KUALA LUMPUR: Ipoh Timur MP Howard Lee Chuan How has accepted the advice given by the religious affairs minister over the citation of Quranic verses.
In a two-hour meeting between Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Senator Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar and the DAP lawmaker, Na'im said that he had explained to Lee about the difference between translation and interpretation of the Quran, as well as the discipline when it comes interpreting the Islamic holy scripture.
"When we advised him (on the matter), he concurred although the meeting lasted about two hours from 9am to 11pm and we learned a lot from each other," he told reporters after attending Halal on Track programme at Universiti Malaya here today.
He also said that Lee had not interpreted the Quran but only recited a translation of one of the verses in the Islamic holy scripture.
Na'im then said the government will increase its effort of an inter-faith programme including disseminating one million copies of the Quran to curb the rise of Islamophobia.
"This is based on the wish and aspiration of the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to disseminate one million copies of the Quran to the non-Muslims in and outside of the country," he added.
Last month, Na'im said that he will meet Lee to discuss the Quranic verse incident.
Prior to that, Bukit Aman Criminal Investigations Department director Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said police had recorded a statement from Lee to assist in investigations over allegations that he had insulted Islam through his own interpretation of a Quranic verse.
Lee had his statement recorded at 3pm in Ipoh, Perak on Tuesday; and had also apologised openly for the incident.