DAP questions allocation cut for Perak non-Muslims

Perak DAP today demanded that Menteri Besar Zambry Abd Kadir explains the extensive reduction in the state government allocation for the Non-Muslim Affairs Department to RM3.5 million, less than half of last year's RM8 million.

The department was established to assist the non-Muslim community of Perak during the Pakatan Rakyat administration, especially in the maintenance and development of places of worship.

Should Zambry fail to provide a satisfactory explanation, Perak DAP secretary and Taiping MP Nga Kor Ming (above) said in a statement, he would mobilise churches and Chinese and Hindu temples in the state to submit a memorandum of protest.

He regretted that only 0.32 percent of Perak's annual budget of RM915 million was allocated to the non-Muslim community, which makes up 51 percent of the state population.

Nga pointed out that the RM3.5 million allocation was hardly sufficient for thousands of churches and temples in the state, which have been raising funds from members of the public to operate and for repair work.

"Zambry has been bragging that he will be fair to all races... but the allocation is completely insincere," he said.

'Sin tax to go into different account'

Besides the drop in funds for non-Muslim affairs, Nga warned that Zambry's administration was heading towards Islamisation.

He also said that the BN state government would separate the RM16 million 'sin tax' income from gambling, entertainment and alcohol into a different account, which was unprecedented.

However, this income, prohibited by Islam, would not be distributed to Chinese community, he claimed.

The Pantai Remis state assemblyperson also denied that he had accused Zambry of purchasing a RM3 million bungalow in Pulau Pangkor or marrying a new wife.

"Zambry (right) must furnish evidence, or else he should withdraw his statement and apologise openly," Nga said, adding that Zambry was trying to gain sympathy by defaming Pakatan leaders.

Zambry is reported to have said that the opposition continued to launch personal attacks against him by claiming that he owned a RM3 million bungalow on the island and that he had a new wife.

Nga has made a public apology to Zambry over his infamous "metallic black" slur against the menteri besar during a ceramah.