural, multi-racial and multi-religious Selangor and Malaysia. It goes without saying that incidents like these demonstrate Khalid's inability to understand and solve problems which need political courage and strength," he said.
Gobind added that Khalid's response to the BSM issue "begs the question as to whether or not he is politically fit and able enough to continue as Menteri Besar in Selangor."
"Situations like these, needless to say, will cost Pakatan dearly in the next general elections. This is precisely the reason why many have expressed great concern about Khalid’s leadership in Selangor," said Gobind.
At a press conference on Wednesday, PKR leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim told media he had said to Khalid the Bibles could be returned.
"I have said to Khalid, you can return the Bibles giving strong conditions that the Bibles can not, will not be allowed to be distributed among Muslims," said Anwar.
He added such a condition would have been easily agreed to by the Bible Society of Malaysia.
On Tuesday, BSM announced it would relocate its headquarters from Selangor to Kuala Lumpur, citing its disappointment with the state government’s decision not to interfere in the seizure of its Bibles.
Anwar however denied the comments by Gobind signalled fractures in Pakatan Rakyat.
"Pakatan is a democratic party and we allow for disputes,” said Anwar.
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