It was reported on 2 April 2014 that the Selangor State Government had advised the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) to write to the Attorney General to request for the release of Bibles seized from its premises on 2 January 2014.
The Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) is disappointed by this apparent attempt on the part of the Selangor State Government to wash its hands off the matter.
The fact remains that the Jabatan Agama Islam Selangor (JAIS), acting under powers purportedly given to it by a State enactment, raided the premises of BSM and seized more than 300 copies of the AlKitab and the Bup Kudus, Bibles written in Bahasa Malaysia and the Iban language respectively. These Bibles remain in their possession.
The officers of JAIS may be authorised to act only after consultation and on the advice of the Selangor State Government. The Selangor State Government is accountable as in the raid of BSM, JAIS acted as an agency of the Selangor State Government. It is therefore perverse that the Selangor State Government is now asking BSM to look to the Attorney General to resolve this matter.
CFM strongly urges the Selangor State Government to act without further delay to order the safe and prompt return of the Bibles to BSM.
It is a ludicrous suggestion that JAIS had the necessary power to seize the Bibles but that it is only with the approval and authorisation of the Attorney General that these very same Bibles can be released. This is nothing short of 'passing the buck' and is totally unacceptable. The Selangor State Government is duty bound to act in this matter and must not shirk its responsibility. Order the return of the Bibles now.
[signed]
Rev. Dr. Eu Hong Seng
Chairman and the Executive Committee,
The Christian Federation of Malaysia