Virtual war over Alkitab as polling day looms
By Debra Chong, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, April 12 – The tug-of-war over the Alkitab has moved on to cyberspace as the race to win the crucial Christian vote heats up in Sarawak ahead of state polls on Saturday.
A string of partisan text messages targeting Christian voters has been making the rounds within the state in what appears to be a last-ditched bid to swing votes in favour of the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) or Pakatan Rakyat (PR) parties.
The Borneo state is home to Malaysia’s largest Christian population where an estimated one in two voters is Christian.
Some of the messages have also managed to cross the South China Sea to the peninsula, where more than 200,000 Sarawakians have settled down to further their studies and work.
One such message The Malaysian Insider received today read: “In Sabah and Sarawak, under BN, Christians can worship freely, can print and import Bibles without restrictions whatsoever. No stamps, no serial numbers. Opposition are spreading all sorts of rumours and lies. Pls forward to 5 fellow Christians, in the name of Jesus!”
The Christian who forwarded the message said it was referring to the Cabinet’s 10-point formula to resolve outstanding issues that have plagued the religious community for the past 30 years.
The source, who asked to remain anonymous, said it showed an attempt by interested parties to subvert the Christian dilemma centred on the use of “Allah”, the Arabic word for God.
A counter message has also popped up online questioning the validity of the 10-point formula, this time in the national language.
“Kenapa 10 perkara cadangan kerajaan berkenaan isu alkitab tidak meyelesaikan isu penggunaan isu ALLAH?
“Kerana semua arahan berikut masih berkuatkuasa. 1. Tegahan alkitab di bawah Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri 1960 sbb ia memudaratkan kepentingan & keselamatan Negeri. 2. Larangan perkataan Allah dalam semua penerbitan Kristian. Alasan untuk jaga ketenteraman awam & mengelak salahfaham antara orang Islam & Kristian. Surat dari Bahagian Kawalan Kementerian Dlm Negeri Perkeliling 5/12/86. 3. Larangan pengimpotan alkitab/penerbitan buku2 Kristian. Garispanduan Bahagian Kawalan Penerbitan &Teks Al Quran. JUSTERU, ALKITAB MASIH DILARANG KERANA PERKATAAN ALLAH, 10 perkara hanyalah untuk memancing undi semasa Pilahan Raya Umum Sarawak.”
[In English, it reads: “Why the 10-point government proposal on the Alkitab does not resolve the use of the word ‘Allah’?
“Because all the following orders are still in force. 1. The Alkitab is banned under the Internal Security Act 1960 because it threatens public interest and national security. 2. The word ‘Allah’ is prohibited from use in all Christian publication. The excuse is to protect public order and prevent confusion between the Muslims and Christians. A letter from the Home Ministry’s (Publication) Control division dated December 5, 1986. 3. A ban on the import of the Alkitab/Christian books. Guideline from the Publication Control and Al-Quran Text division. Therefore, the Alkitab is still barred because of the word ‘Allah’, the 10-point is vote-bait for the Sarawak elections.”]
