MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek has blamed DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng for being the 'flint' in the ‘Allah' issue, saying that he has created disputes in Malaysia's multiracial and multi-religious society.

NONE He said Lim's statement instigated the call by Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali to burn the Malay-language Bible.

"I would like to say that Lim Guan Eng is just a ‘flint'.When the multi-racial rakyat quarrel, fall into a tense situation, he hopes that he can win," Chua told a press conference after the party's presidential council meeting yesterday evening.

He said the opposition had politicised the 'Allah' issue, which had actually been settled since the country's independence.

"It's because of everything being politicised by the opposition that the Allah issue is also been politicised, which is rather unfortunate.

"It has never been a problem, so why has it suddenly become a problem? There's no need to add to the debate and to prolong an issue which was all settled when we achieved Independence."

However, Chua noted that Ibrahim should not have urged Muslims to burn copies of the Malay-language Bible, adding that he hopes all Malaysians will respect one another’s religion.

“ 2012 selangor dap convention 041112 lim guan eng Everybody needs to (show) mutual respect. There’s no need to threaten the people by burning the Bible.

“We have been practising this mutual respect since the day we achieved independence, and the level of tolerance among Malaysians is exemplary."

On Christmas Eve last year, Lim (left) , who is also Penang chief minister, called on the federal government to allow Christians to use the term ‘Allah’ in the Malay-language Bible.

This sparked a huge controversy, during which Ibrahim made his ‘burn the Malay-language Bible’ call.

Ibrahim later said his call was not intended to offend Christians but that it was a reaction to those trying to violate the federal constitution.

'There are always grey areas'

Asked whether Ibrahim should be charged under the Sedition Act, Chua didn’t answer directly, but said many people talk about sensitive issues every day, including himself.

Given this, there would be a lot of people in the country who would have to be charged, he said.

Asked to clarify this statement, Chua accused the Malaysiakini reporter of putting words in his mouth.

“Are you putting me in a spot? Are you persecuting me by telling me I only have a choice of 'yes' or 'no'?

“Only simpletons have such simple minds to say that issues only have ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answers. There are always grey areas,” Chua said before ending the press conference.

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