SHAH ALAM, June 19 — The Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah today ordered the State Islamic Religious Department ((JAIS) to refer to the prosecution whether the Malay version bible which were seized from the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) should be returned or disposed of.
The sultan’s private secretary, Datuk Mohamad Munir Bani, in a statement issued here today, said Sultan Sharafuddin wanted the matter to be carried out according to legal process using existing laws.
“The legal procedures provide that in disposing of items which are seized during raids and investigations can be referred by the public prosecutor to the court to obtain an order for the items to be returned or disposed,” he added.
He said the decree by the sultan was in line with the minutes issued by the Attorney-General’s Chambers which wanted JAIS to act in accordance with the law on the issue of the seized bible.
“This is necessary to protect the sanctity of the law and the sensitivities of the parties involved.
“The Selangor Sultan also opined that the issue should not be politicised to an extent it could confuse and distress the people,” he added.
The sultan also called on politicians to not use the bible issue for personal interest or the interests of their groups or political parties.
Prior to this, Attorney General Abdul Gani Patail said that there would be no prosecution in the case involving the seizure of copies of the Bible from the Bible Society of Malaysia last January and that the case was now closed.
Following that, Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim ordered JAIS to return the bible to BSM.
-Bernama
