The Home Ministry has banned 35 books. o­ne of which is a translation of the Bible in Iban. The reason for the ban is obvious. Freedom of religion is guaranteed under our constitution but obstacles are often put in its place.

For example, it is common knowledge that local council often rejects building permits for new churches. Christians therefore have no choice but to use shophouses as places for worship. Some existing church buildings are registered for kindergarten rather than as places of worship in order to get the necessary approvals.

Dr M claims that the war in Iraq is a war against Islam. It is therefore ironic that the countries that form the coalition of the willing gives more freedom to their Muslim minority to practise their own religion compared to non-Muslims in Malaysia. Take United Kingdom for example, there are over a million Muslims living there. The large Muslim community is evident by the presence of numerous mosques all over the country. In London, there is a mosque next to Regent's Park, o­ne of the more prominent landmarks in the city. Do you think we can have a church next to KLCC Park?

Closer to home, while passing by a neighbourhood in Jakarta, I cannot help but notice this church immediately behind a mosque. The church was three times bigger than the mosque and was better constructed. I remarked to my Indonesian friend that you would never see this in Malaysia. With the exception of a few fanatics and their followers, some of whom Malaysia had not o­nly welcomed but also granted PR status, Indonesians are generally tolerant of other religions. Almost all churches worship in Bahasa Indonesia and the bibles are printed in the same language.

One then wonders why the government feels so insecure that they see a need to curtail the freedom of its minority to worship freely?