Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian urged Sarawak BN to waste no time in repudiating the statement of a deputy minister that the federal BN is committed to establishing an Islamic state in Malaysia.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki was reported by news portal Free Malaysia Today as saying the BN government's efforts at strengthening Islam from time to time was evidence it would not backslide from its responsibility to turn the country into an Islamic state.

Asyraf Wajdi's (photo) remarks were made at a town hall meeting held by Umno information chief Annuar Musa in Kota Bharu last Friday.

“This is the clearest statement yet on the federal government's stance on making Malaysia an Islamic state.

“It has to draw an unequivocal response of repudiation – and that, too, with alacrity – by the Sarawak BN as otherwise, the people of this state will think the state government is complicit in the federal endeavour to make Malaysia an Islamic state,” said Baru, who is Ba Ke'lalan assemblyperson.

Baru said the deputy minister's statement is a flagrant contravention of the 1963 Malaysia Agreement.

"That he seems unconcerned about this contravention is yet more evidence that on issues of vital importance to Sarawak, the Federal BN is not bothered about the rights of the people of the state nor about the meaning and import of solemn undertakings,” said the human rights lawyer.

Baru said Sarawak BN ought to emulate the Johor Sultan in the recent instance of the ruler's reaction to the issue of a Muslims-only laundrette in Muar.

“The sultan gave short shrift to the whole idea of a Muslims-only laundrette and the reaction was a bolt of clarity against what appears to be a campaign by stealth to make Malaysia an Islamic state.

“This is not the time for equivocation. Sarawak BN must repudiate Asyraf Wajdi's statement and demand a denial of its claims by the highest authorities in federal BN,” Baru added.

Echoing this was DAP's Bukit Assek state assemblyperson Irene Mary Chang Oi Ling, who urged the Sarawak government to make its voice heard and allay the fears of Sarawakians, particularly the Christian community which form the majority in the state.

She pointed out that the 18-point agreement when Sarawak joined with Sabah and then Malaya to form Malaysia clearly stated that there would be no state religion.

As such, Chang said Sarawak BN must make clear its stance against Putrajaya's Islamic state ambitions.

"I further urge all Sarawak elected representatives in Parliament as well as in the state legislative assembly regardless of political leanings to come together to uphold our federal constitution which promises freedom of religion," she said.