DAP Sarawak expresses deep regrets and disapproval over the reply given by the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Nancy Shukri, that the threat to burn Bible in Malay-language is not a crime as it was in defence of Islam.
It is especially shocking to receive such a Parliamentary answer from a Minister coming from Sarawak, where different religions are practiced freely in different languages and there is no conflicts between the followers of different religions.
Has Nancy Shukri forgotten where she comes from or is she just carrying out the biddings of her UMNO masters mindlessly?
In Sarawak, many of the churches conduct their congregations, especially the Dayak congregation, in Bahasa Malaysia and the Bibles used were printed in Bahasa Malaysia. The existence of Bibles in BM has never been seen as a threat to Islam.
Even more so, many of the Muslims political leaders in Sarawak went through the missionary schools education and they were exposed to Christian prayers and teaching throughout their school-life and yet they still remain Muslims.
The notion of having a Bible in Bahasa Malaysia poses a threat to Islam is itself an incredulous notion. And to threaten to burn Bible in Bahasa Malaysia because it is treated as a threat to Islam is utter religious extremist and most unacceptable in our country.
For the Government to allow such threats to be made and still try to justify the act for the offender, it just shows that the Government has no respect for the other religions and that the Government has no intention to uphold the provisions of the Constitution when it comes to the freedom to practice any religion by non-Muslims.
We DAP Sarawak therefore call upon the Government to review its decision not to prosecute Ibrahim Ali because by condoning Ibrahim Ali's action, the Government is actually encouraging religious extremism amongst the Muslims. Such encouragement by the Government will ultimately lead to religious conflicts and disharmony in Malaysia.
9-10-2014
Chong Chieng Jen
DAP Sarawak Chairman
MP for Bandar Kuching & ADUN for Kota Sentosa