THE proposal for Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) to provide a translation of the Malay Bible, or Al-Kitab, did not come from the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais), said chairman Mohamad Adzib Mohd Isa.

He said Mais did not know about the proposal, made by its lawyer, Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla, as the council had never issued any instructions on the matter.

“No, translating the Bible into Bahasa Malaysia is not our suggestion. It is not Mais’ stand,” Adzib told The Malaysian Insight.

“We never held any discussions or gave instructions on Bible translations.”

Haniff is Mais’ counsel in Sarawakian Jill Ireland’s suit against the government over the constitutional right to use the word “Allah” for “God” in Christian publications.

He proposed that DBP come up with an official translation of the Bible in Bahasa Malaysia on the grounds that Christians in Sabah and Sarawak had been using the word wrongly.

Adzib, who was asked to comment on Haniff’s proposal and whether it had been the council’s suggestion, said Mais had yet to decide whether it should ask the lawyer for an explanation.

“We do not know why, I am not sure why he said that, but that is his stand as a lawyer. So far, we can verify that it is not Mais’ official stand.”

Haniff told The Malaysian Insight that he stood by his statement and welcomed “intellectual feedback” to his proposal.

He also refused to apologise to Christian leaders who had taken offence at his suggestion.

There has been protest from Christians groups, such as the Christian Federation of Malaysia, which today said Haniff’s proposal was an infringement of the constitutional rights of religious groups to manage their own affairs and holy scriptures.

Inter-faith group the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism said Haniff was being illogical, and if DBP were allowed to translate the Bible, other holy books might suffer the same fate. – November 20, 2017.