Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Reform Movement (APS) on Monday challenged Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister, Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan, to reveal his authoritative sources that support the burning of the Malay-language Bible (Alkitab).Its President, Datuk Seri Wilfred M. Bumburing, said Rahman's support and defence of the call by Perkasa President Ibrahim Ali to burn the Bible is a great dishonour to the fundamental rights of Malaysians to enjoy religious freedom as guaranteed and enshrined in the Federal Constitution.
"I am therefore issuing a challenge to Abdul Rahman to provide us the authoritative source he obtained when issuing the statement (supporting Perkasa's call to burn the Malay-language Bible).
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Rahman recently made known his support for Ibrahim's call to burn the Bible because, according to them, the Alkitab contained printing errors.
Bumburing said the Alkitab that is available in Malaysia is published by two distinguished authoritative bodies, the Indonesian Alkitab Board and The Bible Society of Malaysia.
Only the two bodies have the authority to determine whether or not there are errors in the translation and printing of the Malay-language Alkitab.
Bumburing also issued another challenge to Rahman to a public debate to determine whether his claims that the Malay-language Alkitab has printing errors can be established.
"But even if there are errors in any part of the Malay-language Alkitab whether in printing or errors of any kind, it can only be determined by Christian authorities.
"No one, including Christians themselves, have the right to call for the burning of any Bible translated in any language on whatever grounds," he stressed.
Rahman had said that it is common for Bibles that contained printing errors to be destroyed (by Muslim authorities) and likewise also the Al-Quran that contained printing errors.
On sex bloggers Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee, Bumburing said he agreed that what the duo did is of grave concern and that their being charged in court should serve as a deterrent to others not to play up sensitive issues.
However, in his opinion, the charges against them using three different sets of enactments appeared too harsh when other personalities who have not only insulted other religions but incited the public to burn the Bibles have not had any action taken against them.
Ibrahim and the others, he said, should have been dealt with whatever laws that have been enacted to deal with such offences.
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