KUCHING, Sept 6: Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) prohibiting interfaith prayers is not applicable to Sarawak, which has its own religious body to govern the Islamic constitution.
State Reform Party (Star) president Lina Soo said Islam is under State List II – State List (1) of the Ninth Schedule Part III of the Federal Constitution, where Islamic affairs come under the jurisdiction of the state.
“As a state matter, Sarawak has its own religious institutions and organisations to govern the constitution and procedures for Islamic laws and doctrine for Muslims in Sarawak,” she said in a statement today.
Soo said this in response to the 113th Federal Territories Shariah Law Consultative Council, which decided that Muslims “should not be made to” involve themselves in interfaith prayers.
“Jakim’s statements are irrelevant to Sarawak as far as the law is concerned and Sarawak has its own legitimate rights, which the federal government must respect.”
She said Sarawak’s multi-religious and multicultural communities have always practised their religious faiths peaceful and harmoniously without issue.
“We respect and uphold unity in diversity, and we do not welcome Malaya’s futile attempt to export their race and religion politics to divide the people of Sarawak,” said Soo. — DayakDaily
