The Penang state government unreservedly condemns provocative, irresponsible and dangerous attempts to burn the Malay version of the Bible

At its meeting yesterday, the Penang State EXCO expresses grave concern at a police report lodged by Rev John Kennady of the St Marks Anglican Church at the Butterworth police station against an anonymous pamphlet notifying that there would be a "festival" to burn Bahasa Malaysia version of the Bible this Sunday at 10 am. The notice left in the church's letterbox, had invited the public to burn the Malay version of the Bible in front of Dewan Ahmad Badawi at the Bagan Luar municipality field in Butterworth.

The Penang state government unreservedly condemns such provocative, irresponsible and dangerous attempts to burn the Malay version of the Bible, which would also burn down the country with hatred and religious intolerance. The Penang state government urges Minister of Home Affairs Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Tun Hussein Onn to impose stringent measures to prevent such abhorrent and vile acts that would endanger national harmony and heighten religious tensions.

At the same time, the Penang state government strongly condemns Perkasa for calling for the burning of the Malay version of the Bible in Penang. Whether Perkasa is involved or not, there is no doubt that such inflammatory pamphlets were distributed after Perkasa had issued this fiery threat. Clearly, the continued support of Perkasa by the federal government and BN can no longer be justified merely to gain political capital.

Therefore stern action should be taken by the Federal government according to the law against Perkasa to prove that such threats by Perkasa is neither sanctioned nor condoned by the Federal government leaders.

Lim Guan Eng Penang Chief Minister