Two DAP Youth leaders, who are practising lawyers, have rebutted the allegation that the proposal to establish a ministerial portfolio for non-Islamic affairs would affect or undermine the position of Islam as the religion of the federation.
Lim Chun Weng and Jason Ng also cautioned all quarters not to fall into Perikatan Nasional and Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh’s “political trap” but to evaluate the proposal rationally and constructively in the best interest of all Malaysians.
“We strongly condemn the attempts by the opposition parties and certain Umno leaders, such as Akmal, to frame this proposal as a challenge to Islam’s position as the official religion of the Federation, merely for cheap political publicity,” they added.
Lim, the DAP Youth secretary, and Ng, the wing’s public policies bureau head and Astaka assemblyperson, stated that they had reviewed the proposal submitted by DAP MP Chow Yu Hui in Parliament, which ignited a firestorm.
The pair said the mere appointment of a minister to oversee non-Islamic affairs does not challenge the status of Islam, as it is safeguarded under Article 3 of the Federal Constitution.
“Certain parties, such as PAS Youth and the Malaysian Muslim Lawyers Association (PPMM), claim that the proposal violates the Federal Constitution.
“This is incorrect, as there is no provision in the Federal Constitution that restricts the appointment of a minister to oversee religions other than Islam. Instead, this proposal should be examined and considered rationally, as the practice of other religions is also protected and guaranteed under Article 11 of the Federal Constitution,” they said in a statement.
Addressing specific needs
Lim and Ng noted that Malaysia is a pluralistic nation comprising various ethnicities and religions where according to the 2020 census, approximately 63.5 percent of Malaysia’s 32.4 million population adheres to Islam, while around 36.5 percent follow other religions.
However, the pair said to date, there has been no dedicated minister responsible for overseeing the affairs of non-Islamic religions, which account for nearly 10 million adherents.
“Many argue that the country already has a minister of national unity, making a minister for non-Islamic affairs unnecessary. However, it is important to understand that the primary role of the minister of national unity is to foster racial harmony and unity, not to address the specific needs of non-Islamic religions.
“We must also acknowledge that the concerns and affairs of non-Islamic communities deserve to be addressed and taken seriously by the federal government, even though Islam remains the official religion of the federation,” they added.
Furthermore, Lim and Ng said the proposal is not a new idea, as similar positions have already been implemented at the state level in Perak, Negeri Sembilan, and Selangor, where an exco for non-Islamic affairs has been appointed to cater to the needs of non-Muslim communities.
“Despite this, the status of Islam in these states remains secure and has never been challenged,” they said.
Outlining the merits of appointing a minister for non-Islamic affairs, Lim and Ng said this would allow the government to:
Provide an official platform to discuss and resolve issues related to non-Islamic religions fairly and equitably.
Ensure that government policies consider the needs and sensitivities of non-Muslim communities.
Strengthen interfaith dialogue to foster national harmony and unity.
Reduce imbalances in the administration of religious affairs in Malaysia.
Address the challenges and needs of non-Islamic religious institutions, including places of worship, religious education, and community welfare.
- Mkini
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.