Finnish visitors told to observe Malaysian laws, heed local customs

Finnish citizens have been advised to respect Malaysian laws and regulations and pay heed to local religious adherences, says Finland’s ambassador to Malaysia, Petri Puhakka.

In a written statement to Bernama pertaining to the recent repatriation of four Finnish nationals who were arrested after allegedly distributing religious materials containing texts from the Bible, he said such reminders were essential as it was already laid out in the travel advisory section of the embassy’s web page.

"Our embassy was well aware of the case, and we were constantly in touch with the Malaysian authorities in following its developments. I think it is also fair to say that in general, Finns are known to follow laws and regulations,” he said.

The envoy, however, could not elaborate on the merits of the case due to Finnish privacy laws. He expressed appreciation to the Malaysian authorities for their cooperation in handling the case.

“The bilateral relations between Finland and Malaysia is strong, and the embassy is doing its best to further enhance and nurture this relationship. Malaysia is a unique example of a multicultural society, where several cultures and religions can co-exist," he said in the statement.

Bernama reported on Nov 26 that four Finnish nationals who were detained six days earlier for distributing pens and pamphlets printed with Bible verses in Langkawi were deported.

Local police arrested the Finns, including two women, at a hotel room on the island about 5pm and seized 47 pens and 336 booklets containing verses from the Bible, which were believed to be for distribution to locals.

– Bernama