WHERE THE RAID TOOK PLACE: The ‘Dream Centre’ of Damansara Utama Methodist Church
Why has the report on the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department's (Jais) church raid yet to be presented to the Sultan?
This is the poser which arose following the revelation the Istana Alam Shah has not received the department's report on the Aug 3 incident at the Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC) in Petaling Jaya.
A palace aide told The Malay Mail the Sultan of Selangor had not seen the report despite Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim announcing a decree would be made on the matter last week.
Abdul Khalid told reporters last Wednesday Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah would give his views and advice relating to the issue in the "next two to three days".
Yesterday, private secretary to the Sultan Datuk Mohamad Munir Bani confirmed with The Paper That Cares the palace was still awaiting the report from the State government and Jais.
"Yes, we haven't received the report and we are still waiting for it from both the Mentri Besar's office and Jais."
The MB's political secretary, Faekah Husin, however, said the palace should be expecting the report from Jais and not the State government.
"The ball is in Tuanku's court. Tan Sri (Abdul Khalid) has the report and has discussed with Tuanku and is waiting for Tuanku's advice.
"The report should have been given directly by Jais to the Mentri Besar and Tuanku."
Attempts by The Malay Mail to contact Jais director Marzuki Hussin over several days have been unsuccessful.
He was also unavailable for comment when visited at his office.
Jais deputy director Ali Mohammed and deputy investigations and enforcement director Sharom Maarof also declined to comment, saying only Marzuki had the authority to make any statement.
In the incident, police and Jais raided a multiracial thanksgiving dinner at DUMC's Dream Centre in Jalan 13/1, organised by Harapan Komuniti, a nonprofit organisation helping women, children, HIV/AIDS sufferers and victims of natural disasters, after receiving complaints of an alleged attempt to proselytise Muslims at the function.
Twelve Muslims were detained and later told to present themselves at the Shah Alam Syariah Court on Oct 19. Following a public uproar, the MB had said the State government regretted the raid and asked Jais to prepare a report.
This was not the first time the palace had denied statements made by the Abdul Khalid.
In August, the Sultan denied a statement by the MB that the Sultan had advised the State government to set up a Syura or consultative council to resolve the church raid controversy.
The palace and the MB's office were also at loggerheads over the appointment of former Jais director Datuk Mohd Khusrin Munawi as the State Secretary last December.
Timeline on Jais' church incident
Aug 3: Police and the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) raid a multi-racial dinner held at the Dream Centre of the Damansara Utama Methoodist Church (DUMC) organised by Harapan Komuniti after receiving complaints that Muslims are attending the function.
DUMC senior pastor Daniel Ho claims 30 police and enforcement officers entered the church without a warrant at 10pm. Twelve Muslims attending the dinner are questioned and asked to go for counselling.
Aug 4: Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim says the State regretted the incident and asks Jais to prepare a report on the incident. Selangor executive councillor and Pas assemblyman Datuk Hasan Ali defends the raid and claims Christians are trying to convert Muslims.
Aug 5: Abdul Khalid issues gag order on all State exco members on the raid.
Aug 11: Jais director Marzuki Hussin says in a statement that the venue was only inspected after 11pm when the dinner had ended and denies it was a raid.
The Petaling Jaya City Council confirms the premises have not been approved as a church but denies that it will seal the DUMC building.
Aug 13: Pas lends support to Jais and says immediate action must be taken against those said to be attempting to covert Muslims.
Aug 15: The 12 Muslims present during the church raid are interviewed by Jais and given counselling by the Selangor Mufti Department.
Aug 22: Abdul Khalid says the Sultan of Selangor had advised the State government to set up a Syura council to resolve the controversy surrounding Jais' raid on DUMC.
Aug 23: The Sultan of Selangor denies ordering or advising the State government to establish the Syura council.
Sept 15: The 12 Muslims present during the church raid are told to present themselves at the Shah Alam Syariah Court on Oct 19.
Sept 19: Abdul Khalid says he has received Jais' report on the DUMC incident.
Sept 28: The MB says the Sultan will announce his views and advise on the raid in the next two to three days.
Oct 6: The Selangor palace says it has yet to receive the Jais report.
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