Applause to Christian Ibans for making a stand
YOURSAY ' Seizing the Malay Bible is bad enough. Seizing the Iban ‘Bup Kudus’ is inexcusable.'
Ibans slam Najib for 'grim silence' over Jais raid
Unafraid: I want to applaud the Iban for standing up for themselves and for the other Christian bumiputeras. At least they have the courage to stand up for what is right and righteous and not allow themselves to be bullied.
I hope that all the other native tribes in East Malaysia will rise up and do the same. Today it is the Iban bible, tomorrow it will be yours.
All of us have equal rights to worship God in our way without having to submit to ketuanan Islam. Now is the time to speak up.
Anonymous #25558299: All Sarawak ministers are also keeping silent on this matter. The greatest mistake the Sarawakians did is to vote the racist BN/Umno Baru to rule the country. There are worse things to come for the Sarawakians, and Sabahans as well.
James1067: PM Najib Abdul Razak is damned if he agreed to the 10 points signed by him and damned also if he does not honour his agreement. This is the price you pay when you carry too much baggage and allow too many people to pull the strings.
As for the Sarawakians, 2016 is the year to set yourself free from captivity. Choose leaders who will put the State above their self-interest.
Hang Tuah: Vote for BN some more, Congratulations. Umno is even worse than PAS, at least PAS talks sense and does not go to the extent of confiscating other religious books of prayers.
Anonymous #88188: Sarawak Iban and other bumiputeras, can you just remember this nonsense and vote wisely in GE14, or will you just forget all this after receiving RM500 prior to GE14?
Yawkwai: Where are all the East Malaysian Christian ministers? I believe they just stick their heads in the sand like ostriches do, as they are so scared to lose their positions.
Why are only the commoners standing up for their rights? Where are their leaders they had elected to voice out their concerns and rights to their religion?
Thinking Malaysian: Seizing the Malay Bible is bad enough. Seizing the Bup Kudus, which is printed in the Iban language, is inexcusable.
Do the Muslim religious bigots honestly believe that the Bup Kudus, can be used to convert the Malays in Selangor? How many Malays in Peninsula speak/use/read Iban?
EvenSteven: Najib, don't push the Christians against the wall just because your bigoted far right supporters think that Islam is superior to all other religions.
As far as Sarawak Christians are concerned, your people can think what they like but just leave them alone to worship their creator. If you continue to remain silent as you are doing now, you'll regret this inaction. This is sheer bullying and you know it.
OH YA?: Come elections, they will continue to sell their souls and vote for the repressive ruling elite for a few hundred ringgit.
Odin: Gempuru Besai Sarawak chairperson pastor Greman Ujang, in a news report on Oct 27 last year (that's just a little more than two months ago) had it that in defending Najib and his intention to implement the GST, your senior minister and fellow Iban William Mawan anak Ikom told the residents of Rumah Brian Langit in Ulu Jih that Najib had a soft spot for Sarawak.
You fellows ought to ask this son of Ikom to poke, prod and squeeze the soft spot so that your copies of the bible will be released.
Your Deputy CM is also Iban and a Christian. And so is your land development minister who is also an Iban Christian. Get these two to join the son of Ikom in poking, prodding and squeezing. Doubtless that Najib will act immediately, as he loves Sarawakians very much.
Doc: Just to point out that Sarawakians keep voting for BN in hordes in every election in spite of its Chief Minister Taib Mahmud and Umno making their lives difficult in all aspects (e.g. land issues, religion, education opportunities, human rights, job, economy etc).
Najib is the premier because of the East Malaysian votes. Sadly the idiom "reap what you sow" applies here.
Anonymous #039163649: It is a Catch -22 situation unleashed by Umno for their political advantage. Now that the situation has turned monstrous and the world is laughing and condemning us, everybody, including, I think, even Umno, is seeking a solution.
Najib will be damned if he says something and damned if he doesn't, he can't take sides here. Leave it to BSM, they are handling it coolly and in a mature manner, cooperating fully with Jakim, not even demanding return of Bibles but I'm sure they will continue to use the word.
Shamu99: Silence of the PM - this is a good title for a movie.
Anonymous #02382443: Najib, can you tell us just who is in control in Malaysia? Is the playing up of race and religion to divert the suffering of the people, due to the rising costs of living?
Dalvik: Dear Sarawakians, the state election is not far away. Please remember what happened this year, and please do not make the same mistake by trusting any promises, come next election.
Appum: Najib, can you tell us just who is in control in Malaysia?
Swipenter: Najib is not in control. He is just a puppet PM. So far, he has proved himself to be a lame duck to the religious bigots and the far right in his own party.
Wg321: Before GE13, Najib was very desperate to win over the Christian voters in East Malaysia. So he wrote a 10-point solution letter dated Nov 4, 2011 without taking into consideration and ignoring the National Fatwa Council decree of 2008, which prohibits the usage of the word ‘Allah’ by non-Muslims; and the various state enactments in peninsula Malaysia which have a similar clause.
When Jais confiscated the Malay and Iban Bibles, Najib was trapped. That’s the reason for his "grim silence". Legally speaking, Jais has every right to confiscate the bibles although it may be wrong on humanitarian grounds.
The only solution is for Najib to advise the Bible Society of Malaysia to shift their business either to Kuching or Kota Kinabalu.
The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. Over the past one year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now .
YOURSAY ' Seizing the Malay Bible is bad enough. Seizing the Iban ‘Bup Kudus’ is inexcusable.'
Ibans slam Najib for 'grim silence' over Jais raid
Unafraid: I want to applaud the Iban for standing up for themselves and for the other Christian bumiputeras. At least they have the courage to stand up for what is right and righteous and not allow themselves to be bullied.
I hope that all the other native tribes in East Malaysia will rise up and do the same. Today it is the Iban bible, tomorrow it will be yours.
All of us have equal rights to worship God in our way without having to submit to ketuanan Islam. Now is the time to speak up.
Anonymous #25558299: All Sarawak ministers are also keeping silent on this matter. The greatest mistake the Sarawakians did is to vote the racist BN/Umno Baru to rule the country. There are worse things to come for the Sarawakians, and Sabahans as well.
James1067: PM Najib Abdul Razak is damned if he agreed to the 10 points signed by him and damned also if he does not honour his agreement. This is the price you pay when you carry too much baggage and allow too many people to pull the strings.
As for the Sarawakians, 2016 is the year to set yourself free from captivity. Choose leaders who will put the State above their self-interest.
Hang Tuah: Vote for BN some more, Congratulations. Umno is even worse than PAS, at least PAS talks sense and does not go to the extent of confiscating other religious books of prayers.
Anonymous #88188: Sarawak Iban and other bumiputeras, can you just remember this nonsense and vote wisely in GE14, or will you just forget all this after receiving RM500 prior to GE14?
Yawkwai: Where are all the East Malaysian Christian ministers? I believe they just stick their heads in the sand like ostriches do, as they are so scared to lose their positions.
Why are only the commoners standing up for their rights? Where are their leaders they had elected to voice out their concerns and rights to their religion?
Thinking Malaysian: Seizing the Malay Bible is bad enough. Seizing the Bup Kudus, which is printed in the Iban language, is inexcusable.
Do the Muslim religious bigots honestly believe that the Bup Kudus, can be used to convert the Malays in Selangor? How many Malays in the peninsula speak/use/read Iban?
EvenSteven: Najib, don't push the Christians against the wall just because your bigoted far right supporters think that Islam is superior to all other religions.
As far as Sarawak Christians are concerned, your people can think what they like but just leave them alone to worship their creator. If you continue to remain silent as you are doing now, you'll regret this inaction. This is sheer bullying and you know it.
OH YA?: Come elections, they will continue to sell their souls and vote for the repressive ruling elite for a few hundred ringgit.
Odin: Gempuru Besai Sarawak chairperson pastor Greman Ujang, in a news report on Oct 27 last year (that's just a little more than two months ago) had it that in defending Najib and his intention to implement the GST, your senior minister and fellow Iban William Mawan anak Ikom told the residents of Rumah Brian Langit in Ulu Jih that Najib had a soft spot for Sarawak.
You fellows ought to ask this son of Ikom to poke, prod and squeeze the soft spot so that your copies of the bible will be released.
Your Deputy CM is also Iban and a Christian. And so is your land development minister who is also an Iban Christian. Get these two to join the son of Ikom in poking, prodding and squeezing. Doubtless that Najib will act immediately, as he loves Sarawakians very much.
Doc: Just to point out that Sarawakians keep voting for BN in hordes in every election in spite of its Chief Minister Taib Mahmud and Umno making their lives difficult in all aspects (e.g. land issues, religion, education opportunities, human rights, job, economy etc).
Najib is the premier because of the East Malaysian votes. Sadly the idiom "reap what you sow" applies here.
Anonymous #039163649: It is a Catch -22 situation unleashed by Umno for their political advantage. Now that the situation has turned monstrous and the world is laughing and condemning us, everybody, including, I think, even Umno, is seeking a solution.
Najib will be damned if he says something and damned if he doesn't, he can't take sides here. Leave it to BSM, they are handling it coolly and in a mature manner, cooperating fully with Jakim, not even demanding return of Bibles but I'm sure they will continue to use the word.
Shamu99: Silence of the PM - this is a good title for a movie.
Anonymous #02382443: Najib, can you tell us just who is in control in Malaysia? Is the playing up of race and religion to divert the suffering of the people, due to the rising costs of living?
Dalvik: Dear Sarawakians, the state election is not far away. Please remember what happened this year, and please do not make the same mistake by trusting any promises, come next election.
Appum: Najib, can you tell us just who is in control in Malaysia?
Swipenter: Najib is not in control. He is just a puppet PM. So far, he has proved himself to be a lame duck to the religious bigots and the far right in his own party.
Wg321: Before GE13, Najib was very desperate to win over the Christian voters in East Malaysia. So he wrote a 10-point solution letter dated Nov 4, 2011 without taking into consideration and ignoring the National Fatwa Council decree of 2008, which prohibits the usage of the word ‘Allah’ by non-Muslims; and the various state enactments in peninsula Malaysia which have a similar clause.
When Jais confiscated the Malay and Iban Bibles, Najib was trapped. That’s the reason for his "grim silence". Legally speaking, Jais has every right to confiscate the bibles although it may be wrong on humanitarian grounds.
The only solution is for Najib to advise the Bible Society of Malaysia to shift their business either to Kuching or Kota Kinabalu.
The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. Over the past one year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now .
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