DAP trio defends stand on law amendment
Hafiz YatimPublished: Jan 6, 2014 6:00 PM | Updated: Jan 7, 2014 8:07 AM
One of three DAP assemblypersons who got brickbats from various Muslim NGOs and opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim for proposing an amendment to the Selangor Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation among Muslims) Enactment 1988, has defended the stand taken.
Assemblyperson Yeo Bee Yin says this is their personal view and not DAP's.
One of three DAP assemblypersons who got brickbats from various Muslim NGOs and opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim for proposing an amendment to the Selangor Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation among Muslims) Enactment 1988, has defended the stand taken.
Damansara Utama assemblyperson Yeo Bee Yin said it was their personal view, following the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department's (Jais) raid on the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM).
“It is our personal view with the hope of resolving the matter so the legislation is consistent, and is not a stand taken by Pakatan Rakyat. We did not consult with other Pakatan leaders over this before issuing the joint statement,” she told Malaysiakini.
“I stand by the statement and stand taken as we work as a team, but respect the opposing views to such a suggestion.”
On Friday, Yeo (right) along with Kampung Tunku assemblyperson Lau Weng San and Bukit Gasing assemblyperson Rajiv Rishyakaran had issued a statement suggesting that the enactment be amended so it would be consistent with the federal constitution.
This follows arguments by some that the law is not consistent, as a religion enforcement agency cannot regulate another religion's management of affairs as contained under Article 11(3).
Anwar had also rapped the three DAP representatives yesterday for being hasty in issuing the statement and also Jais for their high-handed approach in raiding the BSM premise in Petaling Jaya on Tuesday.
Following Selangor Pakatan's stand
The Jais raid had resulted in more than 300 copies of the Bible - which is written in the Bahasa Malaysia and Iban languages - being seized in the raid.
Several Muslim non-governmental organisations are also reported to have criticised the three for making the suggestion as Utusan Malaysia claimed that such a move will lead to apostasy.
Yeo said that she will abide by whatever decision the Selangor Pakatan government takes in its handling of the issue.
She added that if the state government was with them in favouring the amendment to the enactment, they will cooperate in drafting to amend it.
“However, if the state government decides not to respect our suggestion we will also abide by it,” she noted.
Damansara Utama assemblyperson Yeo Bee Yin said it was their personal view, following the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department's (Jais) raid on the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM).
“It is our personal view with the hope of resolving the matter so the legislation is consistent, and is not a stand taken by Pakatan Rakyat. We did not consult with other Pakatan leaders over this before issuing the joint statement,” she told Malaysiakini.
“I stand by the statement and stand taken as we work as a team, but respect the opposing views to such a suggestion.”On Friday, Yeo (right) along with Kampung Tunku assemblyperson Lau Weng San and Bukit Gasing assemblyperson Rajiv Rishyakaran had issued a statement suggesting that the enactment be amended so it would be consistent with the federal constitution.
This follows arguments by some that the law is not consistent, as a religion enforcement agency cannot regulate another religion's management of affairs as contained under Article 11(3).
Anwar had also rapped the three DAP representatives yesterday for being hasty in issuing the statement and also Jais for their high-handed approach in raiding the BSM premise in Petaling Jaya on Tuesday.
Following Selangor Pakatan's stand
The Jais raid had resulted in more than 300 copies of the Bible - which is written in the Bahasa Malaysia and Iban languages - being seized in the raid.
Several Muslim non-governmental organisations are also reported to have criticised the three for making the suggestion as Utusan Malaysia claimed that such a move will lead to apostasy.
Yeo said that she will abide by whatever decision the Selangor Pakatan government takes in its handling of the issue.
She added that if the state government was with them in favouring the amendment to the enactment, they will cooperate in drafting to amend it.
“However, if the state government decides not to respect our suggestion we will also abide by it,” she noted.
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