THE Association of Churches in Sarawak (ACS) has demanded that PAS’ Pasir Puteh MP, Nik Muhammad Zawawi Haji Salleh, retract his remarks in the Dewan Rakyat this week that Christian Bible has been distorted.
ACS chairman Archbishop Simon Poh said it wanted Nik Muhammad Zawawi to apologise to all Christians and retract his statement.
“Such insensitive statements with strong allegations against another religion should never be allowed to stand without being rectified. It goes against the spirit of the Federal Constitution and MA63, which guarantee the right of all citizens to religious freedom,” he said in a statement today.
The PAS man had made the claim during his debate on the Road Transport (Amendment) Bill 2020 in Parliament that, “the Gospel is distorted or changed”
Poh said the remark has crossed the boundary of religious sensitivity and is an insult to all Christians.
Nik Muhammad Zawawi had also said that no religion allows its followers to drink, which Poh described as an unsubstantiated sweeping statement.
“Though the learned PAS MP Pasir Puteh cited these as coming from his PhD research in comparative religion, and is using them to state his point against consumption of alcohol during his debate on the Road Transport (Amendment) Bill 2020 in Parliament, ACS strongly condemns these insensitive statements against other religions and in particular Christianity,” he said in the statement.
Poh said he will only respond to the remarks on the Gospel being distorted instead.
“I will not be drawn into making claims nor speaking on behalf of the teaching or tenets of other religions as had been done by YB Pasir Puteh,” he said.
Poh said it is unacceptable these statements were recorded in the hansard of the Dewan Rakyat Parlimen on August 26 at 2.57pm.
He said in Sarawak, harmonious living through mutual respect and acceptance is highly treasured.
He said ACS respects the right of every person to their opinion, but the association rejects insulting any religion.
“Political leaders are to set the example of civility, and work for harmony for the common good of all people. As citizens of Malaysia, ACS holds the Dewan Rakyat in highest regard and believes that all issues are to be addressed in a rational and civil manner.” – August 29, 2020.
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