Catholic bishop Dr Paul Tan Chee Ing welcomed as "enlightened" the stance of the PAS Ulama Council that called for the unconditional release of the impounded copies of Al-Kitab at ports in Kuching and Port Klang.

bishop paul tan chee ing Speaking to Malaysiakini in his capacity as bishop of Melaka-Johor diocese, the prelate, who is also president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Malaysia, said:

"Christians must be glad that there are political parties in the country that are able to extract this issue from the emotive context in which it has, unfortunately, been embedded."

He elaborated: "We see this issue as one of faith education and fostering, not of proselytisation. We are heartened that significant quarters in the Muslim community see it in the same light."

PAS Ulama Council chief Harun Taib has called for the release of the Al-Kitab, several thousand copies of which have been impounded since January at the ports in Kuching and Port Klang.

In a move announced by the government earlier this week, the ban on the consignment's import was lifted with the provisos that each copy carry a serial number and be stamped ‘For Christians Only’.

Ignore the alarmists

Christian leaders and groups, including Bishop Paul Tan, have denounced the newfangled conditions. When apprised of the conditions, the consignee at Kuching declined to take possession of the copies.

Harussani Zakaria Further, Bishop Paul Tan described as "alarmist" the fears expressed by Perak mufti Harussani Zakaria ( right ) that the government's proviso-hedged decision to release the impounded copies would lead to anger among Muslims and untold consequences.

"Begging the mufti's pardon, we must recall the alarm he stirred some years back of mass baptisms of Muslims in Ipoh," mused Bishop Paul Tan.

"They turned out to be false. His track record in prognostication does not inspire confidence," he added.

Bishop Paul Tan said the government should heed the calls of the enlightened rather than the benighted in matters of faith education.

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