The National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC) has slammed former chief justice Abdul Hamid Mohamad for taking potshots without a sound understanding of the composition of its members or the purpose of its work.
"We are disappointed with his unsubstantiated comments about the contents of our bills, which actually shows his own emotive leanings and prejudice towards the NUCC itself," the council said in a joint statement.
The statement was issued by PAS MP Mujahid Rawa, Umno's Saifuddin Abdullah (left) and former Bar Council president Lim Chee Wee.
They were responding to Abdul Hamid for saying that he turned down an offer to lead NUCC because he feared it would betraythe Malay race and religion.
The remarks were widely picked up and reported by local news portals.
"We advise Abdul Hamid to spend some time reading the drafts (of the religious and harmony bills) and urge him to give constructive criticism and suggestions to improve them.
"Do we want to be continued to be ruled by Sedition Act 1948? Do we want to see religious and racial hate govern the future of this country?" reads the council’s statement.
Abdul Hamid leads the National Unity Front, which was formed by Malay and Muslim NGOs including Perkasa. It is an alternative body to the NUCC.
Yesterday, he also said the composition of NUCC worried him as many were liberals and tilted to the opposition's cause.
However, NUCC said Abdul Hamid got it all wrong.
The council said besides Mujahid (right) from PAS and Saifuddin from Umno, the rest were civil society leaders and activists.
The NUCC is headed by a top civil servant and former chief secretary to the government, Samsudin Osman.
Political orientation did not matter, its statement said.
Furthermore, the NUCC panel members said, Abdul Hamid need not get emotional as the NUCC only proposed the bills and sought public consultation.
The proposed bills would still need to go through the process of law and the cabinet for approval.
"We have nothing to hide and are working for everybody's sake," they said, reiterating that the proposed bills, which have specific focus on fighting bigotry, would not undermine Malay special rights, Islam's place and the special position of the royalty.
"We are disappointed with his unsubstantiated comments about the contents of our bills, which actually shows his own emotive leanings and prejudice towards the NUCC itself," the council said in a joint statement.
The statement was issued by PAS MP Mujahid Rawa, Umno's Saifuddin Abdullah (left) and former Bar Council president Lim Chee Wee.They were responding to Abdul Hamid for saying that he turned down an offer to lead NUCC because he feared it would betraythe Malay race and religion.
The remarks were widely picked up and reported by local news portals.
"We advise Abdul Hamid to spend some time reading the drafts (of the religious and harmony bills) and urge him to give constructive criticism and suggestions to improve them.
"Do we want to be continued to be ruled by Sedition Act 1948? Do we want to see religious and racial hate govern the future of this country?" reads the council’s statement.
Abdul Hamid leads the National Unity Front, which was formed by Malay and Muslim NGOs including Perkasa. It is an alternative body to the NUCC.
Yesterday, he also said the composition of NUCC worried him as many were liberals and tilted to the opposition's cause.
However, NUCC said Abdul Hamid got it all wrong.
The council said besides Mujahid (right) from PAS and Saifuddin from Umno, the rest were civil society leaders and activists.The NUCC is headed by a top civil servant and former chief secretary to the government, Samsudin Osman.
Political orientation did not matter, its statement said.
Furthermore, the NUCC panel members said, Abdul Hamid need not get emotional as the NUCC only proposed the bills and sought public consultation.
The proposed bills would still need to go through the process of law and the cabinet for approval.
"We have nothing to hide and are working for everybody's sake," they said, reiterating that the proposed bills, which have specific focus on fighting bigotry, would not undermine Malay special rights, Islam's place and the special position of the royalty.
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