AG's stance on Bible against Islam, says NGO
An Islamist NGO has taken issue with Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail's stance that copies of the Bible confiscated in Selangor were merely a compilation of the Torah, Zabur and Gospel and no prosecution was required, accusing him of deviating from Islam.
An Islamist NGO has taken issue with Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail's stance that copies of the Bible confiscated in Selangor were merely a compilation of the Torah, Zabur and Gospel and no prosecution was required, accusing him of deviating from Islam.
"This statement is against Islamic faith, which stresses that the Bible has been modified and added on by humans.
"If he (Gani) stands by this doctrine, he has clearly deviated from Islamic teaching which could cause him to become an apostate," Pertubuhan Ahli Sunnah Walamaah Malaysia (Aswaja) president Zamihan Mat Zin ( left ) said in a statement today.
According to the website of the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim), Zamihan is an officer with the Home Ministry, attached with the Publications and Quranic Texts Control Division in Putrajaya.
The Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais) had in January raided the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) and confiscated more 300 copies of the Bible in the Malay and Iban languages for using the word "Allah" to refer to God.
J ais cited the Selangor Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation Among Muslims) Enactment 1988, which outlaws the use of the word "Allah" by non-Muslims, for its action.
However, Gani said last Wednesday said there was no case against the seized Bible, stating: "Statements showed the confiscated books are a Malay language version of the Bible and the Alkitab Berita Baik is a collection of Torah, Zabur and Gospel books that form the basis for Christians."
Zamihan said if Abdul Gani maintains his stance, he should resign as attorney-general.
Zamihan also lauded the refusal of the Selangor Islamic Council (Mais) and the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais) to return the confiscated copies of the Bible, even though there was no case.
"Mais' decision is correct because the confiscated Malay language version of the Bible can threaten the faith of Muslims if it is allowed to be published and widely circulated to Muslims," he said.
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