Sultan of Perak Sultan Azlan Shah today said that Islam's status as the country's official religion as enshrined in the constitution and the position of the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong and Malay state

rulers as heads of the religion allows for the federal government and state governments to allocate spending for the matters related to the religion.

He said apart from that the government also had the wisdom to meet the needs of other religions in the country.

malaysian law conference 291007 sultan azlan shah 1 "Religious matters are enshrined in the country's Constitution. Article 3 (1) of the Malaysian Constitution sets Islam as the official religion; but other religions can be practised in peace and harmony," he said at a function to commemorate Maal Hijrah 1431 Hijrah at the Perak-state level as well as to officiate the Masjid At-Taqwa at Proton City.

Also present was the Raja Muda of Perak Raja Dr Nazrin Shah.

Sultan Azlan said the constitution was drafted as an instrument of reference to governance as the country achieved independence and the consitution was not only drafted by Muslims and Malays but was drafted with agreement of various quarters who represented various races and religions.

"The spirit enshrined in Article 3 (1) of the Constitution is recognised by the country. That is why on festivals various cultures and religions are respected to the point that Malaysia has so many public holidays to respect religious and cultural events," he said.

Lack of funding for temples, churches

He said the high level of tolerance and understanding displayed by Muslims and Malays as the indigenous people of the land enabled and allowed the fostering of various cultures and religions and this was the basis for Malaysia's strength as a united nation, with political stability, capable of economic growth that was effective and focused.

"Matters related to race, culture, language and religion are sensitive and can easily touch emotions. Such sensitive matters can easily lead to provocation as well as misunderstanding leading up to controversy and confrontation," he said.

The issue of lack of funding for houses of worship for religions other than Islam has been raised by a DAP parliamentarian from Perak.

Taiping MP Nga Kor Ming has last week circulated a statement questioning the RM748.26 million spent by the government to build 611 mosques between 2000 and 2008 while it did not build any house of worship of other religions.

A police report has been made against Nga by the Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa (Perkasa) of Pahang for the MP’s temerity in questioning the government’s expenditure in the construction of mosques.

- Bernama