Home minister: Cops to act on Jais request in ‘Allah’ row
(MM) – The police are to act if Selangor’s Islamic enforcers enlist their aid to enforce the religious laws within the state, Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said today as controversy rages over the men in blue’s presence during a recent raid on a Christian shop in Petaling Jaya.
The minister appeared to defend the move that has drawn public ire, saying the police were there because they respected the Selangor Islamic Religious Department’s (Jais) jurisdiction over the issue with Islam being a matter under the state government.
“All quarters should stop playing up this sensitive issue… those involved should adhere to the decree by the Sultan of Selangor and the court order for (non-Muslims) not to use the ‘kalimah Allah (in their scriptures),” Ahmad Zahid was quoted by state news wire Bernama as saying in a news conference in Alor Gajah.
It is unclear if the minister also commented on whether non-Muslims in Selangor are bound by Islamic law, which several lawyers have argued is beyond the jurisdiction of the state religious enforcers.
He also reportedly advised Malaysians not to “pour oil on a raging fire” in the ongoing dispute over the use of the Arabic word for God.
In a raid on Thursday, Jais officials, accompanied by policemen, raided the office of the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) and seized some 300 copies of both the Malay-language and Iban bibles that contain the word “Allah”, despite not having an official warrant to search the premises.
The police also took two BSM officials into their custody, only releasing them after bail was posted.
It is understood that the action was taken under Selangor Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation Among Muslims) Enactment 1988 that prohibits non-Muslims in Selangor from using 35 Arabic words and phrases, including the word for God, “Allah”.
The police involvement has drawn outrage, with the DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang demanding Malaysia’s police chief explain involving his men in aiding Islamic officials to seize the holy books of a non-Muslim faith.
