Be More Reassuring On Non Muslim Rights Baru Tells Wan Junaidi

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Selangau MP Baru Bian (left) says law minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar should speak up against proposed bills that affect non-Muslims.PETALING JAYA: Law minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar should provide a more reassuring response with regard to a proposed law to restrict or control the development of non-Muslim religions, an MP said today.
Selangau MP Baru Bian said Wan Junaidi had sought to downplay the matter instead of addressing the fear that the federal government was trying to violate the rights of non-Muslims.
“It is not good enough to brush this matter aside by saying some politicians shoot their mouths off,” Baru said in a statement.
“As the de facto law minister and a Sarawakian, he has to give us a better and more reassuring response that he and all the other Sarawakian ministers and deputy ministers will speak up against the bills when they are presented at Cabinet meetings.
“Better still, he should advise the deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department against proceeding with it at this early stage.”
On Tuesday, Wan Junaidi said no proposal to enact a law to restrict or control the development of non-Muslim religions had been brought to the Cabinet and even if it was, it would require the states to come to a consensus.
His statement came after deputy minister in charge of religious affairs Ahmad Marzuk Shaary was reported to have said that four new shariah laws were being drafted by the federal government, including a bill on control and restrictions on the development of non-Muslim religions.
Marzuk said a wakaf bill, a mufti bill and a shariah court bill were the other new laws being planned.
Baru reminded Sarawakian MPs from GPS and Bersatu that the people in the state would be watching them closely.
“Will they have the courage to stand up for our rights or will they be meek and mild minions to their Malayan masters?” he asked.
“This is a crucial test for them. The direction the country has been heading is certainly not what our forefathers signed up for.
“Sarawakians are weary and bitterly resentful of certain Malayan politicians’ unceasing efforts to oppress the rights of the minority.”
He also described the proposals as a mockery of the Malaysian Family concept pitched by Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
“We are slowly but surely becoming a country where religious and racial intolerance is increasing, and religious extremism is growing.
“Passing more laws to control and restrict religious freedom only encourages religious intolerance and bigotry,” he said. - FMT

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