Deputy Chief Minister I Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman (PH-Pinang Tunggal) said there is already a 1996 state law which prohibits this, with offenders being tried in civil courts.

During Question Time, he said a committee under the Penang Islamic Religious Council (MAINPP) has drafted a new version of the law, taking into account best practices from other states.

Zakiyuddin said under the present law, under Section 5 of the Shariah Criminal Offences Enactment (Penang) 1996, offenders face a RM3,000 fine or two years’ jail if convicted of spreading religions other than Islam to Muslims.

“Since this section expressly says it ought to be tried in civil courts, the enforcement and arrest would have to be done by the police, with the assistance of the legal adviser of the Penang Islamic Affairs Department.”

Zakiyuddin was replying to a question by Nor Hafizah Othman (BN-Permatang Berangan).

Earlier this week, the opposition bench had raised concerns over the spread of Bibles in Malay and Christian prayers at a missionary school.

However, backbenchers had shot down the concerns, saying the Bible issue was an isolated one and happened five years ago.

As for the Christian prayer issue, it was actually a general prayer for unity. An Islamic teacher, who was supposed to say Muslim prayers at the school, was absent, a rep had said.