Witnesses not cooperating is among the reasons the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais) cites for the delay in concluding its report on the raid on a thanksgiving dinner at a church in Petaling Jaya.

The raid, which Jais later insisted was simply "an inspection" on the dinner at the Dream Centre, a hall located on the Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC) grounds, took place on Aug 3 and 12 Muslims present at the event are being investigated.

NONE"Jais is still in the process of completing investigations into the matter and would like to stress that there are witnesses who have refused to cooperate to have their statements recorded.

"This has resulted in a delay on the part of Jais to complete investigations in the case. However, action is being taken, through the legal process, so that the witness statements can be recorded," Jais director Marzuki Hussin said in a statement today.

The statement comes in light of a recent spat of accusations levelled against the
department over the raid.

Marzuki said the probe had to be conducted "transparently", without any interference and the department also did not want to "rush" into matters that could botch the investigations.

"Jais has to taken into consideration the interests of all parties involved in the case to ensure justice is meted to all."

Considering the "sensitivity" of the matter, Marzuki added, any decision taken had to include the "interests of religion, society and individuals involved in this case".

Church and civil society leaders were bristled by the raid and attacked Jais, calling its action "high-handed".


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