The influential Malaysian Muslim Youth Movement (Abim) has repeated its demand for the federal government to state its stand on translation of the Bible in Bahasa Malaysia or Bahasa Indonesia.

NONE The latest call by Abim secretary-general Mohamad Raimi Abdul Rahim comes in the wake of claims by top non-Muslim government officials that the use of such scriptures in Sabah and Sarawak is legal.

“Abim views that all parties must respect the court decision which forbids use of the term ‘Allah’ in other religious texts until the Home Ministry’s appeal is disposed of,” he said.

“Abim views seriously any attempts by parties who are trying to manipulate this sensitive issue for political purposes.”

He was referring to the landmark Kuala Lumpur High Court ruling on Dec 31, 2009 which decided that the home minister’s order to bar the use of ‘Allah’ in Christian texts as “illegal, null and void”.

However, the Home Ministry obtained a stay order pending its appeal. Thus legally, the ban is still in force.

                                   

Recently, BN leaders such as MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek and PPP president M Kayveas had publicly stated that Bahasa Malaysia versions of the Bible can be printed locally.

This is to avoid it being seized by port authorities. Reportedly, 30,000 copies of the Bible printed in Bahasa Indonesia and en route to Sabah and Sarawak are being withheld on the ministry’s orders.

‘Two states exempted?’

More recently, Sunday Star quoted Sarawak deputy chief minister Dr George Chan as saying that the state government is willing to publish the Bible locally in Bahasa Malaysia.

george chan hong nam Mohamad Raimi said Chan’s (left) statement, along with those of Chua and Kayveas, appears to contradict the federal government’s stand on the matter.

“Abim would like an explanation as to whether the statement by (Chan) was made in his personal capacity or whether he was representing the state government,” Mohamad Raimi said.

“This is in view of the fact that the news report states that the matter will only be discussed by the state government and will be raised with the prime minister later.”

He said the Home Ministry and the government must explain allegations that Sabah and Sarawak are exempted from the court’s stay order.

“If this is true, Abim wants a legal explanation and the process used to approve of the exemption,” he added.

“If this allegation is not true, then the federal government must act firmly by stating its stand and enforcing the ban on the use of the term ‘Allah’ in non-Islamic religious text nationwide, including Sabah and Sarawak.”