Earlier today, MAIS Chair Datuk Mohammad Adzib was quoted to have said that the agency will continue to seize all Bibles, in Selangor, containing the word Allah despite the ruling made by the Attorney General (AG) earlier this week. He also said that he does not respect the AG’s ruling and will not return the previously seized Bibles to the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM).
Statements such as these are shocking and frightening, as MAIS and Adzib clearly show the utter disregard and disrespect for the rule of law, the AG’s chambers, and the state government.
The AG has already ruled that the seized Bibles did not violate any law and is not a threat to national security as what the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) has erroneously alleged. However, the fact that MAIS feels that it has every right to destroy the Bibles, the holy book of Christians, if it chooses to do so shows that it is not the Bibles that threaten the peace and security in the country but MAIS itself.
It must be emphasized that no person or body, government or otherwise is above the law. By persisting in the seizure and confiscation of the Al-Kitabs despite having no case for prosecution is an act perpetuating lawlessness.
On behalf of all right-thinking and moderate citizens of Selangor and Malaysia, we call on and trust that the Menteri Besar, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, to act justly and swiftly for Malaysians, regardless of race or religion.
We ask that Tan Sri Khalid be firm in his duty to reign in the recalcitrant MAIS. If MAIS continues to defy the state government, the AG Chambers and the rule of law, then the Menteri Besar must act by amending the necessary legislations to neuter the excessive authority of MAIS.
Selangorians have voted overwhelmingly for a Pakatan Rakyat government which acts in the interest of all Malaysians. We must hence fulfill our mandate by cultivating national unity via fairness and justice, and not cultivate extremism via divide and rule like Barisan Nasional.