‘Investigate AG over Bible issue’

The NGOs claim that returning the bibles would be akin to undermining Jais’ authority

Muslim non-governmental organisations (NGOs) lodged reports against Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail at the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais) on Monday.

The group , made up of nearly 100 NGOs, is asking that Abdul Gani be investigated for allegedly breaching the state’s enactment over the seizure of the Malay language bibles from the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM).

The group’s spokesman Muhamad Hafiz Muhamad Nordin said the NGOs were also backing the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) and Jais on the decision not to return the bibles.

“Why must the bibles be returned?,” asked Muhamad Hafiz adding that returning the bibles would be akin to undermining Jais’ authority.

The NGOs also urged Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to remove Abdul Gani from office for not doing the necessary to protect Islam.

The group met the media at a press conference at the Mais office after meeting Mais and Jais officials to relay their support.

The bibles were seized by Jais on Jan 2 on the grounds they had breached the state Islamic enactment by referring to God as Allah as the latter term of reference was exclusive to only Muslims.

Abdul Gani had meanwhile decided there was no case against BSM and the bibles did not in any way adversely affect national security.