Penang state executive councillor on religious affairs Abdul Malik Kassim, has criticised the purported plan to burn Bibles in Butterworth, saying this is not the face of true Islam.

"We are taught to protect others - even those of other religions - and their places of worship, including their holy books, so how can certain quarters call for them to be burned?" Abdul Malik asked when contacted.

"We are told not to throw, kick or burn any holy book. Those who want to do these acts are discrediting Islam in the eyes of the world," Abdul Malik, who is state PKR vice-president, told Malaysiakini .

NONE Abdul Malik ( right ) said the state government had informed the police and obtained their assurance that they would step up security in the coming days as the plan to burn copies of the book was allegedly intended for Sunday, at 10am, on the Bagan Luar Municipal Field.

He was responding to a police report lodged at the Butterworth police station by St Marks Anglican Church Rev John Kennady who received a leaflet inviting the public to attend the purported event.

The notice came days after Perkasa president and Pasir Mas MP Ibrahim Ali called for the copies to be burned to prevent those from distributing it to Malay Muslims.

Ibrahim was reacting to reports lodged by several individuals when they found copies distributed to Muslim students outside a school in Jelutong, as claimed by the police.

Abdul Malik said there are proper laws for those found to be distributing Bibles to non-Muslims, urging the public to "keep calm" and leave the matter to the police and not take the law into their own hands.

"If anyone is found to be proselytising to Muslims there are laws to deal with them," said the Batu Maung assemblyperson.

Penang police chief Abdul Rahim Hanafi has said the case is being probed under Section 298 of the Penal Code that deals with religious conflict.

'Home Ministry to blame'

Meanwhile, State Islamic Council president Salleh Man shifted the blame to the Home Ministry, questioning why it allowed Malay language Bibles to be printed in the first place.

NONE Salleh ( left ), who is PAS state commissioner, said the anger should be directed toward the ministry who issued the permit to print the books.

On the plan to burn Bibles by certain quarters on Sunday, Salleh said he has yet to receive any information on the matter.

He added if the plan was real, it was probably the work of certain quarters who want to advance their own political agenda to create tension between different communities.

"But I hope all parties will remain calm and not do anything to hurt the good relationship between the different communities here," he stressed.

Gerakan: Ibrahim an anarchist

In a similar development, Gerakan has condemned Perkasa's Bible burning proposal, saying this would escalate tension in the country.

NONE Gerakan deputy president Chang Ko Youn ( right ) said he was"horrified" to learn about Ibrahim's statement, adding that this would certain exacerbate existing tensions between different religious communities.

"This is one of the many seditious remarks made by Ibrahim which are irresponsible and divisive," said Chang, describing the man as an "anarchist".

"The cornerstone of Malaysian society is by toleration and moderation. No one has the right to smear or even worse, burn a holy book of another religion just because they have different points of view," said Chang.

"This extreme proposal will surely provoke the wrath of the Christian community as they will see it as a grave insult to their religion. I believe that no religion in this world encourages its preachers to insult other religions," he added.

Chang urged the police to take action against Ibrahim and for the group planning to destroy the Bible, saying the government must act strictly against those disrupting the harmony, peace and security of the nation.

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