August 11, 2011
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 11 — The Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) today denied speculation that it will seal the Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC) premises on charges that it has not been approved as a church.
While admitting the premises have not been approved as a church, Petaling Jaya deputy mayor Puasa Mohd Taib said he never issued instructions to seal the building.
“We never issued any instructions to seal the Damansara Utama Methodist Church, no instructions from the mayor... also, no instructions from the state government.
While admitting the premises have not been approved as a church, Petaling Jaya deputy mayor Puasa Mohd Taib said he never issued instructions to seal the building.
The DUMC has been in the limelight since the Jais raid last week. — File pic
“We do not know how this can happen, but so far what I can say is that there are no instructions to seal the church, although we know that the premises had not been approved,” he told The Malaysian Insider.
A short message service (SMS) circulating the rumour said the operation will be carried out as DUMC has never been approved as a church and was originally intended as a community centre.
The SMS also claimed that the operation will be carried out today.
“There have been no instructions to seal the church... no instructions, but I am still investigating this matter,” Puasa insisted.
DUMC has been in the limelight since last week following the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) raid on a multiracial thanksgiving dinner organised by non-governmental organisation (NGO) Komuniti Harapan on the church premises.
The raid was opposed by many parties including the Selangor state government under Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim.
However, several Islamic NGOs and Selangor state exco Datuk Dr Hasan Ali — who claimed that the words “Quran” and “pray” were used during the event — have come to the defence of Jais.
During the raid, Jais questioned 12 Muslims who attended the dinner but no arrests were made.
A short message service (SMS) circulating the rumour said the operation will be carried out as DUMC has never been approved as a church and was originally intended as a community centre.
The SMS also claimed that the operation will be carried out today.
“There have been no instructions to seal the church... no instructions, but I am still investigating this matter,” Puasa insisted.
DUMC has been in the limelight since last week following the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) raid on a multiracial thanksgiving dinner organised by non-governmental organisation (NGO) Komuniti Harapan on the church premises.
The raid was opposed by many parties including the Selangor state government under Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim.
However, several Islamic NGOs and Selangor state exco Datuk Dr Hasan Ali — who claimed that the words “Quran” and “pray” were used during the event — have come to the defence of Jais.
During the raid, Jais questioned 12 Muslims who attended the dinner but no arrests were made.
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