The Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) has deemed the Home Ministry’s proposal on the stamping and serialisation of the Al Kitab to have ignored the substantive issues at stake.

CFM said the controversy surrounding the Malay-language Bible is just one of many issues that concerns Christians, but which stem from the “systematic and progressive” reduction of the community’s ability “to practise, to profess and to express our faith”.

This comes in the wake of restrictions on the wearing and displaying of the cross and other religious symbols, the use of religious words and the construction of Christian places of worship, it said in a statement.

azlan There should be no restrictions, proscriptions or prohibitions whatsoever on the Bible or the use of the language of choice in the practice of Christianity, it insisted.

“Christians, like other Malaysians, are not demanding for anything beyond our constitutional and fundamental human rights as enshrined in Article 11(1) of the federal constitution and Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” CFM said in a statement signed by chairperson, Bishop Ng Moon Hing.

“When Christians express this concern, we do so not just for ourselves but on behalf of all Malaysians.

“Our faith forms a critical component of our identity as Malaysians in nation-building as enshrined in the first pillar of our nation’s Rukunegara: Belief in God.”

Many Christians were outraged that copies of the Al Kitab had been stamped 'For Christians Only' and serialised by the Home Ministry without consultation or permission by its importers, the Bible Society of Malaysia.

NONE In a statement by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Idris Jala (right) , the government subsequently suggested that the Al-Kitab be stamped 'For Christianity'.

Addressing the offer today, CFM said the proposal did not address “the substantive issues”.

CFM pointed out that, in 2005, it had suggested that the phrase should be ‘A Christian Publication’, but that suggestion was honoured only for one shipment of the Al Kitab.

Subsequent shipments were held up and subjected to further arbitrary conditions for release, said CFM.

‘Remove all obstacles’

The federation also called on the government to commit to removing “every impediment, whether legal or administrative, to the importation, publication, distribution and use of the Al Kitab and indeed to protect and defend our right to use the Al Kitab”.

“This includes revoking all orders made under the Internal Security Act 1960, which have declared the Al Kitab as a threat to national security. Neither can the Al Kitab be considered a threat to public order under the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984. We categorically reject the characterisation of our Holy Scriptures in this manner.”

azlan CFM reiterated its stand that those copies of the Al Kitab that had been stamped and serialised with words other than those agreed upon by the Christian community amount to “an act of defacement, disrespect and treating with disdain the holy book of the Christians”.

“Given the unfortunate experience of (the Home Ministry’s) tendency of taking arbitrary action without consulting affected parties or respecting the religious sensitivities of the Christian community, any decision to collect copies of the Al Kitab which have been stamped and serialised would be with a view to prevent the possibility of further arbitrary acts of desecration, disrespect or destruction being committed against the Holy Scripture of the Christians by (the ministry) and its officers.”

It also said it would leave it to the importers of the Al Kitab to decide whether or not to collect the shipment “based on their different specific circumstances and level of trust in the authorities and the processes in their local context”.

“Nevertheless, no matter what their decision is, we remain united in our common stand to uphold the principle of freedom of religion which includes the free availability without hindrance or obstacle of the Al Kitab and all sacred scriptures in Malaysia.

“We continue to call on all peace-loving Malaysians to pray for a dignified resolution to these critical issues in the life of our nation.”