Shah Alam, Jan 8 – The police today handed to the public prosecutor the papers on the investigation into the statement by a Catholic priest on the use of the word ‘Allah’ by non-Muslims, said Selangor CPO Datuk Mohd Shukri Dahlan.
He said statements had been recorded from 99 individuals as part of the investigation.
“We completed the investigation after recording statements from various people, including the priest (Father) Lawrence (Andrew).
“The investigation papers were handed to the public prosecutor this morning,” he told reporters after the monthly assembly at the Selangor police headquarters, here.
Mohd Shukri said the statement from Lawrence, who is also the editor of the Catholic weekly, The Herald, was recorded yesterday.
Lawrence reportedly said on Dec 27 that all Catholic churches in Selangor would continue using the word ‘Allah’ in reference to God during the weekend service.
“(Up to yesterday) 101 police reports were lodged (against Lawrence) in Selangor and elsewhere over his remark,” said Mohd Shukri.
On another matter, he said Selangor registered 43,060 criminal cases in 2013, up from 40,076 in the previous year.
As such, he said, Selangor police would strive harder to reduce the number of criminal cases in the state, setting the target of reduction as five per cent of this year’s crime index.
– Bernama
