Ban on Iban-Language Bible Lifted

30 April 2003

A ban which called the Iban-language Bible a "detriment to public peace" has been lifted by the acting prime minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. The ban was lifted because of an appeal from church leaders who explained that the Bible had been in use in Sarawak for 15 years. In lifting the ban, the prime minister reiterated that the ministry would ban books and magazines which are "disseminating extremist views and teachings on any religion."

Original Persecution and Prayer Alert story published April 16, 2003:
(News report April 25, 2003 - Bernama News Agency)

Malaysia

Country Information
Population
34,219,975 (2023 est.)

Ethnicity (%)
Bumiputera (63.8 - Malays and indigenous peoples), Chinese (20.6), Indian (6), others (0.6), non-citizens (9)

Religion (%)
Muslim (63.5), Buddhist (18.7), Christian (9.1), Hindu (6.1), Confucianism, Taoism, other traditional Chinese religions (0.9), Other (1.8),

Leader
King Sultan Ibrahim ibni al-Marhum Sultan Iskandar (2024)

Government type
Federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy

Legal system
Mixed legal system of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Federal Court at request of supreme head of the federation

Source: CIA World Factbook
Pray for Malaysia
Pray that Christians will stand firm in their faith, despite opposition

Pray that Malaysian Christians will be free to practice their faith in Jesus Christ.

Pray that all Christians in Malaysia will be able to freely access the Bible.

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