Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) is deeply worried as to where Malaysia is heading, since the government allows religious bigots and freaks to roam freely in our social and printed media with impunity.

“It is so sad,” said PRS president James Masing (right) in responding to the refusal of the Selangor Islamic Religious council (Mais) and the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) to return the copies of the Bible in the Malay and Iban languages that were seized from the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) six months ago.

Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim had directed Jais to return the Bibles following the decision by the Attorney General Abdul Gani Patail not to proffer any charge against the society as the Bibles were not considered a threat to national security.

But Mais chairperson Mohamad Adzib Mohd Isa, is instead asking the deputy public prosecutor to seek a court ruling to dispose of the Bibles.

Masing, who is also Sarawak land development minister, said Jais and Mais were in danger of contempt of court by refusing to accept the court ruling, and even questioning it.

'Nobody is above the law'

“Nobody is above the law of this nation, not even Jais or Mais. I am not a legal man, but my understanding of the law is that they are in contempt of the court, treading on a dicey area where prosecution is a possibility,” Masing said, pointing out that Malaysia is a country that is stable and religiously harmonious.

“This has been possible over the years because we abide by the laws of the country. If anybody or any organisation thinks he or it is  above the law and acts in manners he or it deems fit, and those in authority  are incapable of enforcing those laws, then only God can help this country.

“Where Malaysia is heading to when we allow religious bigots and freaks to roam freely in our social and printed media with impunity,” Masing added, pointing out that Malaysia is a secular state, not an Islamic one.

Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem last week reiterated his warning that the state would not tolerate any religious bigot, racist and extremist to enter Sarawak.

There would also be no hudud for the state, Satem said.

“We have lived harmoniously all these many years and it is my responsibility to see that we, people of all races and culture, continue to live harmoniously,” he said at a media conference marking his 100 days as chief minister.


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