Nik Nazmi: 'Threats to Islam' claims mere attempts to fire up sentiments

Summary

• Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad says certain parties are playing up claims of “threats to Islam” for political gains.

• The PKR vice-president defends DAP ministers Hannah Yeoh and Nga Kor Ming amidst attacks from PAS and Bersatu.

A federal minister has claimed that issues surrounding “threats to Islam” will be repeatedly played up by parties out to build support.

Taking to X, Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad cited recent targeted attacks against two other ministers, Hannah Yeoh and Nga Kor Ming.

“This time @hannahyeoh’s book and the festive celebration by @ngakorming became an issue.

“So, others will see as if this (issue) is (about) Islam, when in actual fact it is nothing more than an outdated tactic to fire up sentiments when there is a dearth of political capital,” said the PKR vice-president in defending the two DAP leaders against critics.

On Dec 31, the youth wings of PAS and Bersatu announced a joint rally on Friday (Jan 3) in Kuala Lumpur, claiming a sense of feeling “threatened” and with intentions to highlight Nga’s and Yeoh’s statements.

PAS recently targeted Nga and Yeoh over remarks that the party claimed posed a threat to Islam, with one party leader taking issue with a Christmas carol performance at the Housing and Local Government Ministry in Putrajaya.

A Dec 24 video on Nga’s Facebook account showed ministry staff singing the song “Jingle Bells” - a song about the joy of riding a sleigh in the snow - and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”

Nga defended the event as a reflection of mutual respect and harmony among ministry staff while advising PAS leaders to repent and stop sharing slander or disrupting the harmony of a multiracial society.

‘Baseless Christianisation claims’

As for Yeoh, at least seven police reports have been lodged over her book “Becoming Hannah” as of Dec 28.

In Yeoh’s defamation suit against lecturer Kamarul Zaman Yusoff over his claims that she was proselytising Muslims, Nik Nazmi testified in the youth and sports minister’s defence.

He said that the Christianisation claim against her is baseless.

“The plaintiff is not a person who uses her position to spread Christianity, rather the plaintiff has introduced many reforms that have allowed Umno in the (Selangor) state assembly to play its role as the opposition at that time,” he had said on Nov 26, referring to Yeoh’s stint as the Selangor legislature speaker from 2013 to 2018.

The Setiawangsa MP also testified that Yeoh frequently attended mosque and surau programmes while respecting the places of worship, to the extent that MCA criticised her for wearing a scarf in a mosque.

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