Dismissal of ‘burn Bible’ urging angers Christians

http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/277069

The Christian Federation of Malaysia has expressed “outrage” over the government’s announcement that a threat to burn the Bible is not a crime as it was in defence of Islam.

In a strongly-worded statement, CFM chairperson Eu Hong Seng (below, right) said the move gives a “carte blanche or free rein” to Muslim extremists to continue issuing such threats, either to Christians or followers of any other religion.

Yesterday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nancy Shukri said in a written reply to Parliament said that Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali will not be prosecuted for calling on Muslims to “seize” and “burn” the Malay-language Bible.

Nancy (left) said Ibrahim had not “intended to cause religious disharmony” and was only “defending the sanctity of Islam”.

The minister in charge of law said that this was because Ibrahim was referring to claims that the holy books were distributed to Muslim students at a school in Penang.

Scandalous statement

Meanwhile, Eu said that there should be no excuse for threats or calls for violence against Malaysians or their sacred texts. 

He said that it “is scandalous and irresponsible” on the part of the minister to say that such a threat is “defensive”.

Eu (right) also called on all Malaysians to censure the minister for saying so.

“We strongly protest against the obviously inexcusable position adopted by the government,” he said.

Nancy was earlier criticised for her stand by Global Movement of Moderates Foundation chief executive officer Saifuddin Abdullah and Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim.

In separate statements, Saifuddin and Anwar said Islam does not promote the desecration of the holy texts of the other religions.