Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Discussion with sultan 'encouraging', says MB


Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said that his discussion with the Selangor sultan on the bible issue today was "encouraging".

He said that he is scheduled for an audience with Sultan Shariuddin Idris Shah tomorrow to discuss the matter in greater detail.

According to Khalid,  the matter was raised when he accompanied the sultan during the 235th Rulers' Council meeting at the Istana Negara earlier today.

He added that Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail also participated in the discussion.

Abdul Gani was met at the sidelines of the Rulers' Council meeting.

Khalid, however, declined to reveal the details of what was discussed.

The MB also said that he will meet with Bible Society Malaysia after the audience with the sultan tomorrow and a decision will be announced on Monday.

321 copies of the Malay and Iban language Bible were seized from BSM by the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais).

"I will have an audience with His Highness tomorrow and will get a final decision on this so I can meet with BSM later," he told reporters after the state assembly was adjourned for this session.

'Mais powers not priority'

Asked of calls to amend the state enactment to clip the Selangor Islamic Affairs Council's (Mais) powers, he said that this is not the priority.

This is as the state wants to first solve the issue of the seized holy books.

Several PAS elected representatives hadcalled for an amendment to the Islamic Administration (Selangor) Enactment, which allows Mais to have powers over Jais.

This is ensure that Jais only takes orders from the state government.

The bibles were seized by Jais from BSM's Petaling Jaya premise last January.

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