Bishop suggests non-Muslim portfolio in govt

KUCHING: Association of Churches in Sarawak (ACS) president Datuk Bolly Lapok called on the government to consider establishing a special portfolio in the government machinery whose task is to take care of the religious affairs of the non-Muslim majority in the state.

SHEDDING SOME LIGHT: Peter showing an old Bible which also mentions the name Allah while Philip Ngo looks on at the press conference.

“While we must acknowledge and be grateful that the churches have received government assistance, it is a fact that they were given in a rather ad hoc manner and come far in between.

“In the long term, they do little to allay the general discontent and the cry for a tangible proportionate visibility and recognition that we deserve.”

The Anglican bishop made the remarks in relation to the recent impounding of 30,000 copies of the Bible in Kuching by the Home Ministry.

The holy books containing the word ‘Allah’ were imported from Indonesia by Gideon Malaysia for its Kuching Camp to be distributed to its 14 camps across the state such as Kuching, Sri Aman, Betong, Sarikei, Sibu, Bintulu, Miri, Limbang, Lawas, Marudi and Kapit.

He said banning the word ‘Allah’ in the Bible written in local languages will tear down the spirit of goodwill and peace between the Christian population and those of other faiths.

Speaking at ACS’s first biennial general meeting at the Christian Ecumenical Centre here last Monday night,

Bolly added that the word ‘Allah’ had been used by local Christians in their prayers and worship for centuries.

He pointed out that Christians constitute almost half of the entire population of the state.

“If the number of congregations is to be added to the rest of the non-Muslim religious adherents in the state, even a most conservative estimate would make them more than 70 per cent,” he stressed.

The meeting also discussed the direction of the association for the next two years. It was attended by heads of various member churches.

Meanwhile, Orang Ulu National Association (Ouna) Miri branch and Sarawak Kayan Association Miri branch had earlier yesterday also called on the government to speedily release the 30,000 copies of Bahasa Malaysia Bibles held in Kuching.

Ouna Miri chairman Peter Kallang and Sarawak Kayan Association Miri branch chairman Philip Ngo said the detention of the holy books was constitutionally and morally wrong.

Ouna represents the Kenyahs, Kayans, Kelabits, Lun Bawangs, Bisayas, Penans and other ethnic groups besides Ibans, Melanaus and Bidayuhs.

Ouna Miri Chairman Peter Kallang said ‘Allah’ in Kayan means light, and Allah Emang, Allah Lah and other similar words are commonly used in the Bible and in their prayers.