A CHINESE federation is urging the government to reprimand Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki for saying atheism has no place in Malaysia and is unconstitutional.

Federation of Sabah Chinese Associations president T.C. Goh said the government must make its stand on Asyraf’s remarks clear, adding that the deputy minister must clarify whether his statement applied only to Malays or Malaysians generally.

Asyraf, on Thursday, said in Parliament that the government was committed to combating atheism, which opposed Islam and the teachings of Ahli Sunnah Wal Jammah.

“Freedom of religion is not freedom from religion. It is unconstitutional to say we can spread ideologies that incite people to leave a religion or profess no religion at all.”

Goh said: “The fact that the Federal Constitution guarantees the freedom of religion and makes no mention of ‘freedom not to have any religion’ does not mean atheism is unconstitutional.

“When the Federal Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, that freedom carries with it the choice to opt out of religion.”

This is the second time Asyraf has courted controversy. Previously, he said the federal government was committed to turning Malaysia into an Islamic state. – November 28, 2017.