Responding to the recent statement of Perak Regent Raja Nazrin Shah that Islam has of late been ridiculed and belittled by non-Muslims, an interfaith council maintained today that it has never questioned the position of Islam, and said rational debate must be allowed.
The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) said in a statement today that it supports Raja Nazrin's call for parties not to manipulate religious issues.
"We, on our part, reiterate that MCCBCHST has never questioned the position of lslam as the religion of the federation as provided in Article 3 of the Federal Constitution."
However, it stressed, Article 3 also grants protection to other religions, stating clearly that "other religions may be practised in peace and harmony in any part of the federation".
Citing Raja Nazrin's statement that "the etiquette of respecting and non-interfering in the affairs of other religions be adhered to", the council pointed out that all religious groups should respect one another's religion and work within the boundary of the federal constitution.
The MCCBCHST also asserted that non-Muslims were in no position to be of any threat to Muslims because Malaysian politics, government service and security forces are dominated by Malay Muslims.
"We are saddened that non-Muslims have been warned for raising racial issues, when in fact the statement should be addressed to all.
"The MCCBCHST does not encourage and has never played up racial issues. What it has done is that when non-Muslim rights are affected, it points out the constitutional provisions relating to the matter," says the statement.
Defining the boundary of Article 3, the council explained that Article 4 declares that "this constitution is the supreme law of the land".
The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) said in a statement today that it supports Raja Nazrin's call for parties not to manipulate religious issues.
"We, on our part, reiterate that MCCBCHST has never questioned the position of lslam as the religion of the federation as provided in Article 3 of the Federal Constitution."
However, it stressed, Article 3 also grants protection to other religions, stating clearly that "other religions may be practised in peace and harmony in any part of the federation".Citing Raja Nazrin's statement that "the etiquette of respecting and non-interfering in the affairs of other religions be adhered to", the council pointed out that all religious groups should respect one another's religion and work within the boundary of the federal constitution.
The MCCBCHST also asserted that non-Muslims were in no position to be of any threat to Muslims because Malaysian politics, government service and security forces are dominated by Malay Muslims.
"We are saddened that non-Muslims have been warned for raising racial issues, when in fact the statement should be addressed to all.
"The MCCBCHST does not encourage and has never played up racial issues. What it has done is that when non-Muslim rights are affected, it points out the constitutional provisions relating to the matter," says the statement.
Defining the boundary of Article 3, the council explained that Article 4 declares that "this constitution is the supreme law of the land".
'Healthy debate will develop a stronger Malaysia'
To back its argument, the MCCBCHST quoted law expert Professor Shad Saleem Faruqi's view published in English daily The Star, which states:
"However, though lslam is the religion of the federation, Malaysia is not an lslamic state. The syariah is not the basic law of the land. The constitution is supreme... Further, Article 3 (on lslam) does not extinguish anything else in the constitution... Nor can Article 3 be relied on to trump any other constitutional provision..."
The council is of the view that what is at stake now is the interpretation of the constitutional provisions.
"Thus, some rational debate must be allowed within the perimeters of the law. A healthy debate gives us room to develop a stronger Malaysia, based on our federal constitution," it said.
Opening the Perak state assembly sitting on Tuesday, Raja Nazrin voiced disappointment over the breaching of the guideline on Islam.
The crown prince of Perak said there were those among non-Muslims who were getting louder in challenging matters related to Islam and in ridiculing and belittling the religion. He wanted this firmly checked.
The next day, 164 Malay NGOs under the Malay Consultative Council (MPM) expressed their support for Raja Nazrin and issued a warning to non-Muslims not to insult and view Islam cynically.
"However, though lslam is the religion of the federation, Malaysia is not an lslamic state. The syariah is not the basic law of the land. The constitution is supreme... Further, Article 3 (on lslam) does not extinguish anything else in the constitution... Nor can Article 3 be relied on to trump any other constitutional provision..."
The council is of the view that what is at stake now is the interpretation of the constitutional provisions.
"Thus, some rational debate must be allowed within the perimeters of the law. A healthy debate gives us room to develop a stronger Malaysia, based on our federal constitution," it said.
Opening the Perak state assembly sitting on Tuesday, Raja Nazrin voiced disappointment over the breaching of the guideline on Islam.
The crown prince of Perak said there were those among non-Muslims who were getting louder in challenging matters related to Islam and in ridiculing and belittling the religion. He wanted this firmly checked.
The next day, 164 Malay NGOs under the Malay Consultative Council (MPM) expressed their support for Raja Nazrin and issued a warning to non-Muslims not to insult and view Islam cynically.
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