PAS Youth defends 'campus conversion' rights, cites constitutional protections
Published: Jun 18, 2026 3:19 PM
Updated: 5:32 PM
PAS Youth has defended “dakwah” (religious propagation) activities at higher learning institutions, insisting that such programmes are lawful, constitutional, and in line with the nation’s identity.
Taking aim at recent statements by Dr RA Lingeshwaran, PAS Youth’s Dakwah and Islamic Defence Committee chairperson Sukri Omar stressed that Muslims have always respected the rights of followers of other religions to practise their beliefs.
However, he said the right of Muslims to carry out “dakwah” peacefully and prudently should be afforded the same level of respect, urging all parties to halt polemics that supposedly question such rights.
In particular, Sukri (above), who is also the Selangor PAS Youth chief, pointed to Article 3(1) of the Federal Constitution, which stipulates that Islam is the religion of the federation, while also guaranteeing that all other religions may be practised in peace and harmony anywhere in the country.
“Article 11(1) guarantees freedom of religion, while Article 11(4) empowers the states to control or restrict the propagation of other religions to Muslims,” he said on Facebook today.
“These provisions clearly demonstrate that the Constitution recognises the special position of Islam, as well as the right for Islam to be propagated and developed peacefully, prudently, and in accordance with the law.
“As long as the implementation (of dakwah) is voluntary, free from coercion, ethical, and compliant with the law, no party has the right to obstruct, question, or cast suspicion on ‘dakwah’ activities on campus,” he asserted.
No exploitation
Sukri’s statement today comes after Lingeshwaran yesterday hit back against an Umno ulama council leader for saying that Islam can be spread anywhere in Malaysia without obstruction.
DAP senator Dr RA Lingeshwaran
Umno ulama council deputy chairperson Khairuddin Aman Razali had argued that Malaysia is an Islamic country while pointing to the special privileges granted to the religion in the Federal Constitution, such as the prohibition against converting Muslims.
Lingeshwaran, however, said that public educational institutes belong to every citizen, regardless of race or religion, and should therefore not be “exploited” as a platform for religious conversion.
The debates started after Lingeshwaran had earlier called for an investigation into a poster bearing the name of Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (Upsi) and promoting the registration of new Muslim converts.
Acknowledging the Perak institution’s clarification that the poster was not approved before being circulated, he said a thorough probe involving various authorities should be carried out as the matter has raised public concern and generated many questions among Malaysians.
While he stressed that he is not against any religion, nor questioning anyone's constitutional right to embrace and practise the faith of their choice, the public university has a responsibility to acknowledge the sensitivities of all Malaysians and ensure adherence to established procedures.
Selective interpretation of Constitution
In his statement today, Sukri said it is inappropriate to demand that public educational institutions adopt a stance of “neutrality” to the extent of denying “Malaysia’s own identity and nationhood foundations”.
“Neutrality”, he said, does not mean erasing the position of Islam, which was agreed upon by the nation’s founders and clearly enshrined in the Federal Constitution.
Umno ulama council deputy chairperson Khairuddin Aman Razali had argued that Malaysia is an Islamic country while pointing to the special privileges granted to the religion in the Federal Constitution, such as the prohibition against converting Muslims.
Lingeshwaran, however, said that public educational institutes belong to every citizen, regardless of race or religion, and should therefore not be “exploited” as a platform for religious conversion.
The debates started after Lingeshwaran had earlier called for an investigation into a poster bearing the name of Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (Upsi) and promoting the registration of new Muslim converts.
Acknowledging the Perak institution’s clarification that the poster was not approved before being circulated, he said a thorough probe involving various authorities should be carried out as the matter has raised public concern and generated many questions among Malaysians.
While he stressed that he is not against any religion, nor questioning anyone's constitutional right to embrace and practise the faith of their choice, the public university has a responsibility to acknowledge the sensitivities of all Malaysians and ensure adherence to established procedures.
Selective interpretation of Constitution
In his statement today, Sukri said it is inappropriate to demand that public educational institutions adopt a stance of “neutrality” to the extent of denying “Malaysia’s own identity and nationhood foundations”.
“Neutrality”, he said, does not mean erasing the position of Islam, which was agreed upon by the nation’s founders and clearly enshrined in the Federal Constitution.
He further accused Lingeshwaran of selectively interpreting the Constitution to suit DAP’s supposed agenda.
“(Lingeshwaran’s) statement appears inclined to interpret the Constitution through the narrow framework of ‘Malaysian Malaysia’, often championed by DAP (as) an idea that has repeatedly sought to relativise the position of Islam, the institution of the Malay rulers, the Malay language, and constitutional rights.
“Such an approach not only contradicts the spirit of the Constitution, but also risks eroding the foundations of national understanding that have long been the pillar of the country’s stability,” Sukri said.
“Malaysian Malaysia” is a political concept that has been associated with DAP, advocating equal treatment and opportunities for all Malaysians regardless of race or religion, while upholding the Federal Constitution and rights of communities.”
Sukri also pressed DAP and its allies to respect the Constitution, rather than “continuously challenging” fundamental matters that underpin harmony in a plural society.
“They should not behave like kaduk naik junjung (someone who oversteps boundaries); having been given space within the democratic system, they now seek to question the very foundations of the Constitution.
“Any attempt to erode the position of Islam in the name of a narrowly and excessively interpreted pluralism will only undermine the country’s harmony and stability,” he said.
