PARLIAMENTARY opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has described a PAS MP Dr Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh’s comments on the Bible as “unwise and insensitive”.

Such comments also reflect the Pasir Puteh MP’s shallow understanding of Islam when it comes to engaging with other faiths, said Anwar.

“Those who want to start dialogues between Muslims and Christians should do it based in the spirit of fraternity, as said in the Quran, which enjoins unity based on following one God,” Anwar said, referring to verse 64 in the chapter Ali Imran.

“If his intentions were to ask people to understand Islam, it is important that he use ‘wisdom and good advice’ (verse 125 of An-Nahl), which means mutual respect,” said Anwar in a statement.

The Port Dickson MP added that if a person’s words have caused misunderstanding and animosity, it is best “to be humble and admit that there were flaws in our approach”.

Nik Zawawi has been at the centre of a storm after he described the Bible as ‘distorted and changed’ during a recent debate in the Dewan Rakyat.

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,” Zawawi had said in his debate speech.

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

However, Zawawi’s speech was interrupted by Beruas MP Ngeh Khoo Ham who said the PAS MP’s points were inaccurate, as there were other faiths that allowed their 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 said.

Zawawi then reject Ngeh’s explanation, arguing that “before the Bible was distorted, Christianity had forbidden alcohol”, basing his argument on his studies in comparative religion.

The lawmaker has refused to apologise to over his remarks, further saying in an interview: “They (Christians) have no right to be offended. What I said was not an accusation, but a fact”.

Earlier today, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said PAS has become an extremist party, following a series of disrespectful statements aimed at non-Muslims.

“DAP strongly condemns Nik Zawawi for offending Christians. Such incidents would not have happened under the late Nik Aziz Nik Mat’s leadership.

“When the moderate Nik Aziz was still alive, no such insults would have been made by PAS against Christians and the Bible.

“After the demise of Nik Aziz, PAS has become more extremist and thus ignored, but the situation is different now that they are part of the federal government,” said Lim.

Nik Zawawi’s statement has angered Christians with the Association of Churches in Sarawak (ACS) demanding that he retract his remarks in the Dewan Rakyat.

ACS chairman Archbishop Simon Poh said Nik Zawawi’s remarks crossed the boundary of religious sensitivity and were an insult to all Christians.

Yesterday, the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) chairman Archbishop Julian Leow said PAS, as a member of the government, should denounce the MP’s behaviour while the authorities should investigate his “offensive conduct”.

Earlier today, the Sabah Council of Churches said the MP should be investigated for sedition as his remarks have hurt the feelings of other races and the Christian communities. – September 1, 2020.