The Bible Society of Malaysia's (BSM) decision to move out of Selangor is Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim's fault and is a reason that his leadership is in question, according to the state DAP.

In fact, said Selangor DAP deputy chief Gobind Singh Deo, the seizure of 320 copies of the Malay and Iban-language Bible has raised questions on Khalid’s eligibility to remain in his post.

“It goes without saying that incidents like these demonstrate Khalid's inability to understand and solve problems which need political courage and strength. That begs the question as to whether or not he is politically fit and able enough to continue as menteri besar.

“Situations like these, needless to say, will cost Pakatan (Rakyat) dearly in the next general election. This is precisely the reason why many have expressed great concern about Khalid's leadership in Selangor.”

In a scathing statement, Gobind said Khalid had shown  “a total lack of interest and political will” in handling the seizure of the AlKitab in January by the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais).

He said this has not only caused a “total lack of faith” among Christians, but among Malaysians as a whole, thus threatening Pakatan's position despite its super majority in the legislative assembly.

He added that Khalid's lackadaisical attitude also reneges on the state's pledge to protect minority rights.

In related remarks, Gerakan Youth chief Tan Keng Liang accused the Selangor government of "behaving like a Taliban state".

"Gerakan Youth urges the Selangor government to resolve this issue amicably," he said in a statement.

"This situation has not only damage the integrity of Selangor, but will indirectly damage the reputation of our country as a whole.

"We would like to remind Pakatan that the situation which has indirectly pressured a Christian society to move out of Selangor is just like a Taliban state which curtailed freedom of religion among the minorities."

Yesterday, the BSM had announced that it will move out of its Petaling Jaya premises to Kuala Lumpur, as it felt it could be better protected by the federal government.

It also said that it will cease importing the AlKitab via Port Klang to avoid any seizure on the basis that a Selangor enactment bans non-Muslims from using the word 'Allah'.
 
Several DAP assemblypersons have proposed an amendment to this enactment, but this has never been brought to the legislative assembly.

‘Request clearance’ directive

The Federal Territories and Sarawak are the only places in Malaysia which do not have such legislation or regulations.

However, the Home Ministry had barred the import of the AlKitab due to a 1981 ministerial order, which also bans non-Muslims from using certain words, including 'Allah'.

In 2011, the cabinet had brokered a '10-point Agreement', which guarantees that the ban will not be imposed on the AlKitab as long it is stamped with the words 'For Christians only' and a cross on the front cover, and is used only by Christians.

The Home Ministry ban still stands and has been used to bar Catholic publication The Herald from using the word 'Allah'. The case is still pending in court.

On the seized copies of the Alkitab, Khalid had asked the BSM to write to the attorney-general to get clearance for the copies, before Jais returns these.

In response to BSM's decision to move, he had said that the state cannot stop them and that Selangor is bound by its laws.

Although a Selangor agency, Jais is answerable to the Selangor Islamic Affairs Council, which is under the Selangor sultan's purview.