POLICE today said they have found nothing criminally wrong in the multi-faith prayers recited at Monday’s groundbreaking ceremony for MIC’s new headquarters building in Kuala Lumpur.

Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department director Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said the department did not find any criminal or civil offence committed in the recital, which stirred controversy after a video of it was uploaded on Tamil-language media Makkal Osai’s Facebook page.

The ceremony had a Muslim man reciting a “doa” while sitting with a congregation of Hindu priests during a ritual. This was followed by a prayer from a Christian pastor.

Shuhaily said while the police would still investigate the case further “to make sure there are no criminal elements”, the investigation would be handed over to the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department (Jawi).

“So far, there are no elements of crime and it is more of a religious issue,” he was quoted as saying in several news reports.

Jawi had earlier stated that it had already initiated an investigation into the case.

It said it was investigating the ceremony to ensure it did not involve elements that contravene Islamic rules or fatwa.

It said any offence related to religious beliefs and the Islamic faith can be subject to legal action under Act 559 of the Shariah Criminal Offences Act (Federal Territories) 1997.

Earlier, Kuala Lumpur police chief Allaudeen Abdul Majid said a report was lodged over the matter on Tuesday. – August 26, 2023.