Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has strongly condemned the distribution of booklets on Jesus in Balik Pulau, Penang.
 
Lim said the booklets contained false teachings which were contradictory to the Christian and Muslim religions. They also use the word ‘Allah’ which is also a contentious issue in the country.
 
"We do not know where the booklets came from or who distributed them," Lim said told reporters after handing over RM100 cash awards to senior citizens today.
 
"These booklets are distributed by certain quarters to cause friction between Christians and Muslims," he added.
 
Lim was referring to a press conference held by Umno in Balik Pulau on March 5 where Teluk Bahang assemblyperson Shah Headan Ayoob Hussain claimed that Muslims in the area were 'confused' by booklets which controversially claimed that Jesus had married Mary Magdalene, also a biblical figure.
 
About 50 copies of the Malay-language booklets headlined ‘Ringkasan Kisah Nyawa Nabi Isa (The Chronicles of Jesus)’ were discovered on the doorsteps of houses in seven villages in Balik Pulau.
 
Southwest district police chief Supt Lai Fah Hin (right) told the media that seven reports had been lodged about the incident.
 
Lim said the booklets could also cause more tension if readers confused Mary Magdelene with the mother of Jesus, whose name is also Mary.
 
"True Christians and true Muslims reject the false information in these booklets which can only be circulated by certain quarters out to create disturbances in our community," he stressed.
 
Lim urged the authorities to nab the culprits to preserve peace and harmony among Penang's multi-ethnic and religious communities.
 
The case is being probed under Section 298A of the Penal Code, which prohibits attempts to cause disharmony or disunity on grounds of religion.