THE continuous effort of Barisan Nasional to make Malaysia an Islamic state goes against the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), Penampang MP Darrel Leiking said.
The Parti Warisan Sabah deputy president explained Malaysia was formed on the strict reciprocal promise among the signatories the federation of Malaysia will remain secular.
“No variation can be made without revisiting the terms of the MA63,” he told The Malaysian Insight.
Leiking said BN should stop dictating how the federation should be, adding Sabahans are fed up by changes made to MA63.
Senator Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, a panellist on the Kelantan-level “Bicara Minda and Sessi Dialog Perjuangan for all” last night said the continuous development and strengthening of Islam in the country from time to time is a clear signal the Barisan Nasional government did not shirk it in its responsibility to make Malaysian an Islamic state.
Leiking said the present Malaysian leaders should refer to first prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, who insisted the Federation of Malaysia can never be an Islamic state.
Former Petagas Assemblyman James ligunjang who is now a member of the MySabah group, formed by Foreign Minister Anifah Aman to discuss on Sabah’s rights, agreed with Leiking.
MEANWHILE, according to Malaysiakini:
Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian urged Sarawak BN to waste no time in repudiating the statement of a deputy minister that the federal BN is committed to establishing an Islamic state in Malaysia.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki was reported by news portal Free Malaysia Today as saying the BN government’s efforts at strengthening Islam from time to time was evidence it would not backslide from its responsibility to turn the country into an Islamic state.
Asyraf Wajdi’s remarks were made at a town hall meeting held by Umno information chief Annuar Musa in Kota Bharu last Friday.
“This is the clearest statement yet on the federal government’s stance on making Malaysia an Islamic state.
“It has to draw an unequivocal response of repudiation – and that, too, with alacrity – by the Sarawak BN as otherwise, the people of this state will think the state government is complicit in the federal endeavour to make Malaysia an Islamic state,” said Baru, who is Ba Ke’lalan assemblyperson.
Baru said the deputy minister’s statement is a flagrant contravention of the 1963 Malaysia Agreement.
“That he seems unconcerned about this contravention is yet more evidence that on issues of vital importance to Sarawak, the Federal BN is not bothered about the rights of the people of the state nor about the meaning and import of solemn undertakings,” said the human rights lawyer.
Baru said Sarawak BN ought to emulate the Johor Sultan in the recent instance of the ruler’s reaction to the issue of a Muslims-only laundrette in Muar.
“The sultan gave short shrift to the whole idea of a Muslims-only laundrette and the reaction was a bolt of clarity against what appears to be a campaign by stealth to make Malaysia an Islamic state.
“This is not the time for equivocation. Sarawak BN must repudiate Asyraf Wajdi’s statement and demand a denial of its claims by the highest authorities in federal BN,” Baru added.
THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT / mkini
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.