KUCHING: Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah has criticised PAS MP for Kuala Langat, Ahmad Yunus Hairi for asking the federal government not to develop and build non-Muslim houses of worship in the same area as mosques.
The Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneurship Development perceived the views as “extreme views” and “definitely not Islamic”.
“Islam does not preach to its believer to hate or treat their non-Muslim neighbours this way,” he was quoted as saying by Free Malaysia Today (FMT).
Abdul Karim then urged the government to immediately put a stop towards all the nonsense, adding that those who preached hatred in a multi-religious, multi-racial nation like Malaysia should be brought to book.
“They must learn how believers of different faiths are able to live harmoniously and peacefully in Sarawak and Sabah,” he stated, further explaining that Malaysia is not only for Muslims.
He added that those who preached such extreme views should head back and relearn Malaysian history.
On Wednesday, during the debate of the Supply Bill 2023, Yunus stated that the Ministry of Local Government Development should allow the development of houses of worship in different places for different religions.
Yunus had said, for instances the lot to build a mosque should be different from that used to build a non-Muslim house of worship due to the sensitivities.
Another example he stated was the Hindu temple at Canary Garden in Klang, which is located near a Malay settlement, and has caused unrest and protest among those living in the area.
