Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Jais raid: PAS offers to mediate

KUALA LUMPUR: PAS is willing to be a mediator for the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) and the Christian community to resolve the Allah issue amicably, said National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC) member Mujahid Yusof Rawa.
The PAS Parit Buntar MP said the relationship between all religions must be preserved and there could not be any action that would affect this unity.
“Both parties should set aside their differences and put the country first,” he said.

He stressed that it was important for all parties to respect Putrajaya’s 10-point solution issued by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s administration in 2011.
The 10-point solution allows the Christian community to print, import and distribute copies of the Bible containing the word “Allah”.
It further allows Christians in East Malaysia to use the Arabic word “Allah” to describe God.
Mujahid said religious authorities should resort to discussion and negotiation before exerting their power.
He said the Christian community must also state clearly their agenda for using the Arabic word for God “Allah”.
“Jais must have the wisdom to carry out their duties, while the Christians must clearly disclose to the public their agenda for using the term,” Mujahid told reporters after the NUCC meeting here.
Mujahid said he did not blame Jais for the raid on the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM).
“They have the power to raid. However, this does not mean they have the wisdom to use the power.
“It is important to have wisdom, especially with sensitive issues. They should have had discussion and negotiations with BSM before resorting to a raid,” he added.
Earlier today, NUCC chairman Samsuddin Osman said the NUCC regretted that the raid and confiscation of copies of the Bible.
Samsuddin described the raid as a blatant disregard of Putrajaya’s 10-point solution.
The NUCC meeting today was attended by personalities and leaders from both sides of political divide, including Umno’s Saifuddin Abdullah and activist Marina Mahathir.
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