Penang Umno wants the state government to explain the allocations for Islamic administration and development in the state.

Its liaison chairman Zainal Abidin Osman said it was important for the DAP-led state government to provide details on the allocations if it really practised transparency in its administration.

He said recently, state Islamic Affairs, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman Abdul Malik Abul Kasim revealed the allocation for Islamic religious purpose for the period from 2008 to 2013 as proof that the Penang government did not restrict Islamic development in the state.

"Penang Umno now wants details from him (Abdul Malik) and the state government on the allocation. We also want to know how much has been allocated for the development of other religions in Penang in the same period.

"Also, how much has been allocated for Chinese and Tamil SRJK (national-type primary schools) as well as the mission schools in Penang within the same period," Zainal Abidin ( left ) said in a statement, here, today.

Abdul Malik recently hit out at former chief justice Abdul Hamid Mohamad for claiming that Islam was under threat in the state with a non-Malay majority. He also dismissed the claim as ridiculous and baseless.

Zainal Abidin said according to the statistics, Penang had a population of 1.65 million, with Malays making up 40.7 per cent, Chinese 42.9 per cent and Indians 9.8 per cent.

"The number of Malays and Chinese in Penang can be said to be balanced. So, does the state government consider the racial ratio in distributing the allocation for religious administration and development in the state?" he asked.

- Bernama