Malaysia MSN(http://news.malaysia.msn.com)
The Malaysian Insider
Probe into Bible seizure to be completed soon, says Selangor MB, 31 March 2014
The investigation into the seizure early this year of copies of the Bible from the offices of the Bible Society of Malaysia, is now in the final stages, said Selangor Menteri Besar, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim. Khalid did not mention the exact time the process will be completed, but said the issue would be resolved soon. "Of course it is...
The investigation into the seizure early this year of copies of the Bible from the offices of the Bible Society of Malaysia, is now in the final stages, said Selangor Menteri Besar, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.
Khalid did not mention the exact time the process will be completed, but said the issue would be resolved soon.
"Of course it is almost completed, not much longer now," he told reporters when met in Shah Alam today.
The investigation came about after the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais) raided the BSM offices in Damansara Kim, Petaling Jaya, before leaving with more than 300 copies of the Malay-language Alkitab and Iban-language Bup Kudus.
Selangor's exco on religion, Sallehan Mukhyi, said the state government was awaiting approval from the Home Ministry.
The case was referred to the Attorney General’s office by Jais after it had completed its investigation earlier.
"Once the green light is given, the seized Alkitab and Bup Kudus will be returned to BSM," Sallehan said.
"We have not received any answers from the Home Ministry.
"What we know is that the Attorney General's Chambers has handed the case over to the ministry and we are waiting for their reply," he told The Malaysian Insider.
Sallehan was optimistic that the issue regarding the return of the seized Bibles could be resolved by the middle of April.
Jais in January sparked a controversy as it had not informed the state government prior to the operation.
Following the incident, Khalid instructed Jais to refer the matter to the Home Ministry.
Jais was also instructed to check whether the distribution of the Alkitab and Bup Kudus violated Putrajaya's 10-point solution, which allows the printing and distribution of the Malay-language Bible nationwide.
Under Section 9 of Selangor's Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation Among Muslims) Enactment 1988, it is an offence for non-Muslims to use certain words, including "Allah", in any writings, publication, public speeches and statements.
BSM president Lee Min Choon told The Malaysian Insider today that Jais had not contacted them over the return of the Bibles.
"We have not approached them as well. We will just wait for them to decide," he said. March 31, 2014.
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