Religious leaders urge PM to clarify new law aimed at non-Muslims
A group representing adherents of major non-Muslim religions today urged Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob to clear the air on plans to enact a new law targeting non-Muslims.
The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) said statements made by Deputy Islamic Affairs Minister Ahmad Marzuk Shaary on the new law had caused "great anxiety" for non-Muslims.
"The MCCBCHST calls upon the prime minister to clarify the issue before causing further anxiety among our citizens," it said in a statement.
Yesterday, Marzuk revealed that the Control and Restriction on the Propagation of Non-Muslim Religions Bill was being drafted.
Its contents are hitherto unknown. However, it was raised in response to the High Court ruling that non-Muslims can use the word "Allah".
MCCBCHST said non-Muslims' rights to religious propagation - except to Muslims - was protected under Article 11 of the Federal Constitution.
Deputy Islamic Affairs Minister Ahmad Marzuk Shaary
Yesterday, de facto Law Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the bills mentioned by Marzuk have yet to be brought to the cabinet as the states had to be consulted first.
Wan Junaidi noted that most states already have laws on the propagation of non-Muslim religions except for Sarawak, Sabah and Penang.
"Politicians like to talk but on the question of implementation - if a state does not agree, then it won't happen," he said.
Meanwhile, Permatang Pasir assemblyperson Faiz Fadzil urged PAS not to use the law to dangle for votes.
Amanah's Faiz, a practising lawyer, said he understood the new law will address such legislations in the Federal Territories and was fully respectful of Article 11 of the Federal Constitution.
"This proposed law already exist (in some states) and is in line with the Federal Constitution. It should not be made a political issue that can cause conflict in multi-cultural Malaysia.
"Therefore, PAS should not use this law as 'political opium' or 'gasoline' to fuel religious fires," he added.
In view of this, Faiz urged Islamic Affairs Minister Idris Ahmad to hold consultation sessions with stakeholders to ensure that the enactment of this law will be conducted smoothly and not affect ethnic relations.
PAS with 18 MPs has Ismail Sabri by the balls.
ReplyDeletePAS ultimate dream, which they couldn't do before at State level, is to strictly non-Muslim religious practice in Malaysia.
Just see what Brunei is like.