The Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) asserts it has nothing to do with a ‘peace walk’ to protest against threats by Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) to destroy hundreds of bibles it seized from BSM.

A poster in Bahasa Malaysia is being circulated on the Internet advertising a ‘Bible Rally’ (Himpunan Bible). It claims that the event is organised by the BSM and would be held this Sunday in Kuala Lumpur.

BSM secretary-general Simon Wong ( right ) said he learnt about the poster after receiving several calls, and stressed that the society has nothing to do with the purported event.

“We don't know about this. It’s a serious hoax done without our knowledge,” he told Malaysiakini today.

Gospel Hall KL, where the march is to kick off, has also denied involvement in the purported event.

"With reference to the notice on 'Himpunan Bible 29 Jun 2014' that has appeared in Internet social/news media today, Gospel Hall KL has no knowledge nor any involvement in anyway," said Gospel Hall's Jimmy Chok.

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

The Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) of which  the Selangor Department of Islamic Affairs (Jais) is its enforcement arm, have refused to return the holy books to BSM despite the decision by the attorney-general to close the case.

Shocked at poster

 

Meanwhile, Youths for Justice and Peace national coordinator K Sudhagaran Stanley, who had announced plans to organise a major anti-Mais rally at Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur, found the fake poster an unpleasant surprise.

 

“I was shocked as we are still monitoring the situation in Selangor. No date has been fixed yet,” he regarding plans for the anti-Mais rally, when contacted today.

The rally is a possible response should Mais proceed with its threat to burn or destroy the bibles seized from the BSM.

“Somebody may have taken advantage of our event,” he added.

 

Stanley said he had clarified this matter on the newly-launched Facebook page by his group, and the public was urged to follow postings there.

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