Let the amicable resolution to the Selangor issue of the seizure of Malay language Bibles and Malaysia’s assumption of ASEAN Chair usher in a virtuous cycle of moderation and establish Malaysia as a regional and international model of moderation


Congratulations are in order to the Selangor Mentri Besar Azmin Ali in resolving the nearly year-long Selangor controversy over the seizure of the Malay language Bible with the return of the seized copies of the Bible to the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM).

The amicable resolution to the issue of the seizure of Malay language Bibles and Malaysia’s assumption of the annual rotating ASEAN Chairmanship for 2015 are two welcome developments which should be the basis to usher in a virtuous cycle of moderation and establish Malaysia as a regional and international model of moderation.

The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak said in the handing-over ceremony of the annual rotating ASEAN Chair in Naypyitaw, Myanmar yesterday that Malaysia, as chairman of ASEAN, would promote moderation as a shared value in order to address conflict and find solutions to issues concerning regional peace and security.

He also called on ASEAN to avoid narrow nationalism which could go against the spirit of an ASEAN community.

Similarly, there is urgent need for Malaysians to avoid narrow communalism which could go against the spirit of a Malaysian community, in fact Najib’s 1Malaysia signature policy and to give national substance and relevance to his Global Movement of Moderates (GMM) initiative.

It is time for Malaysians, regardless of race, religion or politics, to take pro-active steps to arrest the serious polarization both of race and religion which had beset the country and created serious national divisions and discord in the country.

  1. #1 by Bigjoe on Friday, 14 November 2014 - 2:05 pm

    The Bible has been returned but Azmin Ali clearly avoided the core issue of whether using “Allah” in bible and Christian publications are legal. For that matter, what does the involvement of the Sultan himself returning the bible means for the law that state the banning?

    Political practically means not to pursue this issue for PR but you know what UMNO/BN is going to do and at best we are going to be confused while the politicians look after their own self-interest.

    Its a lesson for all Malaysian that politicians ultimately cannot be trusted and institutions cannot be destroyed for convenience as we have been used to for decades under Mahathir. The urgency to fix institutions is more urgent now and that means UMNO/BN must go first..

  2. #2 by boh-liao on Friday, 14 November 2014 - 2:46 pm

    SHOCKING! Blasphemous!
    How CAN 1? NO way!
    Perkosa, ISMA, n other ultra-Islamic NGOs r fuming, hopping MAD n WILL protest n hentam HRH, MB S’gor, Mais, Jais 4 returning d seized Malay n Iban Bibles 2 d Bible Society of Malaysia
    They will DEMAND, Y NO care of our SENSITIVITY 1, veri jia lak la, canNOT cannot like dis 1

  3. #3 by boh-liao on Friday, 14 November 2014 - 3:47 pm

    Learn fr dis bitter lesson, Bible Society of Malaysia
    If smart, better re-locate its National HQ
    Move out of S’gor, mayb 2 Penang [hopefully while there can import bibles n distribute them, without unlawful interference fr DUMB/STUPID ppl (as labeled by d SIL of AB), 2 all churches n other christian groups in M’sia]

  4. #4 by boh-liao on Friday, 14 November 2014 - 6:45 pm

    Mais said: “The return of these h0ly books containing the word ‘All@h’ is made with the strict condition that the Bible containing the word ‘All@h’ is not to be distributed in the State of Selangor.”
    “The Bible containing the word ‘All@h’ is only for the usage of Christians in Sarawak”

    Ai say man, Mais believes dat Muslims in Sarawak veri KUAT/strong 1 in their religious faith, can tahan Christians there having d Malay- n Iban-language Bibles containing d word ‘All@h’

    But Mais (thinking 4 all Muslims in Selangor) believes dat Muslims in Selangor veri FRAGILE 1 in their religious faith, 1 glance at d Malay- n Iban-language Bibles containing d word ‘All@h’, habis lah, may lead 2 serious consequences n collapse

  5. #5 by boh-liao on Friday, 14 November 2014 - 6:46 pm

    ONE question: When Christians fr Sarawak fly over 2 KL 2 work or study or tour, they will have with them d Malay- n Iban-language Bibles containing d word ‘All@h’

    Suppose in KL, OK lah

    However, when they step in2 Selangor or stay in Selangor, HOW aaah? CAN or CANNOT huh hv d Malay- n Iban-language Bibles containing d word ‘All@h’?
    Veri stress lah, each time has 2 ask n think abt d proper solution

  6. #6 by boh-liao on Friday, 14 November 2014 - 6:52 pm

    Hello, Y aaah ONLY 351 copies of Malay- n Iban-language Bibles?
    UmnoB, Perkosa, ISMA n other ultra-Islamic NGOs hv been warning Malays n Muslims dat dis 1DERful land is FLOODed with Kritians who r plotting 2 TAKE over d nation
    Correct meh?

  7. #7 by boh-liao on Friday, 14 November 2014 - 7:07 pm

    So, good news fr PR-controlled Selangor

    Also, good news fr PR-controlled Penang
    http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/citing-index-cm-says-living-cost-in-penang-not-the-highest

    Make sure d CONTRASTING facts (under UmnoB/BN n now under PR) r widely circulated 2 rakyat in Penang, esp those living in constituencies dat voted 4 UmnoB/BN in GE13

  8. #8 by boh-liao on Friday, 14 November 2014 - 7:09 pm

    Also, good news fr PR-controlled Penang
    http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/as-profits-rise-penang-spends-more-on-its-people

    Make sure d CONTRASTING facts (under UmnoB/BN n now under PR) r widely circulated 2 rakyat in Penang, esp those living in constituencies dat voted 4 UmnoB/BN in GE13

    Expose d corrupt n incompetent UmnoB/BN
    D GE14 battle starts now, ABU

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