The Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) calls for the immediate release of the 15,000 bibles in
 
 Bahasa Malaysia
 
 known as the
 
 Alkitab
 
 , recently seized by the authorities.


 Bishop Ng Moon Hing, chairman of the CFM, said that the relevant government official should explain their actions to church leaders and the public.


 According to a church leader, the government seized the bibles because of the use of the word &lsquo;Allah' in the Malay-language bibles (which means God when translated) which was banned here, as this word is to be used exclusively in Islam.


 <img align="left" alt="dap islamic state forum 260707 hermen shastri" height="238" src="http://mk-cdn.mkini.net/91/1e80cd594d81e484bad5af86fba710ab.jpg" title="dap islamic state forum 260707 hermen shastri" width="160"/>
 This is because the authorities feel that the use of &lsquo;Allah' in Christian publications is likely to confuse Muslims and draw them into Christianity. Therefore, it was banned from Christian literature.


 The Home Ministry said today that the words
 
 kaaba
 
 ,
 
 baitullah
 
 and
 
 solat
 
 were similarly banned from Christian publications.


 In previous reports, Reverend Hermen Shastri
 
 (left)
 
 , general secretary of the Council of Churches of Malaysia said that these words were borrowed from Arabic, among other languages and maintained that the community should be allowed to use them.


 
 
 Suppression of rights
 
 


 Since the 1970s, the education policies have been centred on
 
 Bahasa Malaysia
 
 as the national language, and Malaysians have received their education in
 
 Bahasa Malaysia
 
 .


 Therefore, Bishop Ng said that it is ridiculous and offensive to deny the same Christians in Malaysia the right to read and study the bible in the national language.


 "The action of withholding the Malay bibles deprives Christians in Sabah, Sarawak and in Semenanjung, a large majority of whom speak Malay, the right to use the Holy Scriptures to practice, and profess their faith and, to nourish themselves spiritually," Bishop Ng said.


 The CFM also called upon the government not to curtail or impose conditions on the freedom of citizens to worship, pray and read the Holy Scriptures in Malay.


 Previously, the authorities have
 <a href="http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/116211" target="_blank">
 
 seized some 15,000 bibles
 
 </a>
 that were imported from Indonesia; 5,000 in March and the rest in September this year.


 <a href="http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/116211">
 </a>

The christian association says the seizures deny Christians their right to read the bible in the national language.


CFM calls for immediate release of seized bibles

~RM12

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