THANKS TO NAJIB'S APEX COURT CUE: Mais now wants court order or it won't release Bibles

PETALING JAYA - The Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) refused to return some 300 seized bibles in the Malay and Iban languages despite the Attorney General Chambers' (AGC) decision to close the case.

After a special meeting today, Mais concluded that they have enough evidence to proceed with a charge under the Non-Islamic Religion (Control of Propagation Among Muslims) Enactment.

Mais chairman Datuk Mohamad Adzib Mohd Isa said the AG's decision to drop the case as the Enactment does not apply to the bibles will only confuse Muslims.

"The reason given by the AG to not press charges against those involved could confuse the faith of Muslims," he said in a statement today.

Mohamad Adzib said Mais and the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) are sensitive towards certain quarters who attempt to defile the sanctity of Islam by misusing Quranic words and phrases.

He said Mais does not agree with the Selangor state executive council's order that Jais returns the bibles to the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) as the state government does not have the authority to do so.

He urged the Selangor deputy public prosecutor to instead obtain a court order to dispose of the bibles under Section 407A of the Penal Code.

"This is in line with the AG's request to dispose the case items according to the provisions provided by law. Let the courts decide whether the items will be disposed of or returned," a follow-up statement said. -Sundaily