Ministry has made decision to return seized Bibles, CDs — Wan Junaidi

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Dato Sri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar

KUCHING: The Home Ministry has decided to return Christian books and CDs containing the word ‘Allah’ that was seized at the KLIA 2 from a Sabahan Christian recently, said deputy minister Dato Sri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.

“Once the process of clearing and all is done, the Bibles or whatever documents they are, will be returned to the rightful owner,” he told Bernama when met after presenting prizes to winners of the Kuching North City Commission’s Siol Mountain Bike XC Challenge at Bukit Siol near here yesterday.

He said the order to return the Christian books and CDs was because it was governed by a Cabinet decision, as far as Sabah and Sarawak were concerned.

The cabinet ministers had unanimously pledged their support for the 10-point agreement on the use of ‘Allah’ in Christian literature and reiterated the need to protect religious materials in Sabah and Sarawak.

Meanwhile, a statement from   the ministry on Friday stated that the detention of the books, compact discs (CDs), and digital video discs (DVDs) at KLIA2 was due to suspicion.

It said the situation had aroused suspicion when the materials were taken down to the main terminal.

“Usually, for items on transit, the baggage will be transferred into the aircraft directly without the need to bring them into the main terminal.

“In this regard, a detention letter to review the consignment was issued to the carrier to ascertain if the publications were actually being brought to Sabah,” the statement said.

The ministry issued the statement to clarify a report on an English language website on Thursday regarding the detention of the religious materials.

The statement also said that the detention of 574 books (133 titles), 419 CDs and five DVDs were made by Customs through a detention notice on Tuesday (Oct 25) at 3.17pm.

According to the statement, the seizure was made from Maklin Masiau, a Sabahan Christian, who arrived from Medan, Indonesia.

The seized books, CDs and DVDs were handed over to the ministry on Thursday (Oct 27) and the letter of detention to review the consignment was dated the same day, it added.

The statement said a review found the publications seized at KLIA2 contained the word ‘Allah’.

“On Friday (Oct 31), the ministry checked the consignment with the bearer and it was explained that the materials were brought to the main terminal as the carrier needed to check-in the baggage and flight to Sabah.

“Initially, the bearer said the materials were for his personal use but he later said they were for use in a church in Sabah,” added the statement.

Yesterday, Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was reported as saying the Customs Department should have consulted his ministry before taking action.

Zahid told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur that agencies manning the country’s entry points needed to streamline their operations to avoid confusion.

He said the Home Ministry has since cleared the items, which are permissible in East Malaysia under the law. — Bernama