Sarawak churches slam PAS MP for saying ‘Bible has been twisted’

Updated 3 years ago · Published on 29 Aug 2020 9:41AM · 7 Comments

Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh had said in Parliament that Christian Bible has been twisted on the issue of drinking alcohol. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, August 29, 2020.

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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Comments

  • The term learned MP is misleading surely. If he can openly say the Bible was twisted can we say that the Muslim book was plagiarised ? Surely we dont want to offend anyone, as it is law...so why can pas do it? Learned people are not irresponsible but pas has a habit for being simply stupid!!!

    Posted 3 years ago by Alphonz Jayaratnam · Reply

  • Yes, Warisan and PH should use this in the Sabah election and see if the Christians will vote Bersatu with PAS as its sidekick.

    Posted 3 years ago by Elyse Gim · Reply

  • PhD from where? Learned? OMG!

    Posted 3 years ago by Concerned Citizen · Reply

  • Where did he get his comparative study doctorate? He just proved that he had failed his thesis or he plagiarised it ! Which is normally the case. Or his tutor was Zakir Naik. He doesnt even know comparative study is just that, not one better then other.

    Posted 3 years ago by Alphonz Jayaratnam · Reply

  • Hooi....kepala otak lembu, jaga mulut kau....

    Posted 3 years ago by Thomas Samuel · Reply

  • Dont see Christians forming from their mouths at this PAS MPs non sensical statement on the Bible the Christians are under treat

    Posted 3 years ago by Malcom Pushparaj · Reply

  • God will handle him. As a Christian we should be humble and let God to do the rest for this kind of brainless animals.

    Posted 3 years ago by James Ravi · Reply