Jais returns seized Bible - Azmin Ali
Astro Awani
November 14, 2014 15:00 MYT
November 14, 2014 15:00 MYT
Jais returns seized Bible - Azmin Ali
The Selangor government said copies of Bible seized by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) from The Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) in January were today returned.
Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali said the handing over of the seized Bibles was held at the Alam Shah palace, witnessed by the Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.
Also present were the Mufti of Selangor Datuk Mohd Tamyes Abd Wahid and church leaders from Selangor, Sabah and Sarawak.
In a series of tweet, Azmin said the Bible issue is finally resolved.
Mohd Azmin in a Press statement said that all parties concerned in particular the Majlis Agama Islam Selangor and Association of Churches in Sarawak (ACS) have reached an amicable resolution of the Bible issue through sincere efforts and conviction to respect religious sensitivities of all communities.
"As I have said on many occasions since assuming the position of the State MB, this administration will pursue all means possible to enhance and foster communal and religious understanding in Selangor," said Mohd Azmin.
"I had pledged to have the Bibles returned to the Christians because they belong to them. Now, thanks to the wisdom and foresight of His Royal Highness Sultan of Selangor, this has become a reality," he added.
On January 2, 2014, a team from Jais raided the BSM offices in Damansara Kim and seized more than 300 copies of the Alkitab and Bup Kudus, on grounds that it contravened a 1988 Selangor enactment, which prevents non-Muslims from using the word "Allah".
The seized bibles were alleged to be used for investigation purposes.
The discretion as to whether or not to commence a criminal prosecution after the investigation lies in the Attorney-General (AG) under the provisions of Article 145 of the Federal Constitution.
In June AG Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail decided there is no case against the BSM and no prosecution will be made, declared the case closed and ordered Jais to return the seized bibles to BSM.
However, the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) refuted the AG’s decision and refused to return the bibles.