No directive for Jais raid, says Selangor exco

The Selangor government was not consulted over the raid conducted by the State Islamic Department (Jais), says its exco for Islamic affairs, agricultural modernisation and rural development Sallehan Mukhyi.

Sallehan said the state government was only informed after the raid was conducted, but no further information was given.

“Normally, the action by Jais comes from either the state government or the state Islamic council (Mais).

“In this matter, there was no directive by the state government as it (the raid) was not discussed,” he said when contacted by Malaysiakini.

Sallehan, who is also the Sabak state asseblyperson, was asked to comment on the raid upon the Bible Society Malaysia (BSM) this afternoon, where hundreds of copies of the Malay language Bibles were seized and two individuals - BSM chairperson Lee Min Choon and his office manager Sinclair Wong - were arrested.

It was reported that 321 copies of the BM Bibles and 10 copies of the Iban language were seized.  

Lee and Wong who were picked up were later released on police bail after 90 minutes.

Meanwhile, Gerakan Youth leader Tan Keng Liang has urged Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim to explain over the Jais raid and the seizure made, following Sallehan's earlier statement that he was not aware over it.
 
“Gerakan Youth hereby demands that the Selangor menteri besar explain why Jais raided and seized the Bibles today.
     
“The raid and seizure of the said Bibles would undoubtedly cause anxiety and uneasiness among Christian communities in Selangor as well as other states in our country,” said Tan in a statement.
 
He described such a move is against what had been preached by Pakatan leaders in the issue and the Selangor MB must provide explanation without any further delay.