The recent announcement of the ban on Bup Kudus (the Iban-language Bible) raises very serious concerns.
Freedom of religion is a basic human right, universally upheld by (inter alia) Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In Malaysia, freedom of religion is also enshrined in Article 11 of the Constitution which guarantees the right to profess and practise one’s religion and to manage one’s religious affairs. The ban on Bup Kudus strikes at this freedom, as well as at the freedom of expression and association; and, if allowed to continue, will render them illusory.
The purported basis of the ban, as reported in the Press, is that the Bup Kudus has allegedly 'breached the guidelines for non-Islamic religious books'. This suggestion is not only vague, but also ominous. It is also particularly perplexing if the Bup Kudus has been used by Ibans in Sarawak for religious purposes for the past 15 years.
The ban will impede, if not detract from, genuine nation-building efforts. It will further impact on Malaysia’s standing as an open, progressive, free and tolerant society, a matter we cannot allow in the current troubling times. Freedom of religion in Malaysia must not be something to which only lip service is paid. It must constantly and consistently be translated into a palpable reality to which every individual can relate in his or her everyday life.
The ban strikes at the heart of our way of life as Malaysians. The Bar Council calls for the immediate withdrawal of the ban on Bup Kudus.
2012 Bar Council Subscription Click the link above to download Circular 072/2012 pertaining to the 2012 Bar Council subscription, including the payment guide and a set of Frequently-Asked-Questions.
2012 Hotel Corporate Rates Attending seminars? Going for a holiday? Click on the link above to check out the list of hotel corporate rates for Members of the Bar, which is updated regularly.
Bar Council Bookshop Read MORE … but pay LE$$! Members enjoy a 20% discount on LexisNexis publications at the Bar Council Bookshop. Click on the link above for the list of available titles.
International Malaysia Law Conference (26 to 28 Sept 2012) Hurry up! The countdown continues and the current promotion rate ends 30 June 2012. Don't miss what is going to be the best conference in the region! On top of that, if you sign up with 5 or more people from the same organisation, we will give you a 10% group discount. Click on the link above to register.
Talk on Summary Judgement (25 May 2012) Organised by the Selangor Bar Committee, this talk will take place at 5:00 pm, at the Selangor Bar Committee Auditorium, on 25 May 2012 (Friday). The talk will be conducted by Ramesh Supramanian. Click on the link above for more details.
Seminar on Tax Issues in Financial Transactions (25 May 2012) Organised by the Kuala Lumpur Bar Professional Development Committee, this seminar, featuring S Saravana Kumar, will take place at 3:00 pm, at the Kuala Lumpur Bar Auditorium, on 25 May 2012 (Friday). Click on the link above for more details.
Dialogue with Criminal Law Practitioners (26 May 2012) Organised by Bar Council, this dialogue will take place at 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, at the Raja Aziz Addruse Auditorium, Bar Council, on 26 May 2012 (Saturday). Click on the link above for more details.
Conference on Competition Law (31 May 2012) Organised by Bar Council with the support of LexisNexis, this conference will take place at 8:30 am to 4:00 pm, at Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel, on 31 May 2012 (Thursday). For more details or to register, please contact Vilashini Vijayan (03-2050 2095; vila@malaysianbar.org.my). Click on the link above for more details.
Talk on What Clients Want (7 June 2012) Organised by the KL Bar Practitioners' Affairs Committee, the talk, presented by Ong Eu Jin, will take place at 5:00 pm, at the KL Bar Auditorium, on 7 June 2012 (Thursday). Click on the link above for more details.
4th LAWASIA Family Law Conference, Penang (13 and 14 July 2012) Supported by Penang Bar Committee and the Malaysian Bar, this conference, themed “The New Global Family: Emerging Trends and Challenges to Family Practice”, will take place at Traders Hotel, Penang, on 13 and 14 July 2012 (Friday and Saturday). Click on the link above for more details.
News/Notices 
Subscribe to this comment's feed
Circular No 109/2012: Be a Part of the Bar Council Constitutional Law Committee
