Christians irate after Putrajaya calls Perkasa’s bible-burning threat ‘defending Islam’

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 9 — The Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) has expressed outrage over Putrajaya’s refusal to pursue Datuk Ibrahim Ali over a threat to burn Malay-language bibles on the claim that he had acted in defence of Islam.

The umbrella body representing churches nationwide said a threat or call to violent action, desecration of another Malaysian citizen’s sacred text can never be considered defensive “by no logic or rationalisation” and “under no circumstances whatsoever”.

“The Christian Federation of Malaysia on behalf of Christians in Malaysia is outraged at the fact that threats to burn our Holy Bible is considered an act in defence of Islam,” the CFM said in a statement today.

“The CFM feels strongly that this position is irresponsible as it gives carte blanche or free rein to other extremists to do likewise not just to Christians but to any other religious community that is not Muslim.”

On Tuesday, de facto law minister Nancy Shukri said Ibrahim, who is president of Malay rights group Perkasa, was not prosecuted over his alleged threat as the police had concluded that he was merely defending Islam.

In a written parliamentary reply to DAP’s Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng, Nancy said that a police probe had found that Ibrahim’s statement was directed at individuals who had purportedly distributed bibles containing the word “Allah” to students, including the Malays, at Penang’s Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Jelutong.

Although Nancy had replied on behalf of the prime minister, CFM insisted today that the public should call for action to be taken against her.

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

“We call upon all right thinking members of Parliament, irrespective of their ethnicity, religious background or political affiliation to join in passing a motion of censure against the Minister for making such a scandalous and irresponsible statement.”

Following reports of Ibrahim’s alleged threat last January, police subsequently investigated him under Section 298 of the Penal Code.

Section 298 is the offence of uttering words with deliberate intent to wound the religious feelings of any person, and comes with a punishment of up to one year’s jail term or a fine or both.

Critics have often pointed to Ibrahim Ali’s case when claiming that the government was practising selective prosecution by targeting opposition politicians or activists.