Bible Society raid a red herring

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YOURSAY ‘Someone is trying to divert attention from the price hike protest.’

Jais raids Bible Society, seizes Malay Bibles

Anonymous #44199885: I hope the majority of Muslims are more level-headed and fair to the Christians.

This action by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) on the first working day of the New Year seems to be a deliberate distraction to the plight of many ordinary Malaysians over the price hikes.

We have a government that is irresponsible and devoid of any willingness to do the right thing.

Mushiro: It is a planned drama - the government media were highlighting the news on the Allah issue, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad commented on it on Wednesday and the Perak mufti talked tough yesterday, then this raid by Jais, and there will be more to follow.

CQ Muar: What a fine welcome to 2014, which directly contradicted Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's New Year message .

So this is the ‘new’ Malaysia we are facing in 2014 - what more from here?

YUNoAnon: A moderate country indeed. Now Jais can regulate other religions too. This will make for interesting news for the world to see.

Dood: Since when did Jais have authority over non-Muslims? Surely what Jais did was illegal.

If the police are neutral and non-partisan, the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) can lodge a police report and have Jais investigated for their seizure and intimidation.

Mirror Mirror On The Wall: High-handed indeed and without reasonable cause. This incident took place within Selangor. It was probably timed to embarrass Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim and the entire state government.

But it is a pie in the federal government’s own face as the whole country's image has been actually tarnished.

In the old days, BN (as well as the Alliance) was a beacon for moderation, not only in Malaysia but to the region and the Islamic world. Today, PAS has evolved and shown itself to be more moderate.

Senior Citizen: Jais, listen to me. Firstly you have to first learn to have manners and self-respect before you deal with other people, especially those from other religions. You should also read up and learn basic law before carrying out your job.

Stop treating the people as if this is a lawless country. What is your problem? Aren’t you embarrassed by what happened on New Year’s Eve in Dataran Merdeka ?

Tan Kim Keong: Jais' behaviour is morally repugnant and thus making a mockery of the religion it is supposed to uphold.

Hank Marvin: Just because the raid was done by a religious department like Jais does not mean that it is Islamic. I hope our Christian brothers and sisters understand that not all Muslims support it.

Fateh: It looks like someone is trying to use the Allah issue to divert attention from the price hike protest and the many economical problems facing the country.

I pray that the Christians will have the wisdom to handle the situation, and not let some thugs have an upper hand.

Cocomomo: Muslim leaders should speak out against this disgraceful act by a so-called Islamic council. Are people who are aggressive and abusive towards a peaceful group really the representatives of real Muslims? I definitely do not think so.

BTN: I would to advise the self-proclaimed Allah soldiers to not cross the line. There is patience in everyone, including the Christians as well.

We surely do not want to see or hear any conflict in this country. Violent and aggressive behaviour does not befit anyone who professed to follow Allah or God.

Multi Racial: Jais has stepped out of line. They have no legal jurisdiction over the non-Muslim community and premises. Whoever ordered the raid has to be dealt with swiftly.

Both the federal and state government should publicly apologise to the Christians, and promise this will not happen again in future.

Disgusted: Indeed, Jais is acting like the German Gestapo. Where is the religious freedom guaranteed under the constitution when these people act like that and are above the law and constitution of the country?

Will Pakatan Rakyat make a clear stand to condemn the actions of Jais? Selangor is under the Pakatan government and Pakatan must be responsible for the actions of one of its institutions, which comes under its jurisdiction.

Vijay47: Just yesterday, Najib made a great speech about taking Malaysia forward, blah, blah blah. And today this happens. What is even more bewildering is that it happened in Selangor, a Pakatan state.

What are you doing about it, Abdul Khalid? We don't care whether you are Umno or Pakatan, practise injustice and abuse of power and we will kick you out.

Onyourtoes: I think this is the biggest diversion this bankrupt government has ever created to make the people temporary forget the dire needs of this nation.

Geronimo: I thought the Sarawakians were exempted. So why the need to confiscate the Iban bibles? Such callous handling of religious materials is most appalling.

We hear lies and more lies from this Umno Baru government. Fascism is alive and well after all. By confiscating the bibles, they have virtually implied that these materials are now in the same category as pornographic materials. Such lunacy!

Gggg: This is just the beginning when politicians are more interested in votes rather than the well-being of the country. Let's see what our PM has got to say about this forced entry.

Pemerhati: It has become increasingly obvious that Najib has decided that the urban population and the ethnic and religious minority groups that did not support BN should be punished by hitting at their pockets and by harassing them in any way possible.

The hardest hit are the Kuala Lumpur residents whose assessment rates have been sharply increased. In addition they, like other urban dwellers who are the major users of electricity and roads, will pay high electricity charges and possibly higher toll rates.

The rural population, which is the Umno vote bank, will also be affected but not as much as the urbanites. They can be easily pacified and won over by their propaganda and by BR1M and small handouts before the next elections.

Umno’s gerrymandering since 1973 has resulted in a situation whereby it can win the elections by winning only 15 percent of the votes in small constituencies in the rural areas. So it can write off the urbanites and other religious groups and still win the elections.

Pahatian: What a start to a new year. Expect more uncivilised and nonsensical things to come. After all, they are the confused lot or would I say, stupid beyond description and redemption.


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