UMNO has joined the chorus of opposition against the proposal for a non-Muslim religious affairs minister, claiming that all non-Muslim government leaders have agreed not to breach the constitution’s provisions on the position of Islam.
Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki claimed that an agreement was signed by non-Muslim leaders of every component party in the unity government.
“Non-Muslim leaders – whether from DAP, PKR, Upko, parties in Gabungan Rakyat Sabah or parties in Gabungan Parti Sarawak – have already signed an agreement that they would never breach the constitution’s provisions on the position of Islam, special privileges of Malay-Bumiputeras, sovereignty of the Malay rulers and Bahasa Melayu (as the national language),” he said.
In a Facebook post, Asyraf said Umno’s stand was that a minister to oversee non-Muslim religious affairs was unnecessary when the matter already fell under the national unity minister’s purview.
He added that the Federal Constitution also did not provide for “specific procedures for the management of religions other than Islam”.
He claimed that the only way for a non-Muslim religious affairs minister’s post to be established was for the constitution to be amended, and cited the agreement apparently signed by non-Muslim party leaders under the unity government.
Raub MP Chow Yu Hui had said that having two religious affairs ministers under the Prime Minister’s Department – one for Muslims and another for non-Muslims – could curb controversies linked to religious issues.
The DAP man pointed out that the Penang, Perak, and Negeri Sembilan governments have executive councillors in charge of non-Muslim affairs.
In response to a Facebook comment urging Umno to sever ties with DAP, Asyraf said that “Gerakan would just be the same”.
He said what was more important was for all Muslims to preserve Islam in Malaysia, even if they were from different political parties.
