Malaysian port and customs authorities have seized at least 15,000 Bibles in recent months because the word “Allah” for God appears in them.
Some 10,000 of the Bahasa Malaysia-language Bibles, which were printed in Indonesia, are in Kuching, capital of Sarawak in East Malaysia, and another 5,000 copies are in Kelang near Kuala Lumpur.
On Nov. 4, the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) called for the immediate release of the confiscated Bibles. At the same time, CFM Executive Secretary Tan Kong Beng said that the federation is striving for amicable relations with government authorities.
“We are open to and desire further discussion with officials so that this problem can be resolved,” he said.
In 2005 the government of Malaysia agreed to allow the use of “Allah” in non-Muslim literature, according to CFM, citing a written agreement in December of that year that Bahasa Malaysia Bibles can be distributed so long as the symbol of the cross and the words “a Christian publication” are printed on the front page. (CD)
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