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Faced with an unyielding Christian community days ahead of a crucial state poll in Sarawak, the federal government has retracted all conditions previously imposed on the use of Malay bibles for east Malaysia but the Alkitab will still have to sport the words "Christian Publication" in the peninsula.

The Cabinet, through its Christian minister, Datuk Seri Idris Jala, offered today a new list of suggestions to put an end to the month-long stand-off in a bid to head off a possible backlash against the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition in Malaysia's biggest and most Christian state on April 16.

In his media statement, Jala spelled out the government's 10-point solution to pacify the minority Christians without incurring the anger of the majority Muslims over the religious controversy.

They are as below:

• Bibles in all languages can be imported into the country, including Bahasa Malaysia/Indonesia;

• Bibles can now also be printed locally;

• Bibles in the indigenous languages of Sabah and Sarawak such as Iban, Kadazan-Dusun and Lun Bawang can also be printed locally and imported;

• There are no conditions attached to the import and local printing of the bibles in all languages, whether in Malay or in the indigenous languages of Sarawak and Sabah, due to the high number of Christians there; also, there will be no stamping or serialisation of the bibles;

• Due to the higher number of Muslims in the peninsula, the Malay-language bibles must sport the words "Christian Publication" and the cross on the cover;

• There will be no restriction on Christians who carry their bibles and other religious materials while travelling between the peninsula and Borneo, and vice-versa;

• The Cabinet's decision will be gazetted through the Home Ministry's secretary-general to ensure the order is carried out. Action will be taken against civil officials who breach these directives;

• The federal government will reimburse the two bible importers.

• Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak will meet the Christian Federation of Malaysia to look for a way forward on outstanding religious issues beyond the Bible row; and

• Christian ministers will also hold regular meetings with Christian groups to talk over religious issues.

"I hope this 10-point solution will be received positively by Christian groups as being fair and reasonable," Jala said in his statement, adding that the government was committed to a peaceful way out of the impasse.

He added that the government recognised it handled the Bible issue poorly and "I hope the Christians would find it in their hearts to forgive us."

"The Bible says in Matthew 18: 21-22, 'Then Peter came to Jesus and asked: Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jala said, quoting from the Christian holy book.

"Jesus answered, 'I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times," he said.