JUNE 13 — Although the former president of Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM), Lee Min Choon’s suggestion to forgive and forget the entire episode of the raid by the Selangor Religious Enforcement Department (JAIS) appears to be peppered with scriptural admonitions, but it is not necessary the only correct response.

As a matter of respect, the current (with emphasis) BSM president, Bishop Datuk Ng Moon Hing should have been consulted before a statement is issued by Lee over BSM’s next course of action.

Lee is right in his personal capacity to forgive the Selangor Religious Enforcement Department (JAIS) for arresting him and BSM Office Manager, Sinclair Wong, but the press should also have consulted the wisdom of Rev Ng and his Exco to know what is BSM’s next course of actions after the six months of tensed emotions. I put in some “not-so-nice” words — it has truly rocked the Church, and awakened the Sleeping Beauty in East Malaysia, where once we thought everything was beautiful in Alice’s Wonderland.

Forgiveness is not cheap

I am happy if Lee’s response is also the BSM’s decision, because we can just close the entire episode, and move on, but there is also the other side of the coin that the Church in Malaysia cannot overlook that we sometimes have to pursue the course of justice as an appropriate response to an increase in number of cases where non-Muslim’s right to practise their religion is being compromised.

We are not a lawless state. We have a Federal Constitution that enshrines our freedom of religion. We have a duty to uphold the Federal Constitution not only for our generation, but for the sake of the future generations of Christians who will only be proficient in the national language.

However, over the decades, we have seen how the little Napoleons have interpreted the laws and abused their powers — literally taking the laws into their own hands — to “bully” the Church. When it suits them, they bite; when it does not suit them, they relent and expect us to say, “Forgive and Forget.”

The same people have also used their powers against other religious communities as well, including those within the context of the wider Islam which I shall not interfere. There are enough illustrations that clearly shows a lack of inter-religious sensitivities that was spoken of by Sultan Nazrin Shah of Perak recently.

Therefore, there are definitely occasions when the Christian community have to stay united and make a strong stand together. Whether it is in pursuing the course of justice as we are doing now with the Herald case all the way to the Apex Court, or to defend the rights of the non-Muslim mothers, who are victims in the number of unilateral conversions, we have to keep our options open.

Sadly, we have allowed situations to reach this stage, because in the past, our church leaders have been less vocal. As Edmund Burke had put it, I quote, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”

Forget about the illustration that I can draw from Martin Luther King; I will just go straight to the apostles Paul and Silas, when they were flogged. After the magistrates decided to release them, both aggrieved victims did not just pack up their bags and leave the jail.

Instead, Paul told the jailors: “They (the magistrates) beat us publicly without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens, and threw us into prison. And now do they want to get rid of us quietly? No! Let them come themselves and escort us out.”

So much for Lee’s ‘forgive and forget’ made in his personal capacity in his immediate response to the Attorney-General’s decision. Forgiveness is not cheap; it comes with a price. This is why I would rather hear from the present president of BSM to see what he and the Exco think would be an appropriate response to the six months of tense situation over the raid by JAIS.

A sweet victory for now

Perhaps, not known to the general public, many Christians from both sides of the political divide, including members of the cabinet and the Selangor State Exco were working behind the scene to help AG reach this decision.

I truly appreciate the AG for finally arriving at this sensible decision, and I urge him and the Federal Government to stop efforts by certain quarters to play with religious and racial sentiments. I dare say that Malaysians from all walks of life REJECT the politics of race, religion, royalty and even gender that we see being played, ever so often, after the 2008 political tsunami.

I am personally pleased with the AG’s conclusion. Of course, the BSM has the right to pursue legal actions against JAIS for the raid, but if its decision is to also close the episode, to me, we have a sweet victory for now. The AG’s decision is the best platform for reconciliation, at least with the people who want to reconcile and promote mutual respect between people of different races and religions.

Except for a few people (and we will soon be hearing from them within the next one week or two), I believe it is also a big relief for JAIS now that even the AG has decided there is simply no case against the BSM. The internal tussles within JAIS whether they have a case against the BSM or not would have taken up much of their precious time.

I can understand that JAIS was in a quandary whether to follow the instructions of two entirely separate entities or ‘pillars’ — the Selangor State Government on a dotted reporting line (administratively) or its direct ‘boss’, the Selangor Religious Council (MAIS) which ultimately goes back to the Sultan as Head of Islam in the State.

Since the AG has given the full clearance that the case is closed, MAIS’ earlier insistence in Utusan Malaysia that the Bibles could not be returned because of ongoing investigation is no longer relevant. JAIS is now free to follow the instruction by the Selangor Mentri Besar to return the Bibles.

The AG’s decision, and the Home Ministry’s clearance, is therefore still the best solution to the controversy surrounding the BSM raid.

JAIS should be professional

We know from the account given by BSM’s Wong, there were a couple of officers from JAIS who were both aggressive and rude during the raid.

In my opinion, I believe not even the Sultan of Selangor, who is both a gentleman and a man of reason himself, would have condoned such rude behaviours exhibited by certain JAIS officers. Had he known about it, a strong reprimand would have come from him for these officers who represent an important religious agency.

Now that JAIS has agreed to the Mentri Besar’s instruction to return the Bibles, let us now wait for JAIS to take the bold step of reconciliation before we decide the next course of action. If they have confiscated the Bibles in great haste, they should now return the Bibles immediately.

I am glad that the Mentri Besar himself had also instructed the State Exco in charge of Islamic religious affairs, Sallehen Mukhyi to accompany JAIS to ensure this instruction is being followed through.

Let us hope that there will be no more efforts to confuse the public or attempts to derail JAIS’ move post the AG’s decision. I am not for BSM to pursue the legal course, but I hope that with the help of Sallehin, there will be warmth and greater appreciation between the Christian and the Muslim communities. We need more PAS’ Mujahid Yusof Rawa in our society.

Together, we can then isolate the troublemakers.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malay Mail Online.