MUKAH: A proposed legislation to control and restrict the development of non-Muslim religions has not gone down well with the local non-Muslim communities.
The reason is simple – the move initiated by deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Ahmad Marzuk Shaary is deemed unconstitutional besides attempting to interrupt the prevailing religious harmony and tolerance among the multi-racial Malaysians, especially in Sarawak.
Kapitan Kang Boon Eong, 55, said freedom of religion was among the terms specified during the formation of Malaysia and the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
He added the prevailing religious freedom in Sarawak had helped the multi-racial people of various backgrounds to be united and lived harmoniously and peacefully for many decades.
“On top of that, Sarawakians respect each other as evident among others, where families of different religious beliefs stay under one roof, so perhaps Malaya should take note of this,” he said to New Sarawak Tribune on Friday (Sept 10).
Kang, a businessman in the service industry, opined that the proposed Bill might disunite instead of unite Malaysians.
He hoped that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob would take note of the implication of the proposed legislation, especially to Sarawak, which has many non-Muslims population.
The Chinese community leader also looked forward to the prime minister to help expedite the return of Sarawak’s autonomy in education, health among other things soon.
