Authorities in Malaysia's Kuching Port have detained approximately 30,000 copies of the New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs in the Malay language, causing great upset among the nation's Christians. Gideons International imported the books from Indonesia for distribution in schools, churches and longhouses in Betong and other Christian areas in Sarawak state. They have been detained since January. Authorities told an officer that he could not distribute the books because they "contained words which are also found in the Qur'an." The officer was ordered to transport the books to the Home Ministry's office for storage. This same officer recently enquired of the Home Ministry officials on the status of the Malay Bibles, and was told by authorities that they had yet to receive instructions on the matter.
This is not the first time government authorities have detained Malay-language Bibles. In March 2009, 5,100 copies of the Good News Bible in Malay, imported by the Bible Society of Malaysia, were detained in Port Klang.
Pray this Christian literature will be released for distribution. Pray that, even among such opposition, the Word of the Lord will continue to go forth in Malaysia. Pray religious freedom will be justly respected throughout Malaysia.
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