By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Feb 7: Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) has criticised the set of proposed guidelines introduced by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, saying that the guidelines are “unnecessary and over-bearing” and Sarawak as a “secular” State, does not need such religious guidelines.
In a press statement, SUPP Secretary General Datuk Sebastian Ting said, “Although we fully understand and respect the minister’s proposal for the guidelines, paramount in our stand is that there is no official religion in Sarawak and hence, that ‘secular Sarawak’ enshrinement in Sarawak Constitution and also the Malaysia Agreement (MA63) must be taken into cognizance when proposing guidelines bordering on any religion, including Islam.”
He stressed that Sarawak is often referred to as a “model of religious acceptance and harmony, where people of different faiths” with various religions coexisting peacefully in the region.
“Sarawak’s multi-cultural and multi-religious society embraces mutual respect, often celebrating each other’s festivals and traditions together.
“This unity is deeply rooted in Sarawak’s culture, where interfaith marriages, mixed-ethnic communities, and a strong sense of togetherness are common,” Ting said.
SUPP credits the Sarawak GPS Government for playing a vital role in ensuring religious freedom and interfaith understanding, making Sarawak an example of unity in diversity.
“In that regard, we find the proposed guidelines ‘unnecessary and over-bearing’ and earnestly believe that we do not need them in Sarawak,” Ting asserted.
SUPP also opined that over-regulating religious practices and being overly cautious about religious sensitivities – especially when such issues are not actual concerns for the people – could create unnecessary divisions.
“A better approach would be to encourage open dialogue, mutual understanding, and education on religious diversity while allowing people to maintain their traditions freely.
“In Malaysia as a whole, a balance must be struck between respecting religious beliefs and ensuring that policies do not unintentionally breed intolerance.
“Sarawak proves that trust and natural co-existence work better than excessive control,” Ting said. —DayakDaily
