A Buddhist monk of international standing has expressed fear that the controversial raid by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) on the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) may spread and affect other faiths, although it seems to be confined to the Christian faith at the moment.

“The Buddhists are known to be quiet, passive, non-militant and submissive but the Christians are known to fight back. If this incident can happen to them, it can very well happen to us,” said International Buddhist Cultural Organisation chief monk of Malaysia and Singapore Venerable Dr Sumana Siri in Penang today.

Expressing his “utter dissatisfaction with Jais because of its long arm (not informing even the Selangor exco member for religious affairs), Samuna said those involved in the raid should apologise to the Christians.

He described the seizing of copies of the Bibles in Malay and Iban by Jais from BSM as a sacrilege, adding that it was an “abuse to trample the right of the minority, by the majority”.

He also described the aborted protest by Selangor Umno and subsequently by Muslim NGOs at a field nearby the Klang Lady of Lourdes Church on Sunday as being in “bad taste”.

However, he praised social activist Marina Mahathir for speaking up for Christians at a gathering in front of the church, when she said that “Allah is for all”.

Samuna said although the incident happened in Selangor, it could spill over to other states particularly the Johor and erak, where the word ‘Allah’ is featured in the state anthems.

He added that this may create another problem as there are now non-Muslims singing with the word ‘Allah’ in it.

“If we are 1Malaysia, why is it that Sabah and Sarawak can use the word but not those in the peninsular? Shouldn’t there be one set of laws?" the monk queried.

Sumana then questioned Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim over their lack of response to the Jan 2 incident which enraged many quarters.

‘Najib needed to cool passions’

“Khalid as Selangor MB must make a clear stand. We also ask the same of Najib who has been silent on this matter. We need him to cool the passions and not allow it to become a free-for-all,” said the monk.

Samuna said Khalid response so far has been “lukewarm”, adding that it was sad that the MB had claimed to be in the dark about the incident, which saw 321 copies of the Al-Kitab (Bahasa Malaysia language Bibles), 10 Bup Kudus (Iban Bibles) and 20 St Luke’s gospel in the Malay language being seized.

Two BSM staff had also been detained for about an hour by the police.

Samuna denied attacking Najib over the issue, saying he appreciated his ability to keep quiet.

“But I cannot accept a person who studied law and talks about nationhood and harmony to remain so. He should call all religious leaders and heads of communities for a dialogue,” Samuna, 61, proposed.

“At least justice should be seen to be done if not done. It will also give 1Malaysia a little more meaning,” he added.

Sumana, 61, a practicing monk in the Sri Lankan tradition for 50 years, appears to be the first Buddhist monk to speak up on the controversial incident which has grabbed international headlines after the New Year.
 
Sumana hails from Malacca and read for his PhD in Theology at Oxford University. He is also a DAP life member.