Last ditch bid to defend S'wak: BN says importers agree to collect Alkitab

In what is seen as a last ditch bid to prevent Sarawak from falling into the hands of the Pakatan Rakyat, the BN federal government said its 10-point solution has successfully paved the way for the release of 35,100 Malay-language Bibles or Alkitab which had been detained at Port Klang and Kuching.

But the late night statement from Idris Jala, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, directly contradicts the comments made by Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud, who claimed he was the one who broke the impasse.

"It was I who talked to the prime minister. I said to him that it was a stupid idea to stamp serial numbers. I told him it should be stopped and he said 'yes I agree and I'll put a stop to it'. So he went and stopped the serial numbers. Now there's no more of this nonsense," Taib had been reported as saying on Saturday.

The 10-points solution was proposed by Idris last week. When it was first announced, the government-controlled media immediately declared the impasse broken.

But Christians condemned the solution offered as it divided their community - with no conditions placed on the import of the Alkitab in East Malaysia while in the peninsula, the front cover still had to be stamped with the words "Christian Publication" and the sign of the cross had to be displayed prominently.

BSM grovels?

Saturday's statement from Idris is also perceived as being "fishy" because it portrays importer Bible Society of Malaysia in a grovelling light.

"BSM deeply appreciates the Government's 10-point solution which is not only an affirmation of the 2005 agreement but also includes additional safeguards to ensure that incidents that have recently been the bone of contention should not happen again," Idris quoted BSM president Lee Min Choon as having said.

"BSM is also deeply touched by the Government's humility in admitting to shortcomings in the handling of the Bibles in Bahasa Malaysia and Indonesia issue and its request for forgiveness, and BSM, without hesitation, forgives."

While Bible importers may have been pressured to collect the Alkitab, it does not mean that Christian leaders approve of the 10-points plan. In fact, they have already rejected it.

"BSM does not speak for Christians or the Church. It is a commercial entity - an importer of Christian literature and that's it," Rev Thomas Philips, a member of the Christian Federation of Malaysia and head of inter-faith group MCCBCHST told Malaysia Chronicle.

Winds of change arrive in Sarawak

According to pundits, the haste with which Idris and the Prime Minister's Department was reacting showed their panic as Sarawakian are giving strong indication of being swept by the Pakatan, which a day ago had issued a stunning 10-point manifesto.

"Frankly, this looks like another bad move by the BN. To me, they just don't get it. Malaysians don't want this sort of stage-managed nonsense anymore. The people are not stupid. They are fed up of all the lies and the conspiracies and yet even at this late hour, the BN is pulling another quick one and over the Holy Book too," PKR vice president Tian Chua told Malaysia Chronicle.

Meanwhile, according to Idris, Home Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Mahmood Adam said BSM has already collected the 5,100 Bibles in Port Klang.

It also said Gideon had officially informed Idris and Home Ministry officials that they would collect all the 30,000 Bibles impounded in Kuching.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein too has welcomed the “positive development”. Hisham also distributed responsibility for the 10-point solution to the rest of the Cabinet.

“I appreciate the positive and considerate attitude taken by the Bible Society of Malaysia and Gideon in dealing with this matter. I wish to confirm that the 10-point solution is a collective Cabinet decision,” said Hisham in the statement release by Idris.

Malaysia Chronicle appends below the press statement by Idris Jala on the Malay Bible issue

The Government confirmed that the 10 point solution has successfully paved the way for the release of the 35,100 Bibles in Bahasa Malaysia which were impounded in Port Klang and Kuching.

The two importers/owners of these Bibles are Bible Society of Malaysia, the legal owners of the 5,100 Bibles impounded in Port Klang and Gideon, the importer of the 30,000 Bibles in Kuching.

According to Home Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Mahmood Adam: "The Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) has already collected the 5,100 Bibles in Port Klang."

Lee Min Choon, President of BSM said that they welcomed the 10-point solution and added that "BSM deeply appreciates the Government's 10-point solution which is not only an affirmation of the 2005 agreement but also includes additional safeguards to ensure that incidents that have recently been the bone of contention should not happen again."

BSM is also deeply touched by the Government's humility in admitting to shortcomings in the handling of the Bibles in Bahasa Malaysia and Indonesia issue and its request for forgiveness, and BSM, without hesitation, forgives.

BSM also releases the Government of any obligation, legal or moral, to compensate BSM for the 5,000 copies of the bible that cannot be sold and leaves this matter to the goodwill and judgment of the Government.

BSM also welcomes the Government's commitment to work with all religious groups to address inter-religious issues. This will be especially significant as BSM seeks the Government's cooperation in the forthcoming task to replenish supplies of the Bibles to Bahasa Malaysia-speaking Christians who have been without these scriptures for the past few years.

In this respect, BSM requests that the Government consult BSM, as the principal producer and importer of the Bahasa Malaysia/Indonesia Bible, directly on any issues involving the said Bibles.

In response to the 10-point solution, Gideon has officially informed Datuk Seri Idris Jala and officials of the Home Ministry (KDN) that they will collect all the 30,000 Bibles impounded in Kuching.

They have written to request KDN officials to stamp the words "Invalidated by KDN" over the existing stamp which was previously put on the Bibles. KDN officials are now going through the process of stamping all the 30,000 Bibles with the words "Invalidated by KDN".

Once this is done, Gideon will collect the Bibles.

Idris Jala met with the Association of Churches of Sarawak (ACS) in Kuching on April 9 to explain the 10-point solution put in place by the Government.

During the meeting, he confirmed to the Christian group that the 10-point solution was a collective decision of the Cabinet and also handed a copy of the directive issued by the cecretary-general of the Home Ministry to inform KDN officials of the decision of the Government which requires their full compliance.

He mentioned during the meeting: "In Sarawak and Sabah, there should be no issue at all. No stamp, no serial numbers. The bibles can be printed and can be imported without any restriction whatsoever".

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said: "This is indeed a positive development. I appreciate the positive and considerate attitude taken by the Bible Society of Malaysia and Gideon in dealing with this matter. I wish to confirm that the 10 point solution is a collective cabinet decision".

- Malaysia Chronicle