HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN SABAH & SARAWAK ARE PART OF MALAYSIA WITH LARGE NON-MUSLIM POPULATION? BUMIPUTERA DAYAK GROUP CRUCIFIES PAS & UMNO FOR CONDEMNING MALANJUM’S APPOINTMENT AS CHIEF JUSTICE

A DAYAK civil group has criticised PAS and Umno Youth for picking on and casting aspersion on the appointment of non-Muslim Richard Malanjum as the chief justice.

The Dayak National Congress said both PAS and Umno Youth failed to realise Malaysia is a multiracial country and all religions, including Islam, command its faithful to do good and promote justice.

Their statements are uncalled for, DNC president Paul Raja said in reference to the sarcastic congratulations from Umno Youth and PAS’ claim that Muslims’ legal rights were now under threat following the appointments of non-Muslims to top legal positions in government – Malanjum, Attorney-General Tommy Thomas, and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of legal affairs Liew Vui Keong.

Umno Youth said the appointment of non-Muslim Malanjum, a Sabahan as chief justice completes the “New Malaysia” as promised by the Pakatan Harapan government “led by DAP”.

“To pick on and cast aspersion on the chief justice as a non-Muslim does not help to promote justice,”  Paul said.

“We must state here that being a non-Muslim does not restrict the chief justice from administering justice in the highest court of the nation.

“We must also remember that he is helming the civil court of Malaysia and not the shariah court.”

Paul said what was important is that Malanjum fulfilled all the required legal and constitutional conditions to be appointed as the chief justice.

“The sad thing here is that despite his qualification, he has been overlooked on many occasions in the past.”  

Paul also asked why PAS and Umno Youth had forgotten that Sabah and Sarawak are part of Malaysia with a large non-Muslim population.

“Citizens of Sabah and Sarawak do have rights like any other Malaysian guaranteed under the MA63 and the federal constitution, if qualified, to be appointed to highest office in the civil service of the federation.

“In fact, we would like to remind that Article 153 of the federal constitution has been neglected by the previous regime, as far as the rights of the natives of Sabah and Sarawak are concerned with regard to appointments in the civil service.

“We, therefore, hope that PAS and Umno Youth should learn their lesson and be more charitable in their political struggle in promoting the rights and welfare of all Malaysians instead of being champions in suppressing other lawful citizens of this country called Malaysia.”

Malaysians have spoken clearly at the 14^th general election and voted for a new Malaysia “where everybody can live harmoniously in a multiracial nation”.

“Our race, colour and creed should not be made or use to divide us like what happened under the previous government,” Paul said.

He said PAS and Umno Youth should help to build a better Malaysia, instead of trying to gain popularity using divisive means.

THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT