I WILL not apologise, said PAS MP Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh when asked about demands from Christian groups that he do so over his recent remarks on the Bible.

The Pasir Puteh MP was accused of insulting Christians when he said in Parliament last week that the religion’s sacred book is “distorted”.

“Why should I apologise? I am not wrong. I based what I said on the knowledge that I learned, the facts that I received,” Zawawi told The Malaysian Insight today.

“It is also mentioned in the Quran. You can’t say that the Quran is wrong. That is why I am confident,” said Zawawi, who heads the Islamist party’s Dewan Ulama, a wing of senior Muslim jurists.

Instead of an apology, Zawawi said he preferred an interfaith dialogue to explain himself.

“Those who think my statement is false should hold a harmonious dialogue with me on the condition that it is open to all.

“I will present my facts and arguments, and the public can judge for themselves. (This is) so that we can find the truth in these old texts, such as the Bible, on what really happened.

“Christians can also present their arguments. We will find the truth.”

The Sarawak Churches Council has asked the lawmaker to retract the remarks and apologise, saying that Zawawi had violated the federal constitution, which provides for freedom of religion.

Archbishop Simon Poh had also described Zawawi’s remarks as extreme and disrespectful to Christians.

The Kelantan MP made the remarks while debating a bill to amend the Road Transport Act to increase penalties for drink-driving.

He had said that no religion allows its followers to drink alcohol and because of that, the Perikatan Nasional government’s move to amend the law should not be a religious issue.

“From what I have learned studying comparative religion, no faith allows its believers to drink alcohol. No religion. Not Buddhism, Hinduism or others allow this. 

“This issue should not be a sensitive issue for other faiths,” Zawawi had said.

Zawawi’s speech was interrupted by Beruas MP Ngeh Khoo Ham, who said the PAS MP’s points were inaccurate as other faiths allowed its followers to drink alcohol as long as it was not intoxicating.

Wine, for instance, is used in the Christian ritual of the Eucharist or The Lord’s Supper, Ngeh had said.

Zawawi then rejected Ngeh’s explanation, arguing that “before the Bible was distorted, Christianity had forbidden alcohol”.

Zawawi said this was based on his studies in comparative religion.

On Thursday, Bandar Kuching MP Kevin Yii had demanded Zawawi take back his remarks based on parliamentary standing orders. – August 29, 2020.