The federal government says that it will no longer serialise nor place a large home ministry stamp on the Al Kitab (or Malay-language Bible), said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Idris Jala.

Instead, the government would require the words 'For Christianity' in Arial font size 16 to be either printed at source or stamped at the receiving port.

This proposals were made to representatives of the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM), Council of Churches of Malaysia (CCM), other Christian groups and their legal advisors during a meeting on March 18.

Also present at the meeting were Idris and Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail. 

As for copies of the Al Kitab that are already stamped and serialised, Idris said that if the importer refuses to claim it, Christian donors will pay for new copies to be imported.

“The BM Bible can either be released in their present state, with stamps and serial numbers.

“Or arrangements can be made to put stickers with the words ‘For Christianity’ to cover the existing stamps and serial numbers,” he said.

He also assured that the home ministry director-general will issue a directive to civil servants to ensure there is no misrepresentation of the government order.

“As with all similar directives, failure to comply with this directive will subject the relevant officers to disciplinary action under the General Orders,” said Idris.

‘Fair and reasonable solution’

He said that the Christian groups have requested time to discuss the proposals and would provide a reply as soon as possible.

"This is a fair and reasonable solution from the government and with the help of Christian donors, all 35,100 copies are to be released completely free of charge at no cost at all to the importers.

“In addition, by virtue of the government directive, there is an assurance from the government that future (copies of the) Bible in Bahasa Malaysia can be imported and released with the words ‘For Christianity’,” he said.

For now, Idris said that the government is urging Christian groups to claim copies of the Al Kitab held at Port Klang and Kuching.

“The focus should be on getting the Bible into the hands of people who want to read them,” he said.

Idris said that he was requested by the government to dialogue with the Christian groups because he was a minister in the prime minister’s department and also a Christian.

“More importantly, as I am the only cabinet minister who is not a member of any political party,” he said.

“The government wants this matter to be resolved amicably in a non-partisan manner and in line with the spirit of 1Malaysia.

“The Attorney-General's involvement is obviously necessary because we have to ensure that the solution must be in the context of the existing laws of the country.”

He also explained that a special cabinet committee on this matter was also formed comprising the prime minister, deputy prime minister, home minister, unity minister, and the de facto law minister and religious affairs minister.

The special cabinet committee met on March 17, a day before the meeting with the Christian groups.