Ban on Iban Bible lifted

BY MAZWIN NIK ANIS AND NORULHUDA OTHMAN

JOHOR BARU: The Government has lifted the ban on Bup Kudus, the Iban-language Bible, but advised parties to exercise care when translating religious works. 

Acting Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the issue in question – the use of the word Allah Tala for God in the Iban language – had been resolved. 

The ban is lifted with immediate effect. 

He said the book was banned as the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) felt the use of Allah Tala, which was similar to Muslims' Allah Taala, was inappropriate. 

“When I consulted the Council of Churches, I was told the word had been used by the community as a reference to God for a very long time. 

“Since the word is found in the Iban Bible only, I don't see the reason why it should be banned,” he said.  

“There is no reason to ban it and cause anger among the community,” he told a press conference after a briefing by Gerbang Perdana Sdn Bhd, the developer for the new Customs and Immigration Complex and the new bridge to replace the causeway. 

Bup Kudus, which had been used by the Iban Christians for the past 15 years, was banned on April 9 because the Home Ministry's Film Censorship and Publication Control Division felt that it breached the guidelines for non-Islamic religious books. 

The Association of Churches in Sarawak and the Malaysian Council of Churches had appealed for the ban to be lifted. 

Abdullah, who is Home Minister, stressed that the Government had not only banned books on Christianity or other religions but also those on Islam. 

“We must ensure that religious books available in the country is not extreme and does not touch on the sensitivity of other religions, especially Islam,” he said. 

On another matter, Abdullah said foreign magazines, especially those that had published slanderous reports about Malaysia, would be subjected to more stringent scrutiny before it could be sold. 

Although the Government had always been stringent in controlling the distribution of foreign publications, he said it would be stricter with those with a history of publishing inaccurate reports about the country.On the new CIQ and bridge, Abdullah was pleased with the progress of the project, which would be completed by October 2005. 

“The Government will provide the finances for this project as we deem it an important one.”