A coalition of Malay-Muslim NGOs has come out demanding Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail step down or be charged under Islamic law, accusing him of “betraying” Islam by not prosecuting the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) over the import of 300 Bibles translated into Bahasa Malaysia.
“His order was as if he is above the law. Nobody is above the law, not even the AG … For us, there is even someone who is even more powerful: Allah.
“The AG is confronting the religion of Allah. It is a betrayal towards his own faith,” Pembela chairman Mohamed Hafiz Mohd Nordin told reporters at the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) premises.
The groups also said it was necessary for the AG to be charged for ordering the release of the translated Bibles which contained the word “Allah”, to serve as a “lesson” to those who succeed him in the post to not trifle with Islam.
The NGOs insist that the AG must be charged under Section 7 of the Selangor Shariah Criminal Offences Enactment 1995, which prohibits any doctrine or acts contrary to the religion of Islam.
They say that the AG could also be charged under Section 13, which outlaws any opinions running contrary to a fatwa, or religious edict.
The coalition of nearly 100 Malay-Muslim groups includes Selangor Perkasa, Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma), Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia (Yadim) and Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia (PPIM) .
Mohamed Hafiz said several NGOs hacve lodged police reports against the AG, with more reports to be lodged nationwide.
Last week, the Attorney-General’s Chambers announced that it would not be pressing charges against the Bible Society of Malaysia following the seizure of 300 Bibles translated into Bahasa Malaysia from its offices on January 2.
Abdul Gani pointed out that the seized Bibles were not “controlled items” and that it was not a national security issue; however, he added that Islamic authorities would take the “next step” in accordance with the law.
The Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) and the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) have so far refused to return the seized Bibles, and are now seeking a court ruling enabling them to dispose of the Bibles.
Mais also insisted that Jais, which operates under its auspices, will not adhere to directives issued by the Selangor state government to return the Bibles as the state administration had “no power” in the matter.
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Mais and Jais decision not to return BM Bibles gets supporters from Malay-Muslim NGOs
