PN MP: Expedite law to curb spread of other religions to Muslims

PARLIAMENT | A Perikatan Nasional MP has urged the government to expedite the tabling of a bill mooted by PAS as part of the previous administration on restriction on propagation of non-Muslim religions to Muslims in the Federal Territories.

Zulkifli Ismail (PN-Jasin) said the federal-level syariah law is needed so the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) will be empowered to investigate any complaints on the alleged propagation of non-Muslim religions to Muslims.

"Will the government expedite the tabling of this control bill in Parliament, given that it is permitted to do so under the Federal Constitution?

"With no written law, complaints cannot be investigated and dealt with," he said during committee stage debates of the Supply Bill 2024, on allocations for agencies under the Prime Minister's Department.

"If the power provided for under the Federal Constitution is not translated through the enactment of this Act at the Federal Territories level, the constitutional provision will be rendered moot because it cannot be enforced," said Zulkifli.

He cited Article 11(4) of the Federal Constitution which provides for the enactment of laws preventing the propagation of non-Muslim religions to Muslims, as a "source of power" for the proposed new bill.

Pengkalan Chepa MP Ahmad Marzuk Shaary

In 2021, while PAS was a part of the BN-led federal government, then deputy minister in the prime minister’s department Ahmad Marzuk Shaary revealed plans to draft four new syariah laws, including the Control and Restriction on the Propagation of Non-Muslim Religions Bill.

Further, Zulkifli today noted that state-level provisions enforced in 10 states, except the Federal Territories, Penang, Sabah and Sarawak, provide restrictions on non-Muslims using terms exclusive to Muslims - including Allah, baitullah, Kaabah and others.

"So the new law (enforced in Federal Territories) will help the government to prevent misuse of the word Allah," he said.

Zulkifli also asked the government whether more allocations can be provided for Jakim to hire more professional staff, focusing on coordination of syariah-related laws at the state and federal levels.  - Mkini