Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak remaining mum on the raid and seizure of 300 Malay and Iban versions of the Bible yesterday by Selangor Islamic authorities (JAIS) is an indication of his endorsement of a move to divert the people’s attention from the series of policies he had implemented.

“Silence does not mean golden for Najib at this moment,” said Chong Chieng Jen, Sarawak DAP chief at a media conference to day.

“He cannot remain silent; he must state his stand clearly and not allow this controversy deteriorate any longer.

“Silence on his part means an endorsement by him to allow Umno to continue to play on racial and religious conflicts,” said Chong, MP for Bandar Kuching and State Assemblyperson for Kota Sentosa.

Selangor Islamic authorities yesterday raided the Bible Society of Malaysia and seized 300 copies of Bahasa Malaysia and Iban versions of the bible as they contained the word Allah.

He said the Catholic Herald the controversy over the use of the word Allah by the  had been triggered by Umno branches in Peninsular Malaysia and JAIS.

Chong added that the raid was a typical Umno move to divert the people’s attention from  a series of policies Najib had implemented, resulting in the prices of daily goods, petrol, electricity, and others escalating.

Playing the same old song

“This is a ploy by Umno to play on racial and religious sentiments when they see that the people are against these policies,” he said, urging for calmness to prevail.

However, Chong was quick to add that “remaining calm does not mean we must give in to unreasonable demands by the Umno-orchestrated campaign against other religions.

“We must remain calm and firm and the rakyat must be focused  on the economic policy of the Barisan Nasional.

“Do not be diverted by the ploys of the Umno to stir up racial sentiments,” he added.

On the demand by certain Umno leaders for those who did not like BN policies to leave Malaysia ,Chong jabbed back at them, saying that  53% of people voted against Umno/BN and did not like their policies.

“Is Umno asking all these 53% of the people to migrate?

“This country does not belong to Umno; it belongs to every one of us,” he said, pointing out that Najib is not only the president of Umno, but also prime minister of Malaysia.

On the proposed protest by Umno and its racist wings on January 10, Chong asked Najib to interfere in order to prevent the controversy from getting worse.

“I know a lot of Sarawak’s Christians are angry. Even non-Christians are also angry. But let not anger take the better of us,” he added.