Sabah groups, in their Malaysia Day message, have appealed to Putrajaya not to proceed with the drafting of the Propagation of Non-Muslim Religions Bill.

Sabah Council of Churches president Jerry Dusing reminded the government of the 1962 report by the Cobbold Commission, which led to the formation of Malaysia in 1963.

He cited chapter four of the report, which read: “Taking these points fully into consideration, we are agreed that Islam should be the national religion for the federation. We are satisfied that the proposal in no way jeopardises freedom of religion in the Federation, which in effect would be secular.”

“This solemn promise guaranteeing freedom of religion has also been enshrined in the Keningau Batu Sumpah. Without this foundation, the Federation of Malaysia would not have existed in the first place, nor would it long endure.

“It is, therefore, the sacred duty of all members of the federal government, regardless of their individual religious beliefs, to uphold this historical guarantee,” he said.

Jerry said the Sabah Council of Churches was deeply saddened by Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Ahmad Marzuk Shaary’s statement that the bill to restrict non-Muslim religions was in the pipeline.

Jerry Dusing

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Idris Ahmad later clarified that the new law will only apply to the Federal Territories.

Similar legislation is also present in the form of enactments in all states except Sabah, Sarawak and Penang.

Jerry said the Sabah Council of Churches is grateful that Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor had spoken out against the legislation.

“The reality today is that Malaysians are witnessing extreme religious actors and religious bureaucracy pushing for the erosion of the secularity of Malaysia and severely weakening the protection of Malaysians fundamental liberty of complete religious freedom.

“The erosion of fundamental religious liberty towards a more fundamentalist religious ideology that compromises the supremacy of the constitution is a grave concern.

“This direction is in complete contravention of the Malaysia Agreement 1963,” he said.

Jerry said on Malaysia Day, leaders should focus on the people’s common destiny instead of “planting the seeds of division and hatred”.

Meanwhile, native rights group Perpaduan Anak Negeri Sabah called on Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob to intervene in the matter.

“This is unacceptable as it strikes at the very core of freedom of religion for all as enshrined in our Federal Constitution.

“The proposed laws were not even discussed in your cabinet and your coalition partners have indicated that they too object to this move,” it said.

It called on Ismail Sabri to walk the talk on his message of a “Malaysian Family”.

“Prime minister, rest assured we too like to embrace your idea of ‘Malaysian Family’, where, in your own words, we can all be in one big happy family that cuts across religious, racial and ethnic boundaries.

“Sadly this won’t happen until we, the Anak Sulung, or First Born of the land, can feel like we are all equal with our cousins in Malaya.

“Far from it, we are fast becoming strangers in our own land with the erosion of our birthrights to freedom of religion,” it said.

Half-Malay, half-Chinese Jamaliah sees bridging racial divide as key

Half-Malay, half-Chinese Jamaliah sees bridging racial divide as key

Focus on helping M’sians instead of anti-propagation bill - Teresa Kok

Focus on helping M’sians instead of anti-propagation bill - Teresa Kok

Sabah rejects plan for law restricting propagation of non-Muslim religions

Sabah rejects plan for law restricting propagation of non-Muslim religions

Marzuk should be mindful not to ‘overstep’ jurisdiction, says Patriot

Marzuk should be mindful not to ‘overstep’ jurisdiction, says Patriot

Religious leaders urge PM to clarify new law aimed at non-Muslims

Religious leaders urge PM to clarify new law aimed at non-Muslims