Islamic NGOs demand sterner action against Ngeh, including dismissal

A coalition of Islamic NGOs demanded that DAP leadership inflict sterner disciplinary action on Beruas MP Ngeh Koo Ham, including the possibility of the latter’s dismissal from the party.

The coalition handed a memorandum on the matter at the DAP headquarters in Kuala Lumpur this morning.

“In the memorandum we handed over today, we’re asking DAP to take disciplinary action on Ngeh including the possibility of his dismissal from the party because he is the one who has spoiled the unity in this country,” said the coalition president Aminuddin Yahaya.

Last month, the government formed a committee to review the competency of state legislatures in legislating syariah laws as well as the jurisdiction of the syariah courts as per the Federal Constitution.

Ngeh then suggested the inclusion of non-Muslim experts in the committee to incorporate their views concerning relevant constitutional provisions.

He later apologised and withdrew his statement, saying that this followed clarification that the special committee was formed by the National Islamic Affairs Council headed by the Selangor sultan.

Meanwhile, Aminuddin said Umno should seriously rethink its part in the coalition government.

“I suggest that Umno think seriously about its existence in the unity government because of this attitude of DAP’s that we know every day, every night, is busy trying to interfere with Islam,” he said.

Cold reception

The representatives of the coalition of Islamic NGOs also expressed their disappointment that they were only received outside of DAP headquarters by a clerk and not party leadership such as its secretary-general Anthony Loke.

They had been asked by police officers present to select five members of the NGO coalition to go to the DAP offices while the rest remained in the car park outside.

One of the representatives, Pertubuhan Kebajikan Amal Sejagat Malaysia president Izzat Johari, said he felt that it was an insult to the coalition despite it having given DAP earlier notice of the event.

“From here, it seems quite disappointing as it looks like they (the five representatives) are outside the front door. Not even the DAP office front door, but the (nearby) hotel's front door.

“It looks like a big insult. We want to send a letter properly.

“We previously sent Loke a letter to let him know that we are sending in the letter today, not that we want to come in and attack them, no,” Izzat said.

Last week, former Bersatu information chief Wan Saiful Wan Jan (above) questioned the sincerity of Ngeh’s apology, calling it an “old tactic” of DAP, which has repeatedly happened and has become a norm.

At the same time, Loke said Perikatan Nasional won’t let go of the Ngeh matter because it can only play up 3R (race, religion, royalty) issues.

The Seremban MP also said it was an old tactic of the opposition which those in the government bloc knew would be used against them.

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