The Penang police have taken 17 statements from various individuals in their investigation into allegations that bibles were distributed to Muslim children outside a school in Jelutong.

"Investigation papers have been referred to the state deputy prosecutor yesterday and further instructions have been received for the police to complete the probe," said Penang police chief Abdul Rahim Hanafi in a statement issued late last night.

NONEAbdul Rahim (left) said the bibles were openly distributed and several Malay students were given the holy book by unidentified individuals.

"The report was lodged for the police to probe the matter immediately to avoid untoward incidents as the action can undermine the security and peace of the country," he said.

According to Abdul Rahim, at about 1.30pm on Jan 17, the individual who lodged the report said while he was in his office and a Malay man had informed him that bibles were being distributed outside SMK Jelutong, Lorong Sekolah.

"The complainant then went to the scene and discovered that it was true. From the information received, three Chinese men and a woman who came in a car were found distributing the bibles randomly to students after the morning school session had ended," he added.

The complainant, who was given a Bible by one of the students, then lodged a police report at the Jelutong police station.

Abdul Rahim said that the case is being probed under section 298A of the Penal Code where those involved can be charged for "destroying harmony and unity, causing dissatisfaction and prejudice".

Five pocket-size bibles surrendered to police

He added that so far, five pocket-sized English-language bibles, blue in colour and containing 633 pages, have been surrendered to the police.

"On the Bible's front cover, it is written ‘New Testament Psalms Proverb'," said Abdul Rahim.

Abdul Rahim also said that seven reports have been lodged over the matter - four by students aged between 16 and 19, and three by members of the public.

azlan"So far, all the bibles seized are in English and do not contain the word 'Allah'. They are not Bahasa Malaysia translations nor printed in Jawi," he added.

The incident had prompted Perkasa chief and Pasir Mas MP Ibrahim Ali to call for bibles in Bahasa Malaysia or Jawi using the word ‘Allah' to be burned last Saturday.

Ibrahim however claimed he did not mean to hurt the feelings of the Christians but was merely reacting to those who violate the federal constitution.

A police report was also lodged yesterday by a church in Butterworth which received a leaflet announcing a purported bible-burning 'festival' this Sunday.


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