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Jais returns seized bibles
Jais returns seized bibles | The Star Online http://fw.to/kYbz8gY
..PETALING JAYA: The 321 bibles seized from the Bible of Society of Malaysia (BSM) by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) have been handed over to the Association of Churches in Sarawak.
The Malay and Iban-language bibles were presented to the Bishop of Kuching, Reverend Datuk Bolly Lapok, in a simple ceremony at the Istana Alam Shah in Klang Friday.
The handing over was done in the presence of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah and Mentri Besar Azmin Ali. Also present were Jais officials and leaders and representatives from the Christian community.
The handing over signals an end to the controversy that began in January this year when Jais raided BSM’s premises in Damansara and seized the bibles on grounds that it contravened a 1988 Selangor enactment, which prevents non-Muslims from using the word “Allah”.
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WHO WILL RAID THE BIBLE SOCIETY OF MALAYSIA NEXT?
They say that, when it is suspected that a victim is about to die, vultures, hyenas, jackals and other carrion eaters circle the victim, waiting for their piece of flesh. Is this what’s happening to the Bible Society?
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Malaysian Insider
Despite raid, Bible Society to continue distributing Bahasa Malaysia and Iban bibles
BSM president Lee Min Choon (pic) said the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais) had not said that they could not continue importing and distributing the bibles in Bahasa Malaysia and Iban, despite seizing 320 copies the previous week.
Despite raid, Bible Society to continue distributing Bahasa Malaysia and Iban bibles
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Aslan, who wrote the international bestseller No God But God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam, said he was mystified by the court ruling on October 14, stressing that the word Allah was merely an Arabic term for God, “any God”.
Malaysian Insider
Award-winning American Muslim scholar on Allah ruling: “We are laughing at you”
BY ELIZABETH ZACHARIAH
October 22, 2013
A well-known American Muslim theologian has joined a long list of critics over the recent Court of Appeal ruling on the use of the word Allah, saying it was a “political decision more than anything else”.
“This notion that Malaysian Muslims need to be protected by the court because you can’t think for yourself, you can’t make decisions on your own. We are laughing at you,” said Reza Aslan, speaking on BFM Radio’s Evening Edition programme yesterday.
“That you can control people’s ideas, their behaviour, their faith and their minds simply by trying to control the words that they use, is absurd. It is an embarassment to a modern, constitutional, democratic and deeply Muslim state like Malaysia,” he added.
Aslan insisted that Christians using the word Allah – which means God in Arabic – were not a threat to Islam.
“A Taliban put a bomb in the Quran and took it to a mosque in Pakistan, where Muslims were slaughtered on one of the holiest days in the Muslim calendar. You want to talk about threats to Islam? That’s a threat to Islam,” he said, in dismissing the argument that allowing Christians to use the word in their worship was a threat to Malaysian Muslims.
He was referring to an incident during the Aidiladha holidays, in which Afghan governor Arsala Jamal was killed while scores were injured after a bomb placed in a copy of the Quran went off in a mosque during the Eid sermon.
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Malaysian Insider
Bible Society fears Jais will seize future imports of Bible in Bahasa Malaysia, Iban
BY TRINNA LEONG
January 07, 2014
As the country’s sole importer of Bibles in the Malay language, The Bible Society of Malaysia is in a spot following the seizure of its stock by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) as it fears new stock will also be seized again.
BSM president Lee Min Choon (pic) said the Jais raid had put them in a difficult situation as some 300 Bibles carted away by Jais during their raid last week were the last copies in their stock.
Lee explained today that as a supplier, all imported Bibles of different languages arrive at Port Klang to be cleared by Customs.
The Bibles would then be sent to BSM’s office in Selangor for redistribution to churches nationwide, including Sabah and Sarawak, where the word Allah is allowed to be used by the congregation.
“Unfortunately, each time the Bibles come to our office, it is considered as an offence against the laws in Selangor. If this issue is not resolved, we would be exposing ourselves to more Jais raids,” he said at a press conference in Petaling Jaya.
“We supply Malay Bibles to more than a million Malay-speaking Christians in Malaysia.
“If you cut off the supply, people would have to resort to smuggling,” he said.
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Malaysian Insider
Jais wrong as Allah ban only for Herald, not Bibles, say critics
Selangor’s religious authorities were wrong to seize Malay and Iban language Bibles and must return them as the ban on using the word Allah is only for the Catholic weekly Herald, say lawyers and politicians.
They said the Bible, be it in any language, was never banned in Malaysia and as such, the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) had no right to seize the holy books from The Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) last Thursday as the Allah issue only centred on the Herald case.
Human rights lawyer Andrew Khoo Chin Hock said the Court of Appeal ruling last October that barred Herald from using the word Allah had not included Bibles in the 10-point solution endorsed by the federal Cabinet in 2011.
“So Jais’s raid and seizure has no basis at all because the 10-point solution covers the holy book,” Khoo told The Malaysian Insider, referring to the agreement that the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) government had made with the Christian community ahead of the Sarawak state election.
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Star
Wednesday January 8, 2014 MYT 6:49:02 AM
Society: MBPJ officers’ action just doesn’t seem right
PETALING JAYA: The Bible Society Of Malaysia (BSM) is claiming that yesterday’s attempt by Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) officers to enter its premises, purportedly to check for illegal renovations and extensions, smacks of ill-intent.
“After the Jais incident (raid last Thursday), we consider this very sensitive and a form of harassment,” said BSM president Lee Min Choon at a press conference yesterday.
Society: MBPJ officers’ action just doesn’t seem right
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I HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED THAT WHILE PAS, DAP AND PKR SAY THAT THEY ARE FRIENDLY TO CHRISTIANITY, WE CAN”T TRUST THEM.
THEY ARE POLITICAL PARTIES. WE CAN’T TRUST POLITICAL PARTIES OR POLITICIANS.
Think about this: it is in Selangor, ruled by PKR, that the Bible Society was raided, and now it is the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) that tried to raid them!
This is what a so-called friendly politician says:
…
Note the Selangor government’s statement that the recent raid by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) was conducted in accordance with standard operating procedures (SOP).
Selangor executive councillor Sallehen Mukhyi that the raid on BSM’s premises and the seizure of 351 copies of the Bible was justified.
BSM: Selangor exco’s statement puts Christians at risk
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PJ City Council says, “It was a misunderstanding.”
How convenient! And why should we believe the PJ City Council?
Free Malaysia Today
MBPJ: It was a ‘misunderstanding’
Our intention was not to harass the Bible Society ofMalaysia, deputy mayor Puasa Md Taib tells a press conference.
PETALING JAYA: The Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) clarified that its check on the Bible Society of Malaysia’s (BSM) premises in Damansara Kim this morning was for fact-finding purposes, and not to harass the association.
Apologising for the misunderstanding, deputy mayor, Puasa Md Taib, told a press conference that the fact-finding mission had been decided during a meeting among the MBPJ’s heads of department yesterday.
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The deputy mayor stressed that there was no directive from Jais or any other body to conduct a check on BSM today, nor has any quarter asked the council for information on BSM.
But he conceded that the council could have handled the matter more judiciously, given last week’s raid on BSM.
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2014/01/07/mbpj-it-was-a-misunderstanding/
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PERSECUTION TAKES ON ANOTHER FACE!
Is the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) trying to jump on the bandwagon of hassling the Bible Society of Malaysia?
“Oh, we’re trying to update our information!”
WHY DO THAT NOW? STRIKE WHILE THE IRON IS HOT?
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Malaysiakini
However, Puasa conceded that in light of the sensitive situation, MBPJ should have informed BSM before hand.
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Malaysiakini
1:43PM Jan 7, 2014
MBPJ in abortive ‘visit’ to Bible Society
The Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) made an unsuccessful attempt to enter the premises of the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) today, less than a week after a raid by the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais).
When contacted, Bible Society of Malaysia secretary-general Reverend Simon Wong confirmed that two MBPJ officers had asked to inspect its premises in Damansara Kim this morning, but had not been allowed to do so.
“They should have come properly instead of just turning up at out doors. If they want to come, they should have informed us first,” he said, noting that the office has been at the same location since 1986.
When contacted, Teng Chang Khim – the Selangor exco in charge of local government, study and research – said he did not instruct the inspection and had sought an explanation from the mayor.
“The mayor explained that the inspection of the building is to check whether it is still in compliance with the approved building plans,” he said.
The mayor had explained the inspection was in anticipation of any questions raised about the premises in light of the recent event, Teng said.
He also said that such inspection is routine, but urged both BSM and MBPJ to see it through in a proper manner.
MBPJ in abortive ‘visit’ to Bible Society
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Free Malaysia Today
BSM: Where are our bibles?
Its president, Lee Min Choon said that no government agency have come forward with information on the bibles.
PETALING JAYA: Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) is in the dark on the fate of the 300 Al-Kitab and 20 Bup Kudus that was confiscated by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais).
Its president, Lee Min Choon told FMT that the authorities have not come forward to inform them on the fate of the confiscated Malay and Iban language Bibles.
“None of the government agencies have informed us anything relating to the Bibles,” said Lee when contacted today.
On Thursday, Selangor Islamic Religious Department who was accompanied by the police raided BSM, confiscated the Bibles and arrested Lee and BSM general secretary, Simon Wong.
The duo were subsequently released on oral bail but the Bibles are still with the authorities.
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2014/01/06/bsm-where-are-our-bibles/
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Malaysian Insider
The day religious officers policed another faith in Malaysia
“But when I saw this bunch of thugs trying to force their way in, seizing our property and arresting me, I was utterly shocked and surprised that something like this could happen in Malaysia,” he told The Malaysian Insider.
The Bible Society of Malaysia president Lee Min Choon was detained by the Jais officials. – The Malaysian Insider pic, January 5, 2014.
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In the interview with The Malaysian Insider, a tired-looking Lee said that although he knew his rights as a lawyer, his legal skills and knowledge went out the door on the day of the incident.
“As a father who is a lawyer, I have been telling my two children to believe in the system and that our laws will protect them as long as they don’t do anything wrong, but all that can be thrown out the window now,” the 58-year old added.
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The day religious officers policed another faith in Malaysia
BY JENNIFER GOMEZ
January 05, 2014
Jais officials raided The Bible Society of Malaysia’s premises in Damansara Kim in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, on Thursday and seized more than 300 Bibles in Malay and Iban language. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, January 5, 2014.
What would a Christian and a lawyer of 33 years standing have to do with Islam?
In most countries, nothing. But Lee Min Choon found out last Thursday that the long arm of the Islamic religious authorities can somehow extend to people of other faiths in Malaysia, despite the Federal Constitution allowing freedom of religion.
His story is well-known now. On that day, The Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) president was powerless to prevent 20 enforcement officers from the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) from raiding BSM’s premises in search of Bibles containing the word Allah.
Despite knowing that Jais had no jurisdiction over non-Muslims, Lee was not even able to avoid arrest and instead, was taken to the police station like a common criminal. The Jais officials also seized 320 Malay and Iban language Bibles.
“Right from law school, we were taught that Islamic authorities only have jurisdiction over Muslims.
“But when I saw this bunch of thugs trying to force their way in, seizing our property and arresting me, I was utterly shocked and surprised that something like this could happen in Malaysia,” he told The Malaysian Insider.
Apart from arresting Lee and taking the Bibles, Jais officials also briefly detained BSM office manager Sinclair Wong at a nearby police station before releasing both on police bail.
Jais has ordered Lee to be present at their office on January 10.
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http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/the-day-religious-officers-policed-another-faith-in-malaysia?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+tmi%2Fnews%2Fmalaysia+%28TMI+-+Malaysia%29#When:01:15:31Z
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THE POLICE BACK JAIS
ALOR GAJAH: Police will take action over the “Allah” word issue in Selangor if its Islamic Religious Department (Jais) requests police to intervene in enforcing the ruling on the issue.
Home Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said this was because Islamic religious matters were under the jurisdiction of the state government and police respected its jurisdiction over the issue.
Free Malaysia Today
Police to act, if request made by Jais
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Jais chief, having set off a ‘bomb’ that has been heard around the world, asks for the issue not to be blown out of proportion or politicised by any party!
What a ὑποκριτov! (Greek for hypocrite)
Star
Saturday January 4, 2014 MYT 9:42:30 AM
Jais chief asks that Allah issue not be blown out of proportion
Jais director, Ahmad Zaharin Mohd Saad, in an SMS to Bernama said the department had to carry out further investigations on the Bible Society of Malaysia and asked the issue not to be blown out of proportion or politicised by any party.
Jais chief asks that Allah issue not be blown out of proportion
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Malaysiakini
5:31PM Jan 4, 2014
Explain involvement in Jais raid, IGP told
DAP senior adviser Lim Kit Siang has pounced on inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar, urging him to explain why the police “aided and abetted” in the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) raid on the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM).
Describing the raid as “illegal and unconstitutional”, he said that it is the first duty of the police is to protect the constitution and uphold the law.
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“There is no doubt that without police back-up, Jais’ illegal and unconstitutional raid of BSM and the seizure of over three hundred copies of Malay and Iban Bibles would not have taken place,” said the Gelang Patah MP in a statement.
“Didn’t the police have 
the proper constitutional knowledge and legal advice that it is unlawful and unconstitutional to trample on the rights of all Malaysians in the exercise of their fundamental constitutional rights with regard to freedom of religion?” Lim(right) asked.
Are the police ignorant and unaware that the Jais raid and seizure of the Malay and Iban Bibles would be gross violation of the 10-point solution to end the controversy? , he said.
http://beta.malaysiakini.com/news/250917
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Free Malaysia Today
Jais raid is treason, Najib
“If Jais is allowed to escape any consequence for this illegal action, it will embolden other Islamic authorities to embark similar fanatical orgies of Christian harassment and persecution,” said assemblyman Baru Bian
KUCHING: The latest raid on the Bible Society Malaysia (BSM) and seizure of Al-Kitabs meant for Borneo has raised questions over Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s actual powers and authority.
Holding to the 10-point solution promise by Najib to Borneo Christians back in April 2011 and reiterated following the contentious Court of Appeal ruling on the Allah term, Southeast Asia’s Anglican Archbishop Bolly Lapok said Thursday’s raid by the Selangor Religious Department (Jais) was “treason”.
He said Jais had shown no respect for Najib’s 10-point solution assurance to Christians in Borneo and the federal constitution.
“If an action assumes such arrogance that violates the Federal Constitution and pays total disregard to the Prime Minister, is it not treason?
“The word ‘Allah’ is poisoning our fledging inter-religious harmony and fracturing the fabric of our plural society,” he said.
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2014/01/04/jais-raid-is-treason-najib/
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Malaysiakini
1:39PM Jan 4, 2014
Bible raid diversion tactic from price hikes?
Was the sudden raid on the Bible Society Malaysia (BSM) a move to divert public attention from the massive anti-price hike rally on December 31?
This is what human rights NGO Suaram has asked in a statement today, in light of the surprise move that bypassed even the Selangor government.
“Suaram … questions the timing of the raid whether this is a politically calculated move to divert public attention on the rising living cost suffered by Malaysians, as it was conducted immediately after the hugely successful rally organised by student and youth groups against price hikes on 31 December 2013, which saw more than 10,000 protest at Merdeka Square,” said Suaram executive director Yap Swee Seng.
Initially all eyes were on the New Year’s Eve protest following the government’s claims that protestors were attempting to overthrow the government and create chaos with bombs and weapons, that ended with a peaceful rally that the organisers claimed saw up to 50,000.
However public attention since the raid appears to have diverted back to the row over the Christians’ use of ‘Allah’ in their holy books, that the raids have provoked afresh.
Yap slammed the Selangor Islamic Department’s (Jais) unilateral decision to raid BSM and confiscate the 331 copies of the Malay and Iban Bible without informing the Selangor government.
“It is … appalling that Jais gave the lame excuse of forgetfulness in explaining the failure of informing and consulting the Selangor state government before the raid.
“The director of Jais should be suspended for such negligence in his responsibility.
“Is Jais now an Islamic agency that operates without the restraints of law or accountability to the Selangor state government?” he asked.
Bible raid diversion tactic from price hikes?
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The Association of Churches in Sarawak: JAIS seized bibles meant for us!
Free Malaysia Today
S’wak clergy: Why take what’s meant for us?
The Association of Churches in Sarawak has described the raid and actions of the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) as “tidak beradat”.
KUCHING: The raid and seizure of Al-Kitabs (Malay Bibles) meant for Sarawak and Sabah by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) in Selangor has angered the clergy here.
The Association of Churches of Sarawak (ACS) today said that Jais had no right to do this and that “it was against the federal constitution”.
ACS committee member Pastor Lawrence Banyi said: “The freedom to practice one’s religion is within the Federal Constitution.
“This (the Jais actions) is extremely unfair, and against our (Christians) constitutional rights.”
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In the raid Jais took away 16 boxes of materials containing 320 Malay Bibles (Al-Kitab) and the Iban language Bibles (Bup Kudus) which were mostly acquired from Indonesia, and meant for Christians in Sabah and Sarawak.
Lawrence said the Bibles meant for Sarawak should not have been seized.
He said the situation in Sarawak was different from peninsular Malaysia and in Selangor.
In Sarawak Christians are a majority.
“Over there, things might not be the same as here. They (Jais) must have thought they were the majority , so they could have been thinking they got more rights.
“Still, constitutionally, this (the raid and confiscation of Bibles) should not have happened.
“We practice a freedom of religion in Malaysia but it seems that not all religion, except Islam are free in practicing their faiths.
“It’s not that we do not want to acknowledge Islam as the official religion of Malaysia, but other religions must have their respective freedom to practice their faith”, he said.
S’wak clergy: Why take what’s meant for us?
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What lies are told by religious people, even those in authority!
Malaysian Insider
Jais says it forgot to inform Selangor about Bible raid
BY MUZLIZA MUSTAFA
January 03, 2014
Selangor Islamic authorities have pleaded forgetfulness in informing the state government about yesterday’s raid for Bibles in Bahasa Malaysia that has caused outrage among Christians.
Selangor executive councillor in charge of religion Sallehen Mukhyi met Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) director Ahmad Zaharin Mohd Saad and its enforcement chief today and demanded an explanation for the raid at the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) premises.
“They said it slipped off their mind and the raid was done as Jais felt that there was a breach of the 1988 enactment on the use of the word ‘Allah’. They did it without consulting the Menteri Besar’s Office and me,” Sallehen said in Shah Alam today.
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Muhyiddin may be Deputy Prime Minster but acts like he wants to please only BN-UMNO-JAIS.
Malaysia Chronicle
Friday, 03 January 2014 08:07
NO DOUBLE STANDARDS! Cops must haul up MUHYIDDIN for tacit nod to S’gor Umno to protest at Churches
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Selangor Umno is planning to demonstrate in front of churches to pressure Andrew to retract his statement and apologise over the use of the word “Allah” by Christians in their Bahasa Malaysia masses in the state. Muhyiddin supports this!
Malaysian Insider
Guan Eng raps Muhyiddin for supporting Selangor Umno’s plan to protest at churches
DAP has condemned Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s “provocative support” for Selangor Umno’s plan to protest outside Catholic churches on Sunday.
Party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said Muhyiddin was fanning the fire of religious hatred by agreeing with Selangor Umno’s threat to demonstrate outside the churches if Herald editor Father Lawrence Andrew refused to retract and apologise over his “Allah” statement.
“Muhyiddin is behaving recklessly for political gain. He is being irresponsible by stating that Selangor Umno is acting on its own and within its lawful rights by demonstrating outside churches on Sunday.
“Such hostile acts will damage interfaith relations and destroy the religious harmony assiduously built up in Malaysia by the various communities since Merdeka,” he said in a statement today.
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“@AJStream: Malaysian authority seizes Bibles containing ‘Allah’ to enforce-Arabic word for God is Muslim-only http://aje.me/1hjhdyP #JAIS“
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Twenty fourteen and it is as if we’re still living in the Dark Ages. Kamon la #JAIS!
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Malaysiakini
6:29PM Jan 2, 2014
No directive for Jais raid, says Selangor exco
The Selangor government was not consulted over the raid conducted by the State Islamic Department (Jais), says its exco for Islamic affairs, agricultural modernisation and rural development Sallehan Mukhyi.
Sallehan said the state government was only informed after the raid was conducted, but no further information was given.
“Normally, the action by Jais comes from either the state government or the state Islamic council (Mais).
“In this matter, there was no directive by the state government as it (the raid) was not discussed,” he said when contacted by Malaysiakini.
No directive for Jais raid, says Selangor exco
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GERAKAN YOUTH CHIEF IS AN OPPORTUNIST, TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE SITUATION TO SCORE POLITICAL POINTS!
I don’t appreciate your input at all, Politician!
SHUT UP IF YOU DON’T WANT TO HELP CHRISTIANS AND CHURCHES. Go play politics with some other issue!
ONE UPON A TIME, NOT LONG AGO, I HAD RESPECT FOR GERAKAN. Not any more. See the post below:
Who is this Tan Keng Liang? He is the national Gerakan Youth Chief. A POLITICIAN from Gerakan, lowest of the low!
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the typical response from Pakatan supporters …pls stay calm. Don’t retaliate against JAIS seizure of Bibles. It’s Selangor Pakatan govt 😦
after massive payhike upto 373%, Selangor Pakatan EXCO say didn’t know S’gor govt JAIS raid & seizure of Holy Bibles? #ohmygaji @hannahyeoh
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the Sun daily
Police warn Selangor Umno against holding protests outside churches
PETALING JAYA (Jan 2, 2014): Police today warned of stern action should Selangor Umno follow through on its threat to protest in front of churches on Sunday, as it will contravene the Peaceful Assembly Act (PAA).
“We will take stern action,” state police chief Datuk Mohd Shukri Dahlan said in a text message to theSun today.
Selangor Umno had threatened to hold the protests unless a senior Catholic priest apologises for insisting that Christians can use the word “Allah”.
Gombak Umno chief Abdul Rahim Kamarudin was quoted by Utusan Malaysia on Wednesday as saying the party will stage protests if Father Lawrence Andrew, the editor of Catholic weekly Herald, does not withdraw his statement by Saturday.
Police warn Selangor Umno against holding protests outside churches
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YAHOO! NEWS MALAYSIA
Among the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the coalition are Jalur Tiga Malaysia (Jati), Selangor Perkasa, Klang Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma), and Pertubuhan Ikatan Kebajikan dan Dakwah Selangor (IKDDAS).
Malay groups to protest at Klang church, threaten ‘uprising’ over ‘Allah’
The Malay Mail Online
KLANG, Jan 2 — A rally will be held at the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes in Klang this Sunday morning over the insistence of Christians in the state to use the word ‘Allah’, a coalition of Malay-Muslim groups announced today.
The coalition calling themselves the Klang Muslims Solidarity Secretariat blamed church leaders for sparking the current row over the Arabic word and threatened an “uprising” if their demand to stop non-Muslims from using it is ignored.
“We will not conspire and give permission to any churches to use the word ‘Allah’, and this includes other non-Muslims as well,” the secretariat’s president, Mohd Khairi Hussin told reporters here.
The rally is expected to draw Muslims from around the Klang area, and participants will gather at 9am before marching towards the 85-year-old Catholic church to deliver a memorandum expressing their dissatisfaction.
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The secretariat confirmed today that another protest will happen simultaneously at the Metro Tabernacle Church in Taman Samudera, Gombak on Sunday, followed by similar protests around Selangor in the days after.
http://my.news.yahoo.com/malay-groups-protest-klang-church-threaten-uprising-over-085300397.html
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This isn’t the first time Islamic authorities have raided Christian premises. They also raided a PJ church in 2011. http://ow.ly/sctxP
Umno thru JAIS arresting the Bible Society of Msia chairman is desperately diverting d Malay mind from d rising costs of living! Won’t work!
Jais raids Bible Society , Bibles seized | Free Malaysia Today http://shar.es/9qv8h
Lawyers For Liberty @lawyers4liberty
Jais raids Bibles Society, seizes Malay bibles – abuse of power – @PMOMalaysia is all talk on moderation http://m.malaysiakini.com/news/250725
The raid on the Bible Society of Msia by Jais will test whether Najib’s 10 Pts Agt agreed just b4 Swak elections is real or not.
Lawyers For Liberty @lawyers4liberty
Jais cant arrest non-Muslims – both men from Bible Society should lodge police report against Jais for wrongful arrest & imprisonment.
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The 15 Jais officers were aggressive and rude when they arrived at the office at about 1pm today, and tried to force open the premises’ gate, said Lee.
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Malaysia Chronicle
Thursday, 02 January 2014 14:48
M’sia Muslim authority raids Bible Society, detain officers & seize copies of MALAY BIBLE
Written by Maria Begum, Malaysia Chronicle
UPDATE3 KUALA LUMPUR – In a move that is bound create another major split in the country, the Selangor Islamic Religious department (JAIS) raided the Bible Society of Malaysia on Thursday, seizing 300-over copies of the Alkitab or Malay-language Bible and even detaining its chairman and office manager.
“This is outrageous and a highly provocative act. As a Christian and a Malaysian guaranteed rights to religious freedom under the Federal Constitution, I demand an immediate explanation from Prime Minister Najib Razak,” MP for Wangsa Maju Tan Kee Kwong told Malaysia Chronicle.
“I see this as a very dangerous move by very irresponsible leaders. It can really pit ordinary Christian and Muslim folk at loggerheads with each other. As it is now, there is already so much underground hatred among the races and this is due to deliberate fanning of racism and bigotry by the top government leaders. I urge them not to gamble with the peace and happiness of the nation just because they want to hide their failures and deflect attention from the No. 1 concern of the people today – the sinking economy and the sky-rocketing costs of living.”
The raid was carried out at 2pm today.
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Police stooges and the use of might is right
Today’s raid comes after The Herald’s editor Rev Father Lawrence Andrew said that Catholic churches in Selangor would continue to use the word “Allah” in their weekend services in Bahasa Malaysia, which are primarily attended by Sabah and Sarawak folk.
“You cannot just simply impose a law and say you cannot do this. What authority does JAIS have over Christians?” The Malay Mail reported Lawrece as saying.
Malaysian police, often accused of being stooges of the Najib regime, have said they will summon Father Lawrence over his comments.
Meawhile, JAIS’ new director ais Ahmad Zaharin Mohd Saad has said his agency would draw up a list of Selangor churches before writing to ask them to comply with the Selangor Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation Among Muslims) Enactment 1988.
“We will write to all the churches in Selangor to respect the law that is in force in relation to this,” he was quoted as saying.
Nonetheless, legal experts have said the state enactments cannot apply to non-Muslims and are over-ridden by the Federal Constitution.
Stage agencies like JAIS are empowered against non-Muslims only if the latter are caught trying to convert Muslims from their Islamic faith. The Federal Constitution also prohibits conversion of Muslims. – Malaysia Chronicle
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Malaysian Insider
Jais has no right to raid Bible Society of Malaysia premises, says council of churches
The Selangor Islamic authorities do not have the authority to raid the premises of the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM), said the Council of Churches of Malaysia (CCM).
Saying they were alarmed by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department’s (Jais) raid today on BSM where they confiscated over 300 Bibles in Malay and Iban, CCM general-secretary Rev Dr Hermen Shastri said that the Federal Constitution guaranteed the right of religious communities in the country to freely profess and administer their affairs.
“The Prime Minister, Selangor Menteri Besar and all Christian lawmakers should act immediately to stop such actions and further raids,” he said in a statement issued more than two hours after the controversial raid.
He said the CCM believes that Islamic authorities do not have the authority in law to enter the premises of non-Muslim religious establishments for inspection, search or raid
He also called on the churches to stay calm and pray that the rightful authorities would act with wisdom and sensitivity to protect the sensitivity the religious rights of all.
Jais has no right to raid Bible Society of Malaysia premises, says council of churches
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Malaysian Insider
Bible Society of Malaysia president calls for calm following Jais raid at premises
The Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) president Lee Min Choon has called on the Christian community to remain calm following the raid by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) raid on its premises this afternoon and his detention.
A team of officers from Jais and two policemen went to the BSM offices in Damansara Kim today at 1pm and carted away some 300 copies of the Bible in Bahasa Malaysia and Iban.
“The team wanted to enter the premises but my staff asked them to show their authorisation cards and search warrant, which they failed to produce,” Lee said at the Damansara police station.
“I arrived shortly and a few of the officers were behaving in an aggressive manner. To defuse the situation, I allowed the officers to enter the premises.”
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Malaysiakini
4:51PM Jan 2, 2014
Bible Society duo freed on bail after 90mins
Bible Society Malaysia (BSM) chairperson Lee Min Choon and his office manager Sinclair Wong were both released on bail at the Damansara police station today after spending 90 minutes at the station following the seizure of Malay Bible texts from their Damansara office.
Police have told the duo that they would need to report to the Selangor Islamic Department (Jais) on Jan 10 to further assist in investigations, though it remains unclear whether court charges will be brought on them for possessing the Bibles.
They were bailed by the society’s secretary-general Simon Wong, and Lee later said that he was “surprised” at the raid given it was inconsistent with the 10-point solution that the government came up with for Christians in 2011.
Lee and Sinclair are being investigated under the Selangor Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation Among Muslims) Enactment 1988, which prohibits non-Muslims from using the word ‘Allah’.
Bible Society duo freed on bail after 90mins
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3:00PM Jan 2, 2014
Jais raids Bibles Society, seizes Malay Bibles
Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) today raided the Bibles Society of Malaysia (BSM) and confiscated hundreds of copies of the Malay language Bibles found on the premises.
When contacted by Malaysiakini, BSM chairperson Lee Min Choon said the Islamic authorities took away 321 copies of the Malay Bible in 16 boxes, and of the society’s staff are expected to be charged.
He added 10 other Bibles in the Iban language were confiscated as well.
“We don’t know what will happen, but I guess this is something to do with the ‘Allah’ word fiasco.
“We asked them to show a warrant and relevant documents, but they shouted at us… We allowed them to come in eventually, rather than to create a scene there,” he said.
Lee added that he was brought to Damansara Utama police station, together with the society’s secretary-general Reverend Simon Wong and office manager Sinclair Wong.
The trio is now waiting for the police to confirm the charges against them.
Jais raids Bible Society, seizes Malay Bibles
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