'I'm at the lowest ebb of my life,' she says in reference to attacks over a statement explaining the decision not to charge Ibrahim Ali with sedition.
KUCHING: De facto Law Minister Nancy Shukri has expressed anguish that even her countrymen, Sarawakians, are wondering whether she has changed for the worse since taking up her present position in the Prime Minister’s Department.
“If you ask the people in my constituency, Batang Sadong, no one will believe all the things being said about me,” she said in an update on a continuing controversy swirling around her since Parliament opened for this session. “I believe that all Sarawakians are still with me because they know me and have seen how I serve my people over the years.”
The update also comes in the wake of a report that the AG’s Chamber will issue a statement to explain its decision not to charge Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali under the Sedition Act for threatening to burn the Bibles seized by religious authorities in Selangor not so long ago.
Nancy, of Iban-Chinese-Scottish extraction, stressed that race and religion have never been an issue with her since she grew up in a multi-racial family with relatives of different races and religions.
“Growing up in Sarawak, where there is no issue with race and religion, I never dreamt that one day I would be branded as someone who is anti-Christian or a supporter of those calling for Bible burning,” she said.
“The church leaders in my area can be my witness. The Buddhist believers in my constituency know who I am. For years, I have been giving out grants to them, and I eat and drink with them. I think they are equally shocked to know that I have been labeled ‘racist’ or anti-Christian.”
She pleaded with Sarawakians not to be taken in by the attacks hurled at her. “Check my track record over the years,” she said. “I have been badly under attack. Honestly, I am at the lowest ebb of my life.
“However, as long as Sarawakians understand who I am and what is going on, I will remain strong and continue to serve them without fear or favour.”
In reiterating that she would never support any religious or racist statements or action against non-Muslims, she affirmed that she “never supported Perkasa President Ibrahim Ali and his religious views”.
“Neither the police nor the AG can give any reply in Parliament. I, as the de-facto Law Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, had to do it on their behalf,” she said. “Whatever were the findings of the police or the decision of the AG, I read it out in Parliament because they could not do it there.
“It must be made known that it was the AG’s decision not to charge Ibrahim under the Sedition Act, and the decision was based on police investigations.”
Referring to her statement in Parliament, she said, “It does not mean I agree with Ibrahim’s extreme views.”
Nancy continues to be under intense attack, especially from netizens, after her statement in Parliament explaining why Ibrahim was not charged for his call to burn the Bibles. She was answering a question last Wednesday from DAP MP and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and since then all hell has broken loose and turned her life upside down.
“If you ask the people in my constituency, Batang Sadong, no one will believe all the things being said about me,” she said in an update on a continuing controversy swirling around her since Parliament opened for this session. “I believe that all Sarawakians are still with me because they know me and have seen how I serve my people over the years.”
The update also comes in the wake of a report that the AG’s Chamber will issue a statement to explain its decision not to charge Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali under the Sedition Act for threatening to burn the Bibles seized by religious authorities in Selangor not so long ago.
Nancy, of Iban-Chinese-Scottish extraction, stressed that race and religion have never been an issue with her since she grew up in a multi-racial family with relatives of different races and religions.
“Growing up in Sarawak, where there is no issue with race and religion, I never dreamt that one day I would be branded as someone who is anti-Christian or a supporter of those calling for Bible burning,” she said.
“The church leaders in my area can be my witness. The Buddhist believers in my constituency know who I am. For years, I have been giving out grants to them, and I eat and drink with them. I think they are equally shocked to know that I have been labeled ‘racist’ or anti-Christian.”
She pleaded with Sarawakians not to be taken in by the attacks hurled at her. “Check my track record over the years,” she said. “I have been badly under attack. Honestly, I am at the lowest ebb of my life.
“However, as long as Sarawakians understand who I am and what is going on, I will remain strong and continue to serve them without fear or favour.”
In reiterating that she would never support any religious or racist statements or action against non-Muslims, she affirmed that she “never supported Perkasa President Ibrahim Ali and his religious views”.
“Neither the police nor the AG can give any reply in Parliament. I, as the de-facto Law Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, had to do it on their behalf,” she said. “Whatever were the findings of the police or the decision of the AG, I read it out in Parliament because they could not do it there.
“It must be made known that it was the AG’s decision not to charge Ibrahim under the Sedition Act, and the decision was based on police investigations.”
Referring to her statement in Parliament, she said, “It does not mean I agree with Ibrahim’s extreme views.”
Nancy continues to be under intense attack, especially from netizens, after her statement in Parliament explaining why Ibrahim was not charged for his call to burn the Bibles. She was answering a question last Wednesday from DAP MP and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and since then all hell has broken loose and turned her life upside down.
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