While describing the action by the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais) in raiding a Christian organisation last week as hasty, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim also disagreed with the proposal by three DAP assemblypersons for a state law to be amended.

According to Sinar Harian Online , Anwar ( left ), who is also PKR de facto leader, said last Thursday’s raid of the Bible Society Malaysia (BSM) by Jais only invited negative perception.

“Jais should hold a meeting with the BSM and conduct investigation before deciding to raid and seize the copies of the Bible. Do not take action that would result in religious tension,” he said after giving a lecture at the Centre for Reform yesterday.

It was reported that during the raid, authorities arrested its chairperson Lee Min Choon and office manager Sinclair Wong, who were later released on police bail, and seized more than 300 copies of the Alkitab, the Bahasa Malaysia version of the Bible.

Even so, the Permatang Pauh lawmaker disagreed with what he also deemed as a hasty response by three Selangor DAP assemblypersons, who suggested the Selangor Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation Among Muslims) Enactment 1988 be amended to be in line with the federal constitution.

“Do not be in haste to seek an amendment as there are channels for discussion with the state government, as the state government is also from Pakatan Rakyat,” he was quoted to have said.

The three DAP assemblypersons in question are Lau Weng San ( right ) (Kampung Tunku), Yeo Bee Yin (Damansara Utama) and Rajiv Rishyakaran (Bukit Gasing).

On a related matter, Anwar said it was also unnecessary for PKR to play the middleman for interfaith dialogue, as suggested by its information chief Muhammad Nur Manuty.

“We have not reached the stage of discussion on whether PKR should be the middleman. We feel a hikmah (wisdom) approach can be taken to resolve a religious issue to avoid tension,” he said.