LANGKAWI: Four Finnish nationals were arrested by police here yesterday for allegedly distributing religious materials containing text from the Bible.
All four suspects, aged between 27 and 60, were arrested at a hotel at 5pm after police received complaints from members of the public who were suspicious of their activities.
Langkawi district police chief Supreintendent Mohd Iqbal Ibrahim said one complainant claimed he saw the suspects distributing religious materials to workers and traders at Jalan Pantai Chenang at 10.30pm on Sunday.
"Police arrested the four suspects at the hotel where they were staying to facilitate investigations," he said in a statement here today.
Iqbal said police also seized 336 notebooks containing text from the Bible, 47 pens and two suitcases.
"To date, police received three reports on the matter and it is understood that the suspects arrived in Langkawi on Sunday and were scheduled to depart tomorrow (Thursday).
"Initial investigations show that the suspects do not have past criminal records in the country," he added.
He said the suspects have been remanded and are being investigated under Section 298A of the Penal Code for for causing disharmony, disunity, or feelings of enmity.
The suspects are also being investigated under Section 39B of the Immigration Act 1959/1963.