KOTA KINABALU – After raising the alarm over Putrajaya’s plan to table the Control and Restriction on the Propagation of Non-Muslim Religions Bill, which would transgress the Malaysia Agreement 1963, Warisan now wants the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) government to make their stand clear on matter.
Taking a cue from the statement made by Warisan Treasurer Terrence Siambun, the party’s Penampang information chief Jeremiah Mayo Gitom questioned the silence of the GRS party presidents Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee from SAPP, PBS president Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili, and Sabah Star leader Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan.
“These gentlemen sit in the Perikatan Nasional (PN) presidential council, together with Ongkili and, obviously, such a sensitive issue should have been deliberated by all component parties prior to the announcement,” Jeremiah said in a statement here today.
“Sabahans, particularly the Christian communities, are deeply concerned and anxious to know what the bill is about. So, we want the three presidents to come out in the open and tell us what it is all about. Their continued silence can be construed as them having had knowledge of the bill and given their mark of approval.”
Deputy Religious Affairs Minister Ahmad Marzuk Shaary had two days ago announced that several shariah legislations will be created and others amended under a five-year plan.
Jeremiah said the Christian communities are concerned over Putrajaya’s move as the Catholic dioceses and priests are currently live-streaming their mass services via Facebook in the Malay language.
He said the live broadcast is necessary to enable Christians in Sabah to remain strong to their faith and stay at home to avoid Covid-19 infection, adding, however, it was not clear whether the church leaders would be contravening the laws if they continue to do so.
Jeremiah said public broadcasting of such nature can also be manipulated by extremists who may not even reside in Sabah.
He said the Sabah leaders in PN and GRS must stop Putrajaya’s efforts to introduce the law.
Another Warisan leader, Basal Bullah, believes the new shariah law and other planned amendments to the law may have already been unilaterally decided by the PN leaders, including that of Sabah Star, PBS, and SAPP.
“The onus is upon the component party presidents of PN and GRS who have full access to PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to inform Sabahans and Sarawakians the details of both bills to allay concerns that the proposed regulations may affect the non-Muslims’ religious beliefs.
“This issue extends beyond political affiliation or even religion, because it affects one of Sabah’s and Sarawak’s special privileges that have been negotiated and agreed to by all signatories to the international treaty known as the Malaysia Agreement 1963,” he said.
“If the announcement to table both bills was made unilaterally, then Star and PBS must emulate the exemplary action by DAP in 2015 when the party decided to cut off ties with PAS – thereby causing the collapse of Pakatan Rakyat (PR) – due to PAS president (Datuk Seri Abdul) Hadi Awang’s failure to have prior discussions with PKR and DAP over his decision to implement the hudud law in Kelantan.
“If DAP cut off ties with PAS merely because of political idealism, what more when this relates to the state’s special privileges, as Star and PBS both boast that MA63 is their priority,” he said. – The Vibes, March 18, 2021
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