The National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC) should have taken a stronger stance when condemning the Jan 1 raid on the Bible Society of Malaysia, MCA said.

Religious bureau chairperson Ti Lian Ker said that, while the NUCC's call for all to adhere to the cabinet's 10-point solution on the Bahasa Malaysia and other indigenous language versions of the Bible was welcome, the NUCC has fallen short of calling a spade a spade.

Instead of expressing “mere regret”, he said in a statement, the NUCC should have given clear “advice” to the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais) to rectify the situation.

“(The) NUCC should have taken a tougher and firmer stand by openly declaring that Jais’ methods were ‘wrong’ and proposing measures for Jais to correct the debacle they have created ...,” Ti said.

“As it is, the public is outraged by Jais’ use of force. NUCC could also have recommended that the confiscated scripture be returned.”

Li, who reiterated his stand for the copies of the seized Bible to be returned, was commenting on NUCC chairperson Samsudin Osman who said that the council “regrets” the Jais raid, wants no repeat of it, but could not say that it is “wrong” as it cannot take sides.

The NUCC also called for all to abide by the 10-point solution, a cabinet directive released prior to the Sarawak state election in 2011, which allowed the use of the Bahasa Malaysia and indigenous language Bible.

However, copies of the Bible in those languages used, printed and imported into the peninsula must have the words 'Christian publication' and a cross on the front cover so as to not confuse Muslims.

Pakatan stance questioned

Ti queried the lack of “official condemnation” of the Jais raid by Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim and federal Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim.

“Pakatan Rakyat should be criticised for not fulfilling their pledge ‘to guarantee freedom of religion’ and ‘to produce a virtuous Malaysian society, comprising individuals who possess integrity’ made in its manifesto which they bandied with great fanfare prior to the 13th general election.

“What sort of integrity do Jais officials possess policing and clamping down on the faith and practices of non-Muslims?”

He also questioned why Pakatan leaders are blaming the raid on the BN-led federal government when Jais is a “state-run” body.

On Sunday, Anwar was reported to have condemned Jais for “high-handedness”, while the Selangor government has claimed it was uninformed of the raid.