PETALING JAYA: Christian groups have welcomed the move by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) to release the 351 Bibles seized from the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM).
Christian Federation of Malaysia chairman Rev Dr Eu Hong Seng said he hoped the country could move forward from this matter and that similar raids would not recur.
“The move to release the Bibles is a good step towards inter-religious harmony. If there are any differences, we can always settle it amicably via discussions,” he said yesterday.
Dr Eu also hoped that the country would adhere to the Government’s 10-point solution.
He was commenting on Jais handing over the 351 seized Malay and Iban language Bibles to the Association of Churches in Sarawak yesterday.
The handing over signals an end to the controversy that began in January this year when Jais raided BSM’s premises in Damansara and seized the Bibles on grounds that it contravened a 1988 Selangor enactment, which prevents non-Muslims from using the word “Allah”.
MIC Youth chief C. Sivarraajh said he welcomed the “long overdue” move by Jais but added that it was “better late than never”.
“It is good that Azmin has found a solution which former Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim could not.
DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang said it was time for Malaysians to take pro-active steps to arrest the racial and religious polarisation.
“Let the amicable resolution of seizure controversy and Malaysia’s assumption of the Asean Chair usher in a virtuous cycle of moderation and make Malaysia an international model of moderation,” he said.
Related stories:
Azmin: Selangor residents should have freedom to practise respective beliefs
Mais chairman hands over seized Bibles to Sarawak church
Ti: It’s the right decision to give Bibles back
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