KUCHING, Dec 19: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Women vice-president Voon Shiak Ni has called on Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malek to retract his statement on making Sarawak a “medan dakwah” immediately.
“I would also like to call on Education Minister Maszlee to clarify his recent statement in Parliament involving the issue of the shortage of Islamic teaching teachers in Sarawak and that he had urged ustaz and ustazah from Kelantan and Terengganu to stay back in Sarawak to render their services and to make it an Islamic propagation field or ‘medan dakwah’.
“I would like Maszlee to be aware that his statement does not go down well with Sarawakians, and it is a statement that not only goes against the wishes of the majority of Sarawakians who are non-Muslims but also against the Federal Constitution and the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63),” she said in a statement today.
Voon said Maszlee should retract his statement before it triggered more negative impact in Sarawak.
“I would like to say it would be wiser of Maszlee to retract the statement immediately before it triggers religious tension and disrupts peace and harmony among our people here.
“If the statement was not made intentionally, do withdraw it immediately,” advised Voon.
Voon also reminded Maszlee to be mindful of statements made.
“Again, I wish to reiterate the same to Maszlee that the public does not want to have flip flop ministers. Thus, do be mindful of what you are going to say and the messages you are sending to the people and be informed and be thoughtful of the cultural and racial diversity in Sarawak,” said Voon. — DayakDaily
