KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 14 — Johor police confirmed today that their probe on the latest confiscation of Christian materials using the word “Allah” has been forwarded to the deputy public prosecutor’s office, under the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC).
According to The Star Online, Johor CID chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk Hasnan Hassan said the materials - 31 copies of Catholic hym book titled “Mari Kita Memuji Allah Kita” (Praise be to God) - will be returned to the church pending the DPP’s decision.
He confirmed that the books, which were seized from a bookshop in Tangkak, Ledang, on December 5, contain the word “Allah” and features a picture of a church and a crucifix on the front page, which is deemed sensitive.
“The investigation papers have been forwarded to the Deputy Public Prosecutor’s office for action,” he was quoted saying.
The news portal also quoted Johor deputy CID chief Asst Comm Dennis Lim as disputing a news report claiming that a member of the clergy, Father Cyril Mannayagam was detained.
“We did not arrest him as reported by a news portal. We merely recorded his statement at the police station,” ACP Lim was quoted saying.
According to the Catholic priest, the hymn books were meant to be used by the church’s orang asli parishioners.
“We have never experienced such a problem prior to this incident, and I really hope that this matter can be resolved immediately, so that the Orang Asli can continue using the books.
“The hymn books are specially used for advent (Christmas season),” he was quoted telling The Star Online.
The Johor case is the latest reported seizure of Christian words using the word “Allah” in the peninsula.
On November 14, Selangor’s Islamic Religious Department (Jais) returned the 351 holy books that were seized last January during a raid on the Bible Society of Malaysia’s (BSM) Petaling Jaya office.
The bibles were meant for Christians in Sarawak, however, which, along with Sabah, another east Malaysian state, is allowed to freely use the Arabic word “Allah” without limitations, according to a Cabinet agreement on the matter in 2011.
In the peninsula, however, the 10-point Cabinet solution stipulates that the holy books must be stamped to indicate that they are a “Christian publication”.
