No logic behind proposal for non-Muslim religious affairs minister, says ex-rep

No logic behind proposal for non-Muslim religious affairs minister, says ex-rep

PETALING JAYA: Former DAP assemblyman Satees Muniandy has criticised a proposal to create a non-Muslim religious affairs minister’s post, saying it could pave the way for unnecessary government intervention.

Satees, who is now with Urimai, questioned the logic behind the proposal and said it could threaten the freedom of religion guaranteed under the Federal Constitution.

“This is a regressive proposal that would pave the way for government intervention in the religious affairs of non-Muslims in Malaysia,” he said in a statement.

He said the establishment of such a post could eventually lead to the government issuing guidelines for religions such as Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism and others, potentially dictating religious practices, including regulations on religious celebrations.

He was responding to Raub MP Chow Yu Hui’s suggestion 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.

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Chow, of DAP, pointed out that the Penang, Perak and Negeri Sembilan governments have executive councillors in charge of non-Muslim affairs.

Satees said the government has no authority over the practice of other religions in the federation. “So why is a DAP MP seeking to create a situation where the government is given such powers?” he said.

He said the only authority the federal government has regarding non-Islamic religious matters is in relation to Hindu endowments.

“Even then, Putrajaya’s role is limited to establishing and overseeing Hindu endowments, not direct administration,” he said, adding that this principle has been upheld by the government since the country’s independence.

Earlier, Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki also objected to the proposal, saying all non-Muslim government leaders had agreed not to breach the constitution’s provisions on the position of Islam.

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He claimed that an agreement was signed by non-Muslim leaders of every component party in the unity government.

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 also said the Federal Constitution did not provide for “specific procedures for the management of religions other than Islam”, and that a constitutional amendment would be required to establish the non-Muslim religious affairs minister’s post.

No logic behind proposal for non-Muslim religious affairs minister, says ex-rep

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