SHAH ALAM: The raid on the Bible Society of Malaysian and seizure of its bibles by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) were conducted in accordance with the department’s standard operating procedure, says Selangor exco Sallehen Mukhyi.

“It is in line with Jais’ current standard operating procedure but we will be making some changes to it,” said Sallehen, who is in charge of of Islamic affairs.

The PAS assemblyman was speaking to the media after a two-hour meeting with Catholic newsletter The Herald‘s editor Father Lawrance Andrew here Tuesday.

Also at the meeting were Klang MP Charles Santiago and Seri Andalas assemblyman Dr Xavier Jayakumar.

Sallehen also said the state government was fully behind the Selangor Sultan’s decree prohibiting non-Muslims from using the term Allah.

He added that Selangor would take various measures, such as establishing a platform for interfaith dialogue, to settle religion-related issues amicably.

In the same press conference, Father Lawrance said that whatever he had stated with regard to the Allah issue was based on Article 11 of the Federal Constitution that granted the freedom of religion.

“Each religion has the right to manage itself. Another religion cannot come in and tell another religion what to do,” he said.

Santiago said what was happening in Selangor was contradictory to the Federal Government’s 10-point Plan.

He also said copies of the Bible seized by Jais had been approved and stamped by the Home Ministry. – The STAR