The Star
By SHAILA KOSHY
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism recognises Islam as the religion of the country and says its position is not under any threat.
The council said this in rebutting claims by Coalition of Muslim Organisations (Pembela) spokesman Dr Yusri Mohamad on May 4 that “Islam’s position in Malaysia is under siege”.
Dr Yusri had cited the designation of a non-Muslim affairs exco in Penang and the appointment of a Christian Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Idris Jala, to handle the AlKitab issue as basis for the “threat”.
In a statement yesterday, council president Rev Dr Thomas Philips said the council was amazed to read that the designation of a non-Muslim affairs exco in Penang was unconstitutional and threatened Islam’s position.
He said there was no constitutional prohibition against such a designation, adding that most states under Barisan Nasional had non-Muslim affairs committees to address religious matters faced by non-Muslims.
“The council is not aware of any person or body having questioned Islam’s position as enshrined in Article 3 of the Federal Constitution.”
He added that while Clause 1 of Article 3 stated “Islam is the religion of the Federation”, Clause 4 provided “Nothing in this Article derogates from any other provision of the Constitution ....”
“Thus, one cannot use the position of Islam as the religion of the Federation to question the rights of others. lt has to be based on the provisions of the Constitution,” he said, in calling on Dr Yusri and Pembela to work together with all citizens towards a harmonious, judicious and united Malaysia.
Rev Thomas also challenged Dr Yusri’s statement of a siege, saying that over two-thirds of the Cabinet were Malays, that the same number of MPs were Malays or bumiputras, the Rulers were Malays and that all state leaders, except for one Chief Minister, were Malays or bumiputras.
By SHAILA KOSHY
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism recognises Islam as the religion of the country and says its position is not under any threat.
The council said this in rebutting claims by Coalition of Muslim Organisations (Pembela) spokesman Dr Yusri Mohamad on May 4 that “Islam’s position in Malaysia is under siege”.
Dr Yusri had cited the designation of a non-Muslim affairs exco in Penang and the appointment of a Christian Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Idris Jala, to handle the AlKitab issue as basis for the “threat”.
In a statement yesterday, council president Rev Dr Thomas Philips said the council was amazed to read that the designation of a non-Muslim affairs exco in Penang was unconstitutional and threatened Islam’s position.
He said there was no constitutional prohibition against such a designation, adding that most states under Barisan Nasional had non-Muslim affairs committees to address religious matters faced by non-Muslims.
“The council is not aware of any person or body having questioned Islam’s position as enshrined in Article 3 of the Federal Constitution.”
He added that while Clause 1 of Article 3 stated “Islam is the religion of the Federation”, Clause 4 provided “Nothing in this Article derogates from any other provision of the Constitution ....”
“Thus, one cannot use the position of Islam as the religion of the Federation to question the rights of others. lt has to be based on the provisions of the Constitution,” he said, in calling on Dr Yusri and Pembela to work together with all citizens towards a harmonious, judicious and united Malaysia.
Rev Thomas also challenged Dr Yusri’s statement of a siege, saying that over two-thirds of the Cabinet were Malays, that the same number of MPs were Malays or bumiputras, the Rulers were Malays and that all state leaders, except for one Chief Minister, were Malays or bumiputras.
No comments:
Post a Comment