‘Malaysians free to practise their faith’

PETALING JAYA: The Government’s 10-point solution was introduced as a way to manage Malaysia’s diversity and to protect the rights of Malaysians to practise their religion, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

In his Christmas Day message, he said the Federal Constitution guaranteed the right of all Malaysians to practise their faith.

“And the 10-point solution to address the Bahasa Bible and other related issues – that was agreed upon in 2011, and which must be consistent with state laws – was introduced as a way to manage our diversity and protect this right,” he said yesterday.

Among others, the 10-point solution allowed for Malay language Bibles to be imported and printed in Sabah and Sarawak but such holy books in peninsular Malaysia must have the words “Christian Publication” and a cross sign printed on the front covers.

Najib said he was proud of the peace and harmony the country had achieved since 1957.

“Regardless of our ethnicity, culture or religion, Malaysians respect each other’s religious festivals together in solidarity.

“This Christmas, let us once again come together in the spirit of harmony, acceptance and respect, and celebrate the diversity that makes Malaysia so exceptional,” he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin reminded all parties to show civility and good ethics and respect for the law in discussing inter-religious matters.

“We should always be rational, set aside our suspicions and prejudices, and find common grounds.

“Hopefully, the understanding and peaceful living that we have fostered all this while is our source of strength that contributes to the nation’s development,” he said in his message.

Muhyiddin said as a plural society, Malaysians should be grateful as each religious celebration could be enjoyed with merriment in a climate of peace and harmony.

“If we look back at the history of the major civilisations of the world, we will find multi-racial communities whose respect for each other was the source of the civilisations’ progress.

“The harmonious relations between the Muslim and Christian communities in Andalusia during the rule of the Islamic Caliphate was a fine example of peaceful co-existence, which was the source of strength for the Islamic civilisation at that time,” Muhyiddin added.