SHAH ALAM, Mar 20 – The state government today said it is leaving it to the Selangor Islamic Religion Council (Mais) to handle its legal action against the Malaysian Bar Council, said the Dato’ Menteri Besar, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.
 
He said, according to the provisions of the Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation Amongst Muslims) Enactment 1988, Mais has the right to do so.

“Mais has different powers from the state government and it could be that this action is based on protecting the privileges accorded to the the Islamic religion under the enactment, passed in 1988, whereby certain words could not be used by those other than muslims,” he said when asked to comment on the legal action taken by Mais against the Bar Council for conducting a survey on the use of ‘Allah’ by non-muslims in its website, recently.
 
He said, Mais also had two options which were to either hold discussions or take the issue to court.

Abdul Khalid said this in a media conference after holding discussions with the Selangor Busines Council (SBC) and REHDA at the Dewan Jubli Perak, here this afternoon. – MURIZA ABDUL HAMID