The National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC) in its inaugural working meeting today expressed “regret” over the raid on the Bible Society Malaysia (BSM) where more than 300 copies of the Bahasa Malaysia and Iban Bible were seized.

However, the Putrajaya-backed council refrained from saying that the raid by the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais) was “wrong”, arguing that it cannot take sides.

“Like a father, the NUCC cannot blame our children but can say this is regrettable and cannot happen again...

“The NUCC regrets the raid and confiscation of the Bibles (sic). This is a blatant disregard of the 10-point solution made by the federal government in April 2011 and reiterated by the prime minister in October 2013,” NUCC chairperson Samsudin Osman ( left ) told reporters.

He added that the NUCC’s law and policies and multiculturalism committees will hold closed-door meetings with religious groups, authorities and community leaders “as soon as possible” to broker a peaceful settlement.

This would include Jais, and even possibly the Malay rulers who oversee religious authorities in the respective states “but it may not come to that”.

“NUCC members will serve as unity bridge-builders in Malaysian society,” he said.

The council also urged Malaysians to respect all places of worship, and not hold any protest demonstrations there.

“NUCC welcomes the decision of Selangor Umno not to stage any demonstration outside churches (last) Sunday,” he said.

Seemingly condemning the government’s silence, the NUCC also urged the government to urgently respond to issues pertaining to national unity and ensure compliance of the 10-point solution.

“Furthermore, (federal and state) leaders must play a more proactive role in defusing religious or racial tensions as community moderators in building a peaceful and harmonious Malaysia,” he said.

The council also urged calm among Malaysians and for federal and state authorities to ensure infringements on places of worship do not recur.

“All parties must be mindful of the sensitivity of this matter and should refrain from making statements that can further undermine national unity,” he said.

Council to forward stand to PM

Meanwhile, NUCC deputy chairperson Lee Lam Thye said that the council will forward its stand on the matter to the Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and hope to meet him about it.

“The council can take a stand but the person with the power to do something is the PM,” he said.

The 10-point solution, presented before the Sarawak election, among others allow the use of the Bible in Bahasa Malaysia and indigenous languages, which include the use of the word ‘Allah’.

However, such copies of the Bible printed, imported into and used in the peninsula must have the words ‘Christian publication’ and a cross sign so as to not confuse Muslims.

The NUCC meeting at the Seri Pacific Hotel, Kuala Lumpur was attended by 26 of its 31 members including PAS MP Mujahid Yusof Rawa, interfaith council chairperson Sadar Jagir Singh, activist Marina Mahathir and former deputy higher education minister Saifuddin Abdullah.