KUCHING, Sept 5: None of the Members of Parliament (MPs) representing Sarawak spoke out against the Pasir Puteh MP in Parliament when he made the derogatory remark against the Bible.
This was said by Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen when he asserted that standing up against Nik Muhammad Zawawi at the time he made the statement would matter the most to the people of Sarawak.
“Currently in the Dewan Rakyat, there are 13 PBB (Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu) MPs, two PRS (Parti Rakyat Sarawak) MPs, two PDP (Progressive Democratic Party) MPS, one SUPP (Sarawak United Peoples’ Party) MP, two PSB (Parti Sarawak Bersatu) MPs and two Bersatu (Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia) MPs from Sarawak.
“Where were they when the Pas (Parti Islam Se-Malaysia) MP insulted the Bible in Parliament? Why did they not make any stand confronting the Pas MP and his lot in Parliament?” Chong, who is Stampin MP, said in a statement today.
In stating this, he said only the DAP MPs rebuked the Pas MP on his remark in Parliament on August 26.
He said that Pasir Puteh MP was immediately refuted by DAP Beruas MP Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham at the time, but was unfortunately stopped by the Deputy Speaker.
Following that on the next day (Aug 27), Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii moved a motion in Parliament to seek a retraction and apology from Pasir Puteh MP but the motion was brushed aside.
As such, Chong reiterated the importance of bringing the resentment of all Sarawakians including Muslims and non Muslims over the defamatory remarks over the Bible in Parliament.
“All the more important is that such message must be sent and voiced out in Parliament in the presence of the Pas MP, not just repeating such resentment in Sarawak to Sarawakians but shying away from the Pas MP in Parliament.
“It seems that, when it comes to the defence of the minority’s rights and dignity, it is still the DAP who will at the very first moment step forward to confront the oppressors and the offenders,” he said. —DayakDaily
