Christians welcome fast resolution to Bible issue

Peter Kallang

http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=104236

Christians welcome fast resolution to Bible issue

by Cecilia B Sman.
Posted on March 17, 2011, Thursday

MIRI: Christians here have welcomed the government’s speedy resolution of the issue of Bahasa Malaysia Bibles detained at the Kuching Port and Port Klang, Selangor.

Orang Ulu National Association (Ouna) Miri branch chairman Peter Kallang said the release of the Bibles was a good development

He said Sarawak is known as a friendly place where people of various religious and racial backgrounds live and interact together in peace and harmony.

“Sarawakians do not only tolerate each other’s religion and race but respect them. Forcing one’s ideologies or faith on others is also something foreign in Sarawak,” he said in a statement emailed to The Borneo Post yesterday.

He added that all his Muslim relatives and friends never forced their beliefs on him and added that generally speaking, the Muslims in Sarawak live peacefully and cordially with non-Muslims.

Peter, who is also Peng Lepo Kenyah Miri (Kenyah Association Miri) chairman, added that in the old days, many Muslims took up Bible as a subject in school.

“But until today they are still committed Muslims, none of them became Christians. Many of them have gone for their pilgrimage to Mecca. But one thing I know, my Muslim friends are very open in their interaction with people of other religions. I still meet some of them regularly.”

Sarawak Kayan Association Miri branch chairman Philip Ngo also welcomed the announcement calling it “the right move”.

He said in the Kayan language, the word ‘Allah’ refers not only to God, but also means light and the names of persons.

It’s not uncommon, he said, to find members of the community who are called Allah Emang or Allah Lah.

Meanwhile, obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Roland Mattu said he was very happy that the government has released the Bibles.

“We may not have a perfect government but at least they are doing something right with regards to the Bibles and this paves the way for a greater Malaysia,” said Dr Roland yesterday.

He added that religion is something very personal and thus should not be imposed on others or politicised by any political party to gain support.

“We in Sarawak have for generations had full respect for each other irrespective of religious backgrounds and hope that issues such as detention of imported Bibles will not happen again,” he said.