COMMENT The Registry of Societies (ROS) is going after other Christian organisations after backing off from the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) a fortnight ago.

The Selangor branch of the ROS went to Asian Beacon, one of the oldest Christian publishers, last week and found nothing amiss. It will go to the national office of the Evangelical Free Church of Malaysia (EFCM) on Tuesday (July 14), according to those familiar with the matter. The EFCM is the umbrella body for the denomination.

The ROS called off its visit to the Bible Society on June 28 after the society fought back and resisted the so-called ‘routine inspection’.

Two days later the same junior ROS officer, Norashuhada Mohd Razali, emailed to the EFCM notifying them of an intended inspection. Those who have sighted the ROS email said there is a significant difference between the notices to the Bible Society (BSM) and the EFCM.

The ROS cited clause 63 of the Societies Act 1966 as the basis to inspect BSM, but in the notice to EFCM the ROS did not cite any basis for its visit other than ‘pemeriksaan’ (inspection), without giving any reason.

EFCM chairperson Pastor David Low is overseas, while other office-bearers said they considering advice given by their legal advisers.

It is not known whether they will allow the ROS into their office like Asian Beacon or whether it will adopt the position taken by the Bible Society not to let them in unless they gave specific reasons for their intended visit. Those close to EFCM said since the ROS did not use clause 63 as the basis for their inspection, they have to get clarification from ROS before making a decision whether to allow the inspection.

A source close to the ROS in Putrajaya said it was not the best time to inspect the Bible Society considering the controversy of the illegal raid by the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais) on the Bible Society and confiscation of their Malay and Iban language Bibles, the Alkitab and Bup Kudus on Jan 2, 2014. The crisis was only resolved after the Selangor sultan stepped in.

Clause 63 not meant for routine inspections

Although the ROS insisted that it was a routine inspection and that it was not singling out the Bible Society, the Societies Act 1966 does not provide for such routine inspections. Clause 63 is not meant for routine inspection but to allow the ROS to enter the premises of societies suspected of unlawful activities.

The construction of this clause makes it abundantly clear that is if the ROS has “reason to believe that any society is carrying on activities in contravention of any provision of this Act” he can after giving notice to any office-bearer, enter into any place...”.

Clause 64 further allows the ROS powers of entry, search and seizure if he has reason to believe that any registered society is being used for purposes prejudicial to public peace, welfare, good order or morality in Malaysia. If need be he may use force for such entry.

The ROS has denied it was targeting Christian organisations as other non-Christian bodies were also included in their intended inspections. For instance, three other societies - the Menopause Society, the Rotary Club and the Pertubuhan Penganut Dewa Xian Lian Gong - apart from the Bible Socety. However, the ROS did not say why it needed three hours to inspect the Bible Society while the other three required just one hour.

The same is true for its current inspection exercise where the ROS has allotted three hours for the EFCM inspection, while the other three societies required just one hour each. The other three societies are Persatuan Pembinaan Rumah Berhala Huat Heap Sungai Way Subang, Persatuan Anak-anak Kalumpang, Ulu Selangor and Pakatan Kebajikan Islam Kampung Tunku, Sungai Way.

BOB TEOH is a faith-based writer, an associate in theology with a diploma in Christian Ministry from Perth Bible College, Western Australia. He is a regular contributor to Malaysiakini .