Kota Kinabalu: The Government is committed to safeguarding the interests and rights of Christians in the State to carry out their religious obligations and freedom to worship as spelt out in the country's Constitution, and also the Keningau Oath Stone which states freedom of religion in the State. "This also covers the whole country. The BN Government is not in the business of prosecuting its own people. So we should shed the perception that the Government is targeting certain groups of people only. This is a wrong perception," said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Tan Sri Joseph Kurup.He was briefing Christian religious leaders in the State on the Government's Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on the controls of printed religious publications, including the importation of Christian Bibles into the State and Sarawak.
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"I wish to reassure all those present that the BN government is responsible in fully defending the constitution and freedom of religion, something that the Prime Minister always reminds his Cabinet ministers whenever matters such as this arise in Cabinet meetings.The briefing was necessary due to several incidents arising from misunderstandings between the parties involved to allow or not the importation of Christian publications from overseas and others.Some 100 Christian religious leaders and NGOs in the State attended the briefing by the Home Ministry's Publication Controls Division at Le Meridien Hotel, here."I hope that after today all the parties will know (about the issues involved) to be able to streamline the importation of Christian publications according to the spirit of the 10 Point resolution (allowing only for Sabah and Sarawak due to Allah as literal translation for God being used in churches since the early 1900s before Malaysia came about).
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"It is pretty clear after the briefing from the Ministry of Home Affairs' Publication Controls Division that there is no restriction on the importation of such Christian religious items into Sabah, Sarawak but we must still follow proper procedures as spelt out under their SOP and also preferably to get clarification from the Customs Department, particularly in cases where it involves importation of such materials in bulk."Kurup said it cannot be denied that lately there had been misunderstandings and confusion from some quarters over bringing in of religious texts from overseas. "But I wish to re-emphasise the stand of the government on the matter is that there are no obstacles to bring in religious texts into Sabah and Sarawak based on the agreed upon 10 points resolution. However the required procedures set in place (by the government) must be satisfied.
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"The authorities will not detain nor impose any restrictions on any such religious (Christian) materials and publications if destined for use in Sabah and Sarawak. "As such I ask all parties to streamline the importation of such Christian publications or other religious materials whereby before they import it is preferable that they try to determine beforehand whether such importations require an import permit or not."I feel it is not wrong for us to find out first whether the books that we intend to bring in from overseas to Sabah and Sarawak require an import permit or not from the relevant authorities. "I don't think there is any harm to ask first, so that when we import the items, it will be understood (by all parties) and not be subjected to any unnecessary obstacles when it arrives at the airports or customs."Kurup clarified that the government's SOP regulations were not only for Christian publications but covered all religious texts. "At the same time the Federal Government will make sure that the enforcement of the SOP on importation of religious materials will be carried out in and fair, just and responsible manner."Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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