PARLIAMENT | Pasir Puteh MP Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh has apologised for his remarks that the Christian Bible was distorted (terpersong) on the issue of alcohol consumption.
The PAS Ulama council chief, however, maintained that he had no intentions to insult any religion and was only out to defend the "original Injil (Bible)" as revealed to Prophet Isa.
"I apologise if anyone felt offended, it was not my intention. What I intended was I wanted to defend the original Bible revealed to Prophet Isa, without any changes," he told the Dewan Rakyat today.
Zawawi's apology was issued in response to an order by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun for the statement to be retracted and for him to apologise.
He had previously declined a similar demand made by the Association of Churches in Sarawak, stating they had no right to be offended, but he was willing to hold a harmonious dialogue on the matter.
Zawawi had made the initial remarks during the last Parliament sitting in his debate on amendments to the Road Transport Act 1987 to increase the penalty for driving under the influence.
He had claimed at the time that the government's proposed amendments should not be seen as a religious issue because no religion including Christianity allows its followers to drink alcohol.
This prompted a rebuttal from Ngeh Kos Ham (DAP-Beruas) who said consumption of alcohol is permissible in moderation, but Zawawi argued that it was based on teachings from a distorted Bible.
Azhar's ruling today was made in response to Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii who had demanded an explanation from Zawawi in the Dewan Rakyat this session following his initial refusals. - Mkini
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