THE Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) refers to the controversy surrounding Lim Guan Eng’s statement relating to non-Muslim rights in Malaysia.

This controversy should be interpreted in the context of many statements made by PAS and Umno relating to non-Muslim rights. The persistent stand of PAS is that Malaysia must be governed by Islam as practised and implemented 1400 years ago, in the seventh century.

Nik Mohamad Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz, who was previously PAS Youth chief, had said the present laws bow down to the federal constitution, whose powers exceed the sovereignty of the Quran and is thus against Islam and is obviously in idolatry. PAS clearly aspires to an Islamic theocratic state, which is unconstitutional. They want religious law to be higher than the constitution.

In December 2017, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said “Malaysia must be led by a Muslim. Islam mandates that a head of government and his cabinet members are those who profess the religion of Islam and must be from the most influential race” (The Star, December 25, 2017).

Then, Barisan Nasional secretary-general Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz, during the Semenyih by-election campaign, said non-Muslims cannot hold the posts of chief justice, attorney-general and finance minister. Nazri is also espousing Islamic state principles – clearly against the spirit of the constitution. “It has been reported that during the Semenyih by-election, some politicians questioned the appointment of non-Malays to the posts of chief justice, attorney-general and finance minister… First, there is nothing in the constitution to bar a non-Malay from holding any official position within the administration, Parliament or judiciary” (Professor Shad Faruqi, as quoted by The Star, February 28, 2019).

From the above, it is clear that PAS and Nazri have made statements questioning the rights of non-Malays. Their statements are unconstitutional and seditious in nature.

In fact, MCCBCHST leaders, when meeting Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad on January 11, expressed concern about statements by PAS questioning the rights of non-Muslims and the party’s quest for an Islamic state, to which Dr Mahathir assured MCCBCHST that the Pakatan Harapan government will be sensitive to all religions, and abide by the constitution and rule of law.

Clearly, PAS and Umno have made statements that are unconstitutional and seditious.

The government should warn everyone against making such seditious remarks, which have the tendency to question the rights of others, and if there is enough evidence, charge them in court.

MCCBCHST appeals to all Malaysians to unite under the federal constitution and rule of law. Our country has remained united and accepted diversity as enshrined in the Rukunegara. Challenges in the modern day are many, and the world is moving fast ahead. We should unite to face the many challenges arising from globalisation and modernisation, and not seek to divide. – March 8, 2019.

* Statement by MCCBCHST.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.