Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim has responded to criticism that he could have done more to resolve the seizure of Alkitab or Malay Bibles by the Selangor Islamic Department (Jais) in January.

 

"We consulted various officers and the state legal advisor.

"On their advice, we decided not to make a decision until this matter is resolved by the attorney-general," he told reporters in Shah Alam today.

Khalid was responding to opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and Selangor DAP deputy chief Gobind Singh Deo.

 

Anwar said Khalid may have not done enough, including making sure the Bibles were returned to the Bible Society of Malaysia, on condition they are not distributed to Muslims, and that he should not have passed the buck to the attorney-general.

On a more scathing note, Gobind questioned if Khalid had the capability to lead the state as he has "a total lack of interest and political will" in handling the seizure of the Alkitab.

The Bible Society of Malaysia's (BSM) decision to move out of Selangor is Khalid's fault and a reason that his leadership is in question, he added.

However, Khalid defended his position, saying he is responsible for running the state based on the law.

 

He said that he took into consideration the position of Jais and the Selangor Islamic Council (Mais) according to state law.

 

Khalid was met after attending a luncheon with Kenya's financial and trade delegation who visited the Selangor assembly.

Yesterday, the BSM had announced that it will move out of its Petaling Jaya premises to Kuala Lumpur, as it felt it could be better protected by the federal government.

It also said that it will cease importing the AlKitab via Port Klang to avoid any seizure on the basis that a Selangor enactment bans non-Muslims from using the word 'Allah'.