SHAH ALAM, April 8 ― The Selangor government has asked Attorney-General (AG) Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail to order the release of the 300 Malay and Iban language bibles seized from the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) three months ago, a state representative revealed.

Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim had previously said that the society would have to officially write to Gani if it wants the holy books returned. His statement was widely criticised by Christian groups as well as lawmakers within the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) coalition.

Selangor state executive councillor Elizabeth Wong said that the AG's office had notified the state government that a formal letter was required if it wanted the Selangor Islamic Department (Jais) to return the Malay-and-Iban language bibles to the society.

“I wrote an official letter on Friday, on behalf of the Selangor government to request the AG to order Jais to give the bibles back,” Wong told The Malay Mail Online.

MB Khalid had previously said the state executive council decided that it was up to the socirty to “show their determination and desire” to recover the bibles confiscated by Jais over the use of the word “Allah” in the translations.

A 1988 state enactment prohibits non-Muslims from using 35 Arabic words and phrases in their faiths, including “Allah” as part of measures to control the propagation of other religions to Muslims.

Jais director Ahmad Zaharin Mohd Saad told The Malay Mail Online that the decision to release the bibles was up entirely to the AG, and not his department.

“We just investigated the matter, gathered evidence. The AG will decide,” said Ahmad Zaharin, adding that he has not heard anything from the AG regarding the status of the bibles.

Previously, The Malay Mail Online reported that Jais was expected to return “most” of the bibles seized in the January 2 raid, keeping a few copies for further investigations.

The department was also said to have been in consultation with the AG on whether to press charges against the society over the use of the word “Allah” in bibles and whether the books should be returned.

Besides Selangor, nine other states have similar enactments banning non-Muslim use of the word “Allah” and other Arabic words, except Sabah, Sarawak, Penang and the Federal Territories.

BSM had said that they distribute most of their Malay-language bibles to churches in Sabah and Sarawak, but also cater to Malay-speaking Christians in the peninsula, including the Orang Asli and those who come from East Malaysia.