Malaysian government to release Bibles

Malaysian government to release Bibles
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (UPI) -- Two shipments of 35,000 impounded Bibles comply with Malaysian law and will be released, the government announced Tuesday.

The Bibles were seized because of the use of the word "Allah" as a translation for "God," which many Muslims found objectionable. About 60 percent of Malaysians are Sunni Muslim, which is the nation's official religion, although the constitution also guarantees freedom of religion.

The Performance Management and Delivery Unit, which impounded one shipment of 5,000 Bibles in 2009 and another 30,000 in January, said the language issue should be resolved through discussion, The Star reported. The agency's Chief Executive Officer Datuk Seri Idris Jala, who is Christian, has been designated as the point man for talks with the Christian community.

Under Malaysian law, Bibles distributed in the country must be stamped "for Christians Only."

About 19 percent of Malaysians practice Buddhism, 9 percent Christianity and 6 percent Hinduism. The remainder are split between practitioners of Chinese religions and philosophies and of traditional Malaysian religions.



Copyright 2011 by United Press International

This news arrived on: 03/16/2011