While the impoundment of Al Kitab is a hot issue for the opposition’s Sarawak election campaign, it has not sparked the anticipated uproar among the state’s Christian community.

Interviews with Iban Christians in Sibu and Sri Aman revealed that bread-and-butter issues are still the top concern for Sarawakians.

Many are aware of the impoundment of the copies of the Bible in the Malay language and and the Home Ministry stamps on them.

However, they are restrained about discussing it, as public discussion of religion is deemed a sensitive matter.

Therefore, whether or not the issue will affect voting behaviour is still very much up in the air.

NONE Joshua Wilson ( left ) and Francis Dagang, from longhouses around the Sri Aman area - Rumah Ujan, Melugu and Rumah Ayok, Pakit - pointed out that Al Kitab is a sensitive issue that should not be discussed publicly.

"Our religious leaders are silent. They don't want it to become an issue. But people will still remember," said Francis, a PKR supporter.

Added Joshua: "We follow our religious leaders. If they come out in the open to ask us to take action, then we'll do so."

Several devotees at Sacred Heart Cathedral, the largest Catholic church in Sibu, share this view.

NONE A 52-year-old Iban from Kanowit, who was only willing to be identified as Ngindang ( right ), conceded that the Al Kitab impoundment is an issue but that it is not openly discussed.

"It is not appropriate (to do so). It was raised by BN government, but it should not be raised during this time."

As for the 10-point solution announced by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Idris Jala, Ngindang was not impressed.

"I'm not satisfied. The issue actually has been dragging on for a long time. It was done by the former prime minister," he added.

Student Rachel, 16, was more forthright.

"It is not good because Christians need the Al Kitab. I heard from others about this. It should not be handled this way," she said when approached outside the church on Sunday.

azlan However some were not too familiar with the full extent of the controversy , perhaps due to limited coverage by the local media.

A 55-year-old Iban civil servant who declined to be named was one of them: "I'm not very clear about the issue. I’ve read a little about it in the newspapers. What I'm not happy about is the price of goods."

He was quick to add that he would continue to vote for BN as long as he was still in the civil service.

Muling, 30, an Iban construction worker from Kanowit, said he has not heard about the issue but that he is more worried about  the high cost of essential goods.

"The price of goods and food is very high now. The fuel price is also increasing. In Sibu, the price of vegetables has gone up from RM1 to RM2 for every bunch," he noted.

Mixed views of campaigners  

Relationships among the 26 ethnic groups in Sarawak are closer than that among the main races in the peninsula. For instance, many Chinese eateries have Muslim stalls operating on the premises.

It is also uncommon to find anyone discussing religion in a confrontational or aggressive way.

sibu by election 090510 sibu scared heart church Opposition leaders have observed this consensus. Leon Jimat Donald, the DAP candidate for Simanggang, an Iban-majority seat in Sri Aman, said the Al Kitab would not be a major issue in the state election, especially among the lower-income Ibans.

"They are not overly concerned with religion. They care more about bread-and-butter issues," he told Malaysiakini , adding that his campaign would not touch on the issue.

However, Sarawak DAP chief Wong Ho Leng is hopeful that the row over the Al Kitab would work in favour of the opposition.

"I hope it has an impact. Christianity has been suppressed for so many years. Freedom of religion has been enshrined in the federal constitution since 1957, but we have to wait until today to be able to import the Malay Bible with a 'For Christianity' label on it," Wong said yesterday.

He then directed his criticism at the government’s legal appeal against the use of the word Allah by non-Muslims.

"It (cannot be) that, under the 1Malaysia concept, you can use the word ‘Allah’ in Sabah and Sarawak but once you arrive at the KL International Airport) or the LCCT (Low-cost Carrier Terminal), you can't use it any more," he said.

“The government should not only revoke the ban, it should also withdraw its appeal (now before the court)."