MAIS refutes Khalid Samad's statement over Bible seizure

The Selangor Islamic Religious Council (MAIS) has refuted a remark by Shah Alam Member of Parliament Khalid Abdul Samad that it was used as a tool by certain quarters to defend the confiscation of Bibles by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) in Petaling Jaya on Jan 2.

MAIS chairman Datuk Mohamad Adzib Mohd Isa said in a statement on Friday the seizure of the Bibles by JAIS was in accordance with the state enactment and a decree of the Sultan of Selangor Sultan prohibiting the use of the word 'Allah' by non-Muslims.

"MAIS does not take instructions from any quarters, as alleged, be it UMNO or the federal government," he said.

He said the statement by Khalid was made with political interests.

JAIS conducted a raid on the Bible Society of Malaysia in Damansara Kim, Petaling Jaya, on Jan 2 and seized 351 Bibles written in Malay and Iban and which contained the word 'Allah'.