Activists may go to the streets if the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) proceeds with its threat to burn or destroy the hundreds of Bibles seized from the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM).

 

Youths for Justice and Peace national coordinator K Sudhagaran Stanley said he plans to organise a major rally “like never seen before in Malaysia” at Dataran Merderka in Kuala Lumpur.

 

He said the gathering will bring together Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Sikhs, Hindus and other peace-loving Malaysians to protest against the destruction of the bibles.

 

"International support will also be rallied to expose the hypocrisy of the Malaysian government in preaching moderation to the world," he told Malaysiakini .

 

The group is responding to the refusal of Mais, and its enforcement arm, the Selangor Department of Islamic Affair (Jais), to return the holy books to BSM following Attorney-General’s Chambers’ decision to close the case.

 

Early this year, Jais confiscated 321 copies of Malay- and Iban-language Bible, which use the word ‘Allah’ to refer to God.

 

According to Stanley, the group will request PAS leaders to join the “walk for peace and love”.

 

"This will prove that we are united as Malaysians against injustices and will not fall into the trap of hatred among religions and races," said Stanley, who has been involved in human rights work over the past 10 years.

 

To wait and see

 

Stanley said the rally will also take the government to task for the rise in religious tensions in the country.

 

He cited incidences of child custody issues after the conversion of a parent, body snatching at funerals and the interrogation of a bride at a Hindu wedding, among others.

 

"We will wait and see the developments in the coming days before we decide if we will go ahead and organise this mega rally," he said.

 

"Return the Bibles now. Stop the political drama and let us all unite as one race... and defend our country from extremism," he said.

 

Stanley urged Malaysians to join the newly-launched Facebook page to support the cause.