The Penang deputy chief minister has questioned the renewed proposal by Religious Affairs Deputy Minister Ahmad Marzuk Shaary to table four new syariah laws, including the one that restricts the propagation of religions other than Islam.
P Ramasamy said Ahmad Marzuk's party PAS was relying on creating an artificial ‘siege mentality’ for its political purposes despite the fact that Islam is the official religion of the country and protected by the Federal Constitution.
"There are enough laws that prohibit the propagation of religions other than Islam to Muslims in the country.
"I don’t know why the government needs further restrictions on the spread of religions other than Islam,” he said in a statement today.
Ramasamy said ethnic and religious extremism for political survival has been the main reason why politicians in ethnic and religious parties have always sought to portray the image that Islam was under threat.
"Apart from the perception fuelled by religious extremism, I don’t think that Islam is really under threat from secular forces.
"PAS, the so-called firebrand Islamic party, is one political party that has used Islam for its political survival.
"Take away the religious factor and the party will collapse," said Ramasamy.
Ahmad Marzuk had stated earlier this week that the government plans to draft four new syariah laws, including the Control and Restriction on the Propagation of Non-Muslim Religions Bill.
The others are the Wakaf Bill, Mufti Bill and Syariah Court Bill.
He said several other legislations such as the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 (Act 355) will be amended under a five-year plan (2020-2025).
The proposed Control and Restriction on the Propagation of Non-Muslim Religions Bill was raised after the High Court in Kuala Lumpur ruled that non-Muslims can use the word "Allah".
The deputy minister had in fact first announced these changes in March. He retained his position after Ismail Sabri Yaakob took over as prime minister, and PAS stranglehold on Religious Affairs has deepened with the appointment of his party colleague Idris Samad as minister.
Ramasamy said the highest law of the land, the Federal Constitution, gives cognisance to the multi-racial and multi-ethnic character of the country.
"After more than 64 years of independence, there is no threat to Islam, although religions other than Islam have been subject to restrictions in many areas.
“I think that the recent High Court decision that permits non-Muslims to use the word ‘Allah’ which means God in Arabic could be the reason why the religious affairs department has come up with the idea of new legislation.
"This is merely a political act on the part of PAS leaders to show to the Muslims in the country that they are very much involved in protecting Muslims from the divisive secular forces.
"PAS thrives by creating antagonism between Muslims and those who do not profess this faith," he added. - Mkini
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