Guan Eng under police probe for ‘Allah’ remark

(Bernama) – Penang police have opened investigation papers over Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s statement to non-Muslims in the state on the issue of the use of the word “Allah”.

State police chief Datuk Abdul Rahim Hanafi said the matter was being investigated under the Police Enquiry Papers after police received a report on Lim’s statement yesterday.

“So far, there is only one police report lodged over the chief minister’s statement, and let police investigate. We may call some people to assist in the investigation.”

Abdul Rahim said this when met after launching the northeast district police headquarters’ crime-prevention drive.

Yesterday, Bukit Mertajam Umno division Youth lodged a report at the Seberang Perai Tengah district police headquarters in Bandar Perda, near here, over Lim’s statement on the kalimah Allah issue, regarding it as Lim’s interference in Islamic affairs.

Lim, as reported by a number of news portals on Friday, had given permisssion to non-Muslims in Penang to use the kalimah Allah.

He was quoted as saying that the prohibition on the use of the “Allah” word as spelt out in the Penang Islamic Administration Enactment 2004 was not applicable to non-Muslims as the enactment’s enforcement was only for Muslims.