KUALA LUMPUR, June 30 ― The Council of Churches of Malaysia (CCM) expressed confidence today that the police would launch a full investigation into Pahang Mufti Datuk Seri Dr Abdul Rahman Osman’s alleged "kafir harbi” remarks.

The umbrella body of Protestant churches also said it regretted misunderstanding Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar as reportedly saying earlier that the police would not take action in the case, noting today that the national police chief had pledged yesterday to investigate the cleric for sedition over the use of the term that refers to non-Muslim infidels who may be slain for opposing Islam.

"The Council of Churches of Malaysia welcomes the statement from the IGP, Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar, that the probe is ongoing in regard to the contentious statement made by the Mufti of Pahang concerning ‘Kafir Harbi’,” CCM general secretary Rev Dr Hermen Shastri said in a statement.

"The CCM accepts the statement and the clarification made by the IGP and expresses its regret for the misunderstanding. The CCM is confident that the [police] will conduct a full probe into the matter,” he added.

Abdul Rahman was initially reported as using the term "kafir harbi” on DAP members who disagreed with the implementation of hudud laws and PAS’s private member’s Bill to amend the Shariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965, but later expanded it to include any who opposed Islam.

The mufti’s remarks were first published in Utusan Malaysia last Friday, drawing criticism from both Muslims and non-Muslims, including Malay lobby group Perkasa and Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties MIC and MCA.