Malaysia
Malaysia
Ban on Bible Rescinded
8 May 2003 On 25 April the Malaysian Government revoked a previous ban on the Iban language translation of the Bible. The ban is lifted with immediate effect. The Iban Bible has been freely available in the country for 15 years. Ibans comprise 30% of the population of Sarawak (the largest ethnic group in the state) and the majority of Ibans are Christian. The ban on Bup Kudus, the Iban language Bible, was lifted as a result of the Council of Churches and the Association of Churches in Sarawak appealing to the Malaysian Home Ministry (KDN) on 23 April. Following this, the deputy Prime Minister, and head of the KDN, Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi met with the church leaders and was satisfied with their explanation as to why the ban should be lifted. Despite this good news, the translations of 11 other Christian books that were banned at the same time remain illegal. They are in Bahasa Malaysia, the national language. BACKGROUND The twelve books were banned on 9 April by the KDN which considered them detrimental to public peace. Twenty-three other books, which were not Christian titles, were also banned. The statement issued by the KDN stated that the “printing, import, production, reproduction, sale, circulation, distribution and possession of books listed under the schedule are banned in the country”. If found guilty, a jail sentence of up to three years and/or a maximum fine of 20,000 Malaysian ringgits (approx. £3,340) will be given. Thus, Christians could face such consequences simply for possessing any of the banned titles. Those books banned include translated works by J I Packer, John R W Stott and others, which are not banned in their original English form. PRAY Give thanks for the lifting of the ban on the Iban Bible, it is an answer to prayer. Pray that the remaining ban on Christian books will be lifted without any repercussions and that the spirit of the constitutional freedom to practise one’s religion will be upheld. Pray for the continued safety and freedom of worship for the Iban Christians. BARNABAS FUND E-MAIL NEWS SERVICE The Barnabas Fund’s e-mail news service provides our supporters with short urgent news briefs and prayer requests for suffering Christians around the world. Please do share these news items with your Christian friends and churches. All news items are available on our website in a more colourful user-friendly presentation format which you can access, print and pass on. If you are not already receiving these news briefs directly from the Barnabas Fund and would like to, please contact us with your name, postal and e-mail addresses, and details of the church you attend. The Barnabas Fund, The Old Rectory, River Street, PEWSEY, Wiltshire, SN9 5DB, UK, Tel 01672 564938, Fax 01672 565030, E-mail info@barnabasfund.org Web www.barnabasfund.org