I have been reading the articles about the ban o­n the Iban Bible and now claims that it might be revoked with amusement and sadness.

The stand taken by the Malaysian government implies that Malay Muslims are ignorant and stupid and have very weak belief in their religion. (As this phrase "Allah Taala" was used widely in Islamic literature, the authorities feared that its liberal usage in the holy book of another religion could create confusion among Muslims)

When I pick up a book and find that it is written in a language that I don't understand, I would most probably put the book down unless it has some pictures or illustrations that catch my eye. I am sure that the Iban Bible has no pictures or illustrations in it.

If the word "Allah" written in a book in an obscure language can confuse my belief in Islam, maybe I should not be practicing the religion. I am sure there is a lot of stuff o­n TV and the Internet that can confuse me more. I should most probably go live in a remote forest or mountain top like Buddhist and Hindu monks to avoid such confusion.

Why do the government, imams (and other Muslim leaders) believe that they need to protect the Muslim populace against evils? Do they think that we do not have the intelligence to judge for ourselves what is good and bad? The problem is not with Islam but with these so-called "Protectors of the Faith".