As criticism against Sarawak MP and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nancy Shukri mounts, Sarawak PKR has urged her to resign from the cabinet as she has failed to protect the rights of Malaysians.

 

“She was entrusted to protect the rights of Malaysians, but she has now joined the list of ministers who are ministers for the BN and Muslims foremost,” said Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian of the defacto law minister.

 

“I hope that Nancy will try to redeem herself by apologising to all Malaysians for her poor judgment and tender her resignation for failing us,” said Baru who is the Ba’Kelalan assemblyperson.

 

In a statement issued last night, he said he was shocked at her explanation for the decision of the attorney-general not to prosecute Ibrahim Ali for his urging to burn Bibles.

 

“By making such a statement, Nancy ( right ) is perceived to be defending a known extremist like Ibrahim Ali. This will undoubtedly embolden him and his ilk to carry on with their hateful supremacist agenda.

 

“As a fellow lawyer, I am appalled that Nancy has tried to defend her earlier statement by invoking the federal constitution.

 

“What sort of twisted logic is she applying to find in the federal constitution justification for insulting people of a different faith and calling for their holy books to be burnt? A purported defence of one's religion cannot be used to exculpate one's blatant breach of the law. A wrong under the law, is a wrong,” he said.

 

Baru said that when she was appointed law minister, Sarawakians were heartened that there would be someone in the PM’s office, who understood and appreciated the true meaning of racial and religious harmony, and that she would speak up on issues that are important to all Malaysians.

 

“We expected that she would rise above religious bigotry and stand on the side of the law. It is obvious that our hopes were misplaced. Nancy was entrusted to protect the rights of all Malaysians, but she has now joined the list of ministers who are ministers for the BN and Muslims foremost,” he said.

 

“An elected representative who chooses not to engage her mind in basic critical analysis of what is right and decent, and instead allows herself to be a used as an apologist for pathetic religious extremists, does not deserve to hold office as a minister.

 

Not only should the Christians not support her, any reasonable voter should not support such stand. I am thankful that there are right-minded Malaysians of all religions who have condemned the statements made by Nancy.

 

“I fully echo the statements of the Christian Fellowship Malaysia and Bishop Paul Tan on the matter, and I commend James Masing for being the first BN minister to speak his mind.

 

“Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and our Chief Minister Adenan Satem should reprimand her for her inexcusable blunder,” added Baru.

 

‘Disturbing message sent’

 

Meanwhile, MP for Bintulu Tiong King Sing expressed concern that the decision of the attorney general (AG) not to prosecute Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali for his call to burn the Malay language Bibles because he was defending Islam, had sent a very disturbing message to non-Muslims in the country.

 

The decision of the AG seemed to give religious extremists like Ibrahim Ali the licence to hurt the feelings of followers of other religions and stoke religious tension, he said in a statement.

 

It was unfortunate that a federal minister from Sarawak was tasked to announce the AG’s decision and defend it in the face of public outcry.

 

Tiong ( right ) said Nancy aggravated the situation when she justified not charging Ibrahim Ali with sedition by saying his action was in accordance with Article 11 (40) of the federal constitution which prohibits propagation of other faiths to Muslims.

 

“With due respect to my fellow BN MP, how can Malay Bibles with the words ‘Not for Muslims’ clearly stamped be seen as a threat to Islam and an attempt to spread the Christian faith to Muslims?” Tiong who is the acting president of the Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party, asked.

 

He pointed out that it was sad that this justification came from a Sarawakian MP as these Bibles are for natives in Sarawak and Sabah who refer to God as 'Allah' in their worship.