KUCHING, Sept 9: Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) holds that Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) should have seen the introduction of shariah laws coming when it decided “to put PAS to be part of the federal government”.
Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen said the attempt by Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Ahmad Marzuk Shaary in drafting four new shariah laws, including for the control and restriction on the propagation of non-Muslim Religious Bill is “a thing to be expected”.
Chong who is the Kota Sentosa assemblyman alleged that even though the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Dato Sri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar had released a statement denying any knowledge of such a law, the latter’s jurisdiction under the Prime Minister’s Department is different from that of Ahmad Marzuk.
“Therefore, Wan Junaidi would not have full knowledge of what is going on in the Religious Affairs Department under the Prime Minister’s Department.
“Furthermore, Ahmad Marzuk has made several statements reiterating the drafting of such a bill, whereas the statement of Wan Junaidi was a very vague and non-committal one.
“Therefore, short of the Prime Minister (Dato Sri Ismail Sabri Yaakob) coming up with a clear statement denying the truth of Ahmad Marzuk’s statements, what Ahmad Marzuk said remains a valid cause for concern and anxiety by all who uphold freedom of religions in Malaysia,” said Chong in a statement.
The Stampin MP said the only consolation that Malaysians have is that Ahmad Marzuk had made it clear that this is a 5-year plan and that the general election will definitely be held in less than five years from now.
“We still have a chance to put PAS (Parti Islam Se-Malaysia) out of the federal government before the draft bills are tabled in Parliament,” said Chong.
For Chong, with Sarawak’s GPS now making their stand very clear that they will prefer to go along with PAS to form the federal government, the only way for Sarawakians to help ensure that PAS will not continue to be part of the federal government is to reject GPS in the coming State elections.
“One less GPS Member of Parliament means one less chance for PAS to continue to be the federal government.”
It has been reported that four new shariah laws are being drafted by the federal government including a bill for control and restrictions on the development of non-Muslim religions by Ahmad Marzuk.
A Wakaf Bill, Mufti Bill and Syariah Court Bill are the other new laws being planned. The new laws are part of a five-year plan by the federal government in which 11 changes will be made to strengthen shariah laws, which will include amendments to existing legislation and eight subsidiary shariah laws, as part of the government’s “Empowerment Plan”. — DayakDaily
