GPS Backbenchers Club today refuted PSB president’s claim that the state government has been silent on the on the federal government’s decision to appeal the High Court’s decision that annulled a directive prohibiting Christians from using the word “Allah” in their religious education and books. – Bernama file photo
KUCHING (March 17): The Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) Backbenchers Club today refuted Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) president’s claim that the state government has been silent on the on the federal government’s decision to appeal the High Court’s decision that annulled a directive prohibiting Christians from using the word “Allah” in their religious education and books.
They said in a statement today that if Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh “has read the news in full in the past week instead of just those which he is quoted in”, he would get the full and exact picture of the position taken by GPS.
“We want to make clear that the state government has been vocal and consistent on its position pertaining to unity and religious freedom all this while as well as on the recent High Court ruling.
“This has been evident through various statements made by GPS state leaders in their reactions to the matter in the past week as well as in many years past,” they said.
It was in response to the recent statement made by Wong who claimed that the GPS state government has been silent on Putrajaya’s decision to appeal on last week’s High Court ruling that annulled a directive prohibiting Christians from using the word “Allah” in their religious education and books.
The GPS Backbenchers Club also said Wong, as a former state full minister has been in the State Cabinet before and should know full and well the stand of the state government on the issue.
“What he is doing is politicising the issue, using it to gain political mileage.
“Such, as he had said, has been ongoing during the late Chief Minister Pehin Sri Adenan Satem’s time. Why don’t Dato Sri Wong ask his fellow PSB presidential council member Baru Bian over what the Pakatan Harapan (PH) did to remedy the issue when they assumed Putrajaya in 2018 until 2020,” they said.
The GPS Backbenchers Club also reiterated that GPS continues the struggle of Adenan who upheld religious freedom through his stand of allowing Christians to use the word “Allah” in their publications, churches and prayers.
“This was echoed by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg who has time and time again spoke on the issue and condemned bigots, assuring that these groups have no place in Sarawak.
“The people of Sabah and Sarawak, regardless of religions have been free to use the word ‘Allah’ and there has never been any restrictions – whether under state law or federal law,” they said.
They also pointed out the concept of religious tolerance, inclusiveness and freedom of religion has been put into practice through various government policies and decision making at the executive level.
According to them, this has yielded various programmes and one of it is the formation of the Unit for Other Religions (Unifor) under the Chief Minister’s Department.
“Through Unifor – the only unit of its kind in Malaysia, numerous assistances have been rendered to religious groups in terms of grants for their activities and for the construction or repair of houses of worships.
“We would like to ask Dato Sri Wong this: Has the opposition as well as the Pakatan Harapan (PH) federal government fought for more allocation for religious purposes in Sarawak?”
They also hoped that the issue would not be politicised, exploited and harped on by opportunistic politicians, supporters and mouthpieces seeking to score brownie points amid the public interest in the recent High Court ruling.
“As far as the GPS is concerned, it will continue to fight and defend Sarawak’s rights – including religious freedom – in accordance to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), the Federal Constitution and the Inter-Governmental Committee Report (IGC) 1962.”
Yesterday, Wong said PSB is calling on the state government and Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg to use their ‘kingmaker’ status in the federal government and make a stand to preserve Sarawak’s secular status.
Wong was quoted as saying PSB was ‘concerned’ that the state government had decided to remain silent and passive on the federal government’s decision to appeal and challenge the High Court’s verdict on March 15.
“However, we are now informed that the federal government had decided to appeal the ruling and had lodged a challenge at the Court of Appeal on the March 15.
“We respectfully urge the federal government to reconsider this course of action, as regard must be had for all as guaranteed by the Constitution, especially in Sarawak where we hold dearly to the Malaysia Agreement 1963,” Wong had said in the statement.
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