Bibles now, non-Muslim weddings next?

MAIP raiding hotel rooms of non-Muslim guests to search for non-Muslim holy books and paraphernalia is scary.

PETALING JAYA: Non-Muslims book hotels in Pahang for weddings and prayer sessions and it is wrong to ban the bible or other holy scriptures at such premises, which is also against civil law, the MCA said today.

Pahang MCA chairman and central committee member Ti Lian Ker said the Pahang Islamic and Malay Customs Council’s (MAIP) directive to ban  non-Muslim scriptures in hotels was another attempt by the Islamic authorities to infringe on the rights of others.

Ti said the thought of MAIP raiding the rooms of non-Muslim guests to search the luggage or handbags for non-Muslim holy books and paraphernalia was scary.

“We are concerned that MAIP may become overzealous and target non-Muslim hotel guests or staff who may don pendants with religious symbols on bangles or bracelets,” he said.

On March 6, MAIP issued letters to 147 hotels in the state prohibiting hotel operators from placing holy books of any religion other than Islam.

The letters were issued under the Control and Restriction of the Propagation of Non-Islamic Religions Among Muslims Enactment 1989.

MAIP deputy president Wan Abdul Wahid Wan Hassan was reported saying that placing non-Muslim scriptures in hotel rooms could be regarded as an act of spreading other religious beliefs to Muslims.

Ti said hotels were registered with the Companies Commission of Malaysia and MAIP’s order could be perceived as encroaching into civil law.

“We are also worried that the directive may trigger a backlash from the business community, which may affect tourism and foreign direct investment to the state,” said Ti.

MCA publicity bureau deputy chairman Marco Yap said Muslims and non-Muslims would sometimes use hotel convention centres to conduct prayer sessions or weddings.

“Is MAIP going to ban priests and monks from blessing newly-married couples holding their wedding reception at the hotel banquet hall?” he asked.

Stop unilateral decisions

Council of Churches general secretary Hermen Shastri said such matters should be tabled in the Pahang state assembly instead of being decided by one department.

“Our elected representatives are there in the state assembly. We cannot have one department making a unilateral decision,” he said.

Herald editor Andrew Lawrence said the concern of one’s religion should be the orphans and the poor, not where holy books were being placed.

“The light of all religions should shine from that reality,” he said.