KOTA KINABALU: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) urged the Christian community in Malaysia not to be bogged down by opposition allegation that a federal minister had uttered words supporting the burning of the Bibles.
Its secretary general, Datuk Henrynus Amin, said he firmly believes the explanation by Urban Wellbeing, Local Government and Housing Datuk Rahman Dahlan was fair, honest and frank and truly reflected his core value as a moderate political leader for all races and religious community.
“When I first read about the allegation in the newspapers, it was very difficult for me to reconcile facts as I knew about Datuk Rahman as a person,” said Henrynus.
He said he found the allegation against Abdul Rahman doubtful and hard to swallow as the allegation seemed at odd with the popular perception of the minister as a friend and a public figure.
“I am glad that Datuk Rahman has come out publicly to clarify the issue to deflect opposition attempt to create a wedge between him and the Christian community,” he added in a statement yesterday.
Abdul Rahman on Tuesday denied that he supported Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali’s call for the burning of Bibles containing the word Allah.
He warned that he will not hesitate to take legal action on any party still bent on accusing him of calling for the Bible burning after this denial.
The Kota Belud member of parliament had recently come under fire in the alternative media and several non-Islamic organizations and individuals after it was reported in MalaysiaKini that he supposedly expressed support for Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali’s call to burn the Bibles in public to protest the use of the word Allah.
Henrynus said while he has no qualm about condemning the seditious remarks by the controversial political leader, Ibrahim, who advocated the burning of Christian Bibles, the Christian community in Malaysia must not fall into the trap of reacting irrationally by unfairly associating other Barisan Nasional political leaders to the controversial figure based on flimsy excuse.
He said Ibrahim is a controversial figure who is a popular political punching bag by the opposition to discredit the policies of the ruling government.
However, Ibrahim who allegedly advocated extreme views on racial and religious matters, has no formal ties to any of the governing political party, at least overtly.
“Like everyone else who believes in the rule of law, I stand my ground that if indeed Datuk Ibrahim Ali has broken the law, let the authorities deal with him,” he said.
But Henrynus regretted the fact that an innocent remark attributed to Abdul Rahman who is also the Sabah BN secretary general, has been spun beyond recognition and misconstrued and used to demonize him as if he is condoning the burning of the Christian Bibles.
He said he knew Abdul Rahman as a friend and firmly believes he is a pragmatic political leader, and certainly, a political moderate friendly to the Christian community.
He said he seriously doubt Abdul Rahman who is close to his Christian constituents would condone the burning of the Christian Bibles.
“Kota Belud is a mixed parliamentary constituency where 45% of the voters are Christian voters,” he said.
“As PBS secretary General, I know personally that the minister has shown sensitivity to the needs of his Christian constituents in Kota Belud as an MP and there is no reason for him to be anti-Christian,” said Henrynus, who is a Christian from the SIB Church.
“I totally agree that Datuk Rahman has allocated a third of his annual parliamentary allocation to upgrade churches, provide funds Christian religious events and build public amenities in his constituency where 45% of voters are Christians.”
He finds it strange that the opposition had jumped on Abdul Rahman based on third party account of the allegation they read in the alternative media without first checking the facts.
“As the secretary general of Sabah Barisan Nasional, Datuk Rahman has always advocated tolerance, understanding and close cooperation among the various races and religious communities. To call him a religious bigot is obviously wrong and defamatory,” he said.
“I am yet to speak to Datuk Rahman on the allegation, but the minister had at one time told me how he appreciated his Christian supporters who would pray for the government of the day and also for himself during his regular visit to Christian villages in Kota Belud.”
“To be honest, contrary to the allegation, Datuk Rahman who professed the Muslim faith did not find it offensive when his Christian supporters offered prayers support to him in the national language.”
He said he had spoken to several PBS leaders in Kadamaian who are close to Rahman and they told me the Kota Belud MP had shown exemplary leadership favorable to the Christian community in Kadamaian.”
Further, he said the fact that Abdul Rahman had endorsed the 10-Point solution by the Federal Cabinet to the controversial use of the Malay Christian Bibles during his campaign trail speaks volume of his attitude towards the Christian community.
He said while not everyone is pleased with the solution and the use of the Christian Bibles in the Malay language is still being argued in the court of law, it is a very positive sign that every Christian in Malaysia should be thankful to Almighty God.
At the end of the day, he said the Christian Bible in Malay issue will be decided by the Federal Constitution, not emotion or the narrow interest of any particular group.
“PBS stand is very clear from the very beginning that we stand by the provisions as well as original interpretation of the Federal Constitution by the founding father that served as the basis for Sabah’s entry to the Federation of Malaysia.
“PBS is confident in the Malaysian legal system and the final solution would be based on the rule of law, not politics,” he said.
PBS information chief Datuk Johnny Mositun is also happy that Abdul Rahman had cleared the air over the latter’s purported support of call to burn Bibles.
“I know Datuk Rahman well, and he has always come across as an open-minded and even-handed person not given to racial or religious extremism,” he said.
Mositun said the Allah issue would be difficult to resolve amicably if politicians and certain non-governmental organisations (NGOs) with vested interest chose to exploit it for their own ends.
“I personally feel the religious authorities are the ones to sit down and discuss the matter in a frank, sincere and unprejudiced manner. Political leaders and leaders of NGOs should refrain from adding to the controversy which could derail the Prime Minister’s efforts to realize the goals of 1Malaysia,” he said.
Mositun added the Federal Cabinet had allowed Bahasa Malaysia Bibles using the word Allah to be imported into Sabah and Sarawak because it understood the situation in these two states.
“The Barisan Nasional has always practised moderation and believes in treating all communities in the country fairly. In this context the provisions of the Constitution will always be upheld, and the rights of every Malaysian will be protected regardless of ethnicity or religion,” he said.
He also said that all loyal citizens should not be swayed by extremist elements who wanted to see chaos and civil unrest for their own ends.
“This is a fact. There are irresponsible and selfish people who will say and do things to create friction between people of different ethnicities and religions because they want to be seen as ‘champions’ of their particular community or religion. The people should see through such unethical behaviour and not be swayed emotionally into reacting negatively. That would be falling into their trap,” Mositun said.