Denying any ‘sinister’ motives, RoS says visit to Bible Society just a ‘routine check’
(Malay Mail Online) – The Registrar of Societies (RoS) today denied that it has hidden motives in its planned inspection of the Bible Society of Malaysia’s (BSM) premises tomorrow, as the Christian group braces for possible reprisal over a recent court decision that went against the federal government.
An RoS official said the two-hour visit to BSM’s office starting at 1pm tomorrow is a normal procedure that is provided for under the Societies Act 1966.
“Every month we run such inspections to about 10 or 15 societies registered under us. There is nothing suspicious here. We have the right to enter premises under the law, provided we give notice,” the official told Malay Mail Online on condition of anonymity.
In an earlier report by news portal Malaysiakini, the RoS had sent out an email notice to BSM informing the latter of the visit, but did not provide any reason for the inspection.
The report claimed that BSM was told to prepare its membership roll, meeting minutes and accounts for inspection during the visit.
Despite the RoS’ assurance, the BSM remains wary of possible intimidation following the Court of Appeal’s decision last week to return eight Christian CDs seized from a Sarawakian Christian, Jill Ireland, in 2008 at the low-cost carrier terminal in Sepang.
The Home Ministry is also pending approval of a standard operating procedure for the import of religious materials into the country after several Christian books and CDs were wrongfully seized on the way into the country.
“The notice was received some time last week. They say it’s a routine check but the society has dutifully sent in its minutes, membership list and accounts as required. If they needed that, they need only to ask us to send it in,” said a BSM member, who asked not to be named.
“We feel that it may be more than that as following Section 64 of the Act has a clause to forcefully enter and seize material from a society if deemed to be used as ‘purposes prejudicial to public peace, welfare, good order or morality in Malaysia’,” the member added.
The RoS denied that its visit has anything to do with the appellate court ruling, insisting that it is merely exercising its rights under Section 63 of the Act ― which grants the registrar power of entry and inspection of a society’s premises, books, accounts, minutes of meetings and other documents.
The particular section, however, states that such powers are invoked if the registrar “has reason to believe that any society is carrying on activities in contravention of any provision of this Act or any regulations made thereunder or any of its rules”.
In January last year, the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) carried out a surprise raid of BSM’s Selangor office and seized over 300 copies of the bible in Malay and Iban, using a 1988 Selangor state law that prohibits non-Muslims from using “Allah” to refer to God.
The bibles were returned to BSM in November later in the year, albeit stamped in red with a warning that they were not to be published or used anywhere in Selangor.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had agreed to a 10 point solution which allowed Christians in Sabah and Sarawak to use the Al-Kitab, the Malay language bible, and the word “Allah” in their worship.
