The importers say the Malay-language Bibles impounded at Port Klang had been stamped with words on its pages without their consent.
The 5,100 Malay-language Bibles which have been impounded at Port Klang for about two years, have been stamped with a Home Ministry reminder on its front pages without the consent of the importers.
According to the importer, the Bible Society of Malaysia, the Home Ministry had stamped the Bibles with words that were different from what was agreed upon between its representatives and the ministry, as stated in a letter on Dec 22, 2005.
Also stamped onto the Bibles were areas to print serial numbers.
In a statement issued late this afternoon, the importer said that it was informed that the ministry had done so when a ministry representative called them to collect the shipment.
"At 5pm today, KDN informed Bible Society of Malaysia that they had already (stamped) the Bibles and asked Bible Society of Malaysia to come collect the bibles," it said.
According to the society, the ministry had stamped spaces for the serial numbers into the Bibles and the words "Al Kitab Berita Baik ini untuk kegunaan penganut agama kristian sahaja" ('This "Al Kitab Berita Baik" is only for use by Christians only.")
'We should have been consulted'
In the 2005 letter, the society added, the ministry had agreed to allow the import of Malay-language Bibles provided that the sign of the cross and the words `Penerbitan Kristian' (Christian publication) be embossed onto the covers by the Christians themselves.
"As the Bible is the holy book of the Christians, due respect should be given to it by consulting the relevant Christian representative organs before any external text is inserted into the Bibles," said the society.
It added that it was "alarmed" by the notification and is now urging the ministry to stop stamping the Bibles with such wordings.
An urgent letter was also faxed to the Home Ministry secretary-general Mahmood Adam urging for a negotiation of the terms of the Bibles' release that will not "mencerobohi maruah (violate the dignity) of the holy books".
Putrajaya had decided to release the Bibles from impoundment yesterday, claiming that it is upholding an 1982 Internal Security Act gazette allowing the import of Malay-language Bibles.
It also claimed that the decision was made upon advice by the attorney-general, who said the Bibles would not impact the government's appeal against the ruling on the use of the word `Allah' by Catholic publication The Herald.
Meanwhile, the Catholic bishop describes the two conditions on 'Al-Kitab' release as crass forms of censorship reminiscent of the communist era.
Catholic bishop Paul Tan Chee Ing has denounced the two conditions imposed by the Home Ministry for the release of detained consignments of 'Al-Kitab' as "crass forms of censorship redolent of the communist era".
bishop paul tanThe president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference, speaking to Malaysiakini in his capacity as titular head of the Malacca-Johor diocese, said the news of the government's release yesterday of the detained consignment was "welcome but the two conditions are plainly unacceptable".
The two conditions, conveyed by the Home Ministry to the importer of the copies in Kuching, were that each copy should carry a serial number and should be stamped 'For Christians Only'.
"The two conditions smack of crass forms of censorship redolent of the communist era when reading material was the monopoly of the reigning oligarchy," decried Bishop Paul.
"The two conditions are flatly unacceptable to Christians who are duty bound to bring the good news of salvation to all who want to listen.
"In Malaysia, we draw a line on this dissemination where Muslims are concerned because the law of the land prohibits proselytising among Muslims.
"In this respect, we defer to Caesar what Caesar has legislated but the two tacked on stipulations in this instance are egregious and flatly unacceptable."
Bishop's analogy
The shipment arrived at Kuching Port on Jan 11, but the consignee was advised against taking it out the following day as the copies contain the word 'Allah'.
The 30,000 copies, costing US$26,400, were printed in Indonesia for distribution to churches, schools and longhouses mostly in Betong and Saratok areas.
Bishop Paul described the two conditions as akin to releasing a prisoner who has been unjustifiably detained and then slapping him with a restricted residence order.
"After telling the prisoner that he is free, you tell him that he has to stay indoors between dusk to dawn," he said.
"You may as well put him back in prison," chided the prelate. - Malaysiakini
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