Penampang MP Darell Leiking has warned the government's defence of an anti-Christian seminar at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UITM) will condone the university to becoming a religious extremist institution.

"Defending the obvious religious bashing seminar is shaping UITM into an extremist religious institution," he said in a press statement today.

Leiking said this in reference to a parliamentary written reply from Deputy Prime Minister cum Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who defended the seminar on the alleged "Christianisation threat".

Muhyiddin in his reply said no action would be taken against UiTM as the programme was an "academic" exercise and a "topic of discussion".

He added that it was a paradox for Muhyiddin to point out the event had stated there would be no Christian bashing, when it went on to list the threats of alleged Christianisation and 10 reasons why Christians should convert to Islam.

Leiking said the government's defence of interreligious bashing under the guise of intellectual discourse sets a "dangerous precedent" that threatens to create more similar events.

'Nod for more religious bashing'

"All this is surely anti-Christian bashing... This has gone beyond the intention of any fair academic learning institution.

"Unless of course, by the same definition in the deputy prime minister’s reply, all other ‘intellectual discussion” such as a (similar) forum conducted by non-Muslim organisations are allowed too," he said.

Describing Muhyiddin's reply as "shocking and unbelievable", Leiking said the recent series of interracial and interreligious conflicts have affected Sabah and Sarawak, which see this as "West Malaysia's bigotry and intolerance" in the context of the Federation.

"Lest we forget that there are many bumiputeras who are non-Muslims (from Sabah and Sarawak) seeking academic excellence in UITM.

"Having anti-Christian seminars like this would surely be extremely uncomfortable and yes, divert away from the true nature of any centre for academic excellence," he said.

Leiking said the government should ensure future events involving religious sensitivities be approved by the minister in charge of national unity.