Mais says has sultan’s consent, insists exco has no right to return Bibles
The Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) said its stand not to return the Bibles seized from the Bible Society of Malaysia last January has the consent of the Selangor Sultan, the New Straits Times reported today.
Jun 19, 2014
SELANGOR: The Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) said its stand not to return the Bibles seized from the Bible Society of Malaysia last January has the consent of the Selangor Sultan, the New Straits Times reported today.
In its submission to the sultan, Mais argued that returning the Bibles would result "in the redistribution of the books banned under the law", adding that it would violate the state's existing law.
As such, Mais said Selangor's executive councillors had no power to instruct the Selangor Islamic Department (Jais) to return the Bibles.
Yesterday, several PAS lawmakers hit out at Mais for refusing to return Bibles, despite the Attorney-General having cleared BSM of accusations of using the books to proselytise to Muslims.
The New Straits Times quoted Mais as saying that Selangor exco members had no authority to order the return of the Alkitab and Bup Kudus, the Malay and Iban translations of the Bible.
Despite Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail declaring there was no case to charge BSM, Mais has steadfastly refused to abide by the decision.
Mais and Jais are also seeking a court ruling to enable them to dispose of the holy books.
Mais insisted that authorities take action against BSM under the Selangor Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation Among Muslims) Enactment 1988, which restricts the use of several Arabic terms in non-Islamic publications.
It was reported that Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim will announce a final decision on the seized Bibles on Monday.
The 321 Bibles were seized by Jais enforcement officers when they raided the premises of the BSM in Damansara Kim, Petaling Jaya, in January. --The Malaysian Insider
The Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) said its stand not to return the Bibles seized from the Bible Society of Malaysia last January has the consent of the Selangor Sultan, the New Straits Times reported today.
In its submission to the sultan, Mais argued that returning the Bibles would result "in the redistribution of the books banned under the law", adding that it would violate the state's existing law.
As such, Mais said Selangor's executive councillors had no power to instruct the Selangor Islamic Department (Jais) to return the Bibles.
Yesterday, several PAS lawmakers hit out at Mais for refusing to return Bibles, despite the Attorney-General having cleared BSM of accusations of using the books to proselytise to Muslims.
The New Straits Times quoted Mais as saying that Selangor exco members had no authority to order the return of the Alkitab and Bup Kudus, the Malay and Iban translations of the Bible.
Despite Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail declaring there was no case to charge BSM, Mais has steadfastly refused to abide by the decision.
Mais and Jais are also seeking a court ruling to enable them to dispose of the holy books.
Mais insisted that authorities take action against BSM under the Selangor Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation Among Muslims) Enactment 1988, which restricts the use of several Arabic terms in non-Islamic publications.
It was reported that Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim will announce a final decision on the seized Bibles on Monday.
The 321 Bibles were seized by Jais enforcement officers when they raided the premises of the BSM in Damansara Kim, Petaling Jaya, in January. – June 19, 2014.
- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/mais-says-has-sultans-consent-insists-exco-has-no-right-to-return-bibles#sthash.3dRRQz5o.dpuf
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