Christian tribespeople in the timber-rich east Malaysian state of Sarawak are demanding the lifting of a federal government ban on the Bub Kudus - the only complete Bible in their Iban language.
The former head-hunters say the ban is sudden and has not been explained. The book has been widely used since 1988 by the tribe, who were once animists.
The Iban number about 550,000 and are descendants of natives who converted to Christianity under the rule of the Brooke family - also called the White Rajahs - in the 19th century. Many are not literate in English.
Last week the government announced it was banning the Bub Kudus, five other Malay-language translations of American Bible guides and 28 other publications of 'deviationists' cults. The Iban are unsure whether they now have to surrender their Bibles to the police and stop using them in church. It is a serious offence in Malaysia to keep publications that have been banned.
Teacher Benedict Jalong, 48, said anxiety and confusion had gripped the congregations. 'Rural Iban depend solely on the Iban-language Bible for their religious needs,' he said. If the ban was strictly enforced, it could disrupt their church services, many feared. The Sarawak Association of Churches said the ban was unwarranted and had created 'confusion, fear, anxiety and alarm' among Sarawak's Christians. 'We have not received any explanation for the ban,' said Peter Chung, the archbishop of Kuching, the capital of Sarawak.
The influential Malaysian Council of Churches added to the pressure for a lifting of the ban yesterday, with council president Bishop Julius Paul describing it as insensitive and urging an immediate review. 'Government ministers have always given assurance that there would be dialogue with religious leaders over any materials that are under review for prohibition,' he said. 'This time there was no consultation.'