Sarawak Pkr Condemns Zawawi Over Bible Insult Calls Gps To End Ties With Pas

---

Sarawak PKR has become the latest to call out PAS' Pasir Puteh MP Nik Muhammad Zawawi Nik Salleh over the latter's remark on the Christian Bible in parliament
Josephine Mawat, who is part of the state party leadership committee, said that Zawawi's (above) remark that the Bible is "distorted" was an insult to all Christians
"These remarks are completely unacceptable and an insult to Christians everywhere. We call on Zawawi to immediately retract his callous remarks and urge him to make a public apology to all Christians
"Such blatant disregard for the beliefs of other races and religions has no place in multi-cultural Malaysia. It also goes against the spirit of Malaysia’s Independence and Merdeka which emphasized mutual respect, tolerance and harmony amongst all communities," Josephine said in a statement today
She called for the Sarawak state government and its ruling party GPS, which is also part of the Perikatan Nasional federal government, to reject PAS over the disrespect, and cease any form of cooperation with the party
"We reject all forms of religious bigotry and intolerance in Sarawak and Malaysia. We will not allow political groups such as PAS to destroy the diversity and unity in Sarawak that is our precious and unique heritage
"We call on the Sarawak state government and component parties in GPS to also reject PAS over their complete disregard and respect for the religious beliefs of Sarawak’s Christian community and to cease any form of co-operation with PAS in the Perikatan Nasional Government with immediate effect," she said
Zawawi had made the supposedly offensive remarks in the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday while debating the Road Transport Act amendments bill - which seeks to increase punishment for drink driving
He had declined to apologise when asked to do so, saying that the Christians have no right to feel offended and claimed that what he said was not an accusation but "a fact"
Learn from SarawakJospehine also called for the Dewan Rakyat speaker to take disciplinary action against Zawawi for the statement, besides inviting Zawawi to have a visit to Sarawak
At the state, she added, Zawawi can learn about respectful engagement and religious tolerance in the state
"PKR Sarawak condemns all acts of disrupting unity and peace in our nation which we love. Sarawakians are peace-loving people. In Sarawak, we are proud of our long heritage of religious tolerance and racial unity
"We have shown the world that we are able to live side-by-side as fellow brothers and sisters with trust, understanding and respect. We cannot afford for the seeds of disunity and religious hatred to be sown in our society and to poison the future generation
"We invite the MP of Pasir Puteh to visit us in Sarawak to learn the fundamentals of peaceful and respectful engagement and religious tolerance in Sarawak. We in Sarawak hold firm to the saying ‘No matter how many times the teeth bite the tongue, they will still stay and work together’," she said
According to Jospehine, they are willing to forgive the politician over his comments, but he must first recognise his mistake and be willing to apologise for it. - Mkini

---