In Bible group’s move, DAP pressures Khalid to ensure minorities are protected
The DAP today pressured the Selangor government to take full responsibility in ensuring that the rights of minorities are protected, following The Bible Society of Malaysia’s (BSM) shift to Kuala Lumpur to avoid being hassled by state Islamic authorities.
Party national publicity chief Tony Pua (pic, left) said: “BSM's decision to move has embarrassed Pakatan Rakyat (PR) in our ability and sincerity to uphold the rights of minorities.
“There can be no biggest insult to PR when BSM chairman Lee Min Choon claimed that Putrajaya offered better protection to religious minorities.
“However, what was more disappointing was the response from Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim who nonchalantly wished BSM 'all the best'.”
Pua warned that such a response towards the incident may not bode well for PR and the Selangor government’s long-term plans.
“If we fail to make Selangor a showcase PR state, we will not only kiss our Putrajaya ambitions goodbye, even our hold on the state will be in jeopardy.
“The very same voters who turned their backs on Barisan Nasional can also do the same to us if we take them for granted,” he said.
DAP Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo (pic, right) also said that Khalid must take steps to solve the bible issue and address the government’s failure in dealing with it:
“The menteri besar has displayed a total lack of interest and political will in his handling of the issue. And this has resulted in a serious loss of faith of not only the Christians, but other Malaysians under his leadership in Selangor.”
Gobind also echoed Pua's sentiment that the BSM move will be costly:
"Situations like these, needless to say, will cost Pakatan dearly in the next general election. This is precisely the reason why many have expressed great concern about Khalid's leadership in Selangor."
On January 2, 2014, the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais) raided the BSM offices in Damansara Kim, and seized some 300 copies of the Alkitab and Bup Kudus (Iban Bibles) during the raid.
The raid was carried out under the Selangor Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation Among Muslims) Enactment 1988.
Until today, the seized Bibles have yet to be returned to the BSM, with the Selangor state government passing the buck to the Attorney-General's Chambers.
Khalid even told BSM to write to the Attorney-General to ask for the return of their seized holy books.
Pua said PR's position over the term Allah could not be any clearer as the term could be used by other religions such as Christianity and Sikhism.
"The Selangor state government has clearly failed to uphold the PR’s stand on this issue.
"The term must not be abused and used for purposes of propagation among Muslims, a position which PR respects as part of the Federal Constitution," Pua said, adding that this was seconded two days ago by Selangor executive councillor for Islamic affairs Sallehin Mukhyi in the state assembly.
He added that the Selangor state government has clearly failed to uphold the PR’s stand on this issue, particularly when Khalid said: “I think you must understand as a state, we have the laws to follow.
“People must believe that we respect the law and we respect the rights of everybody.”
Pua said Khalid was wrong, as there were good laws, and there were laws which leave plenty of room for improvement.
“It is the responsibility of any PR government to uphold good laws, while seeking to improve the laws which does not reflect the position of the coalition, or the interest of the people,” he said. – April 16, 2014.
