Parti Bumi Kenyalang Leader Challenges Claim of No Official Religion in Sarawak

Sarawak Opposition Party Leader Voon Lee Shan Says Islam Should be Official Religion Under Federal Constitution

PETALING JAYA: Parti Bumi Kenyalang president Voon Lee Shan has challenged the notion expressed by a state deputy minister that Sarawak has no official religion.

The opposition party leader said that the Sarawak state constitution does not specifically state whether there is or not an official religion in Sarawak. “It is difficult to say there is no official religion for Sarawak, when the Federal Constitution expressly says Islam is the official religion of Malaysia,” he said, according to the Borneo Post.

As the Federal Constitution is the supreme law in Malaysia, that meant that “Islam is the official religion in Sarawak under the constitution”.

Disagreement with Sarawak United Peoples’ Party

Voon’s remarks came after Sarawak United Peoples’ Party secretary-general Sebastian Ting had contended that Sarawak is a secular state and has no official religion. He said controversial religious guidelines about Muslim participation at non-Muslim events, proposed by a federal minister, were “unnecessary and over-bearing for a secular state like Sarawak”.

However, Voon disagreed with Ting’s assertion, saying that if Islam is to be excluded from being the official religion in Sarawak, the state constitution must expressly mention that there is no official religion for Sarawak.

Call for Amendment to Federal Constitution

He urged the state government and leaders of Gabungan Parti Sarawak to propose an amendment to the Federal Constitution so people will not be confused about the position of Islam in Sarawak. “It is insufficient for the GPS government to express its opposition to the proposed guidelines mainly through media statements,” Voon said.

Prime Minister’s Stance

Earlier today, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the proposed guidelines about Muslim participation at non-Muslim events were unnecessary and would only cause anxiety. He said he would present the Cabinet’s decision on the matter to Sultan Nazrin Shah of Perak, who chairs the national council of Islamic religious affairs.

Conclusion

The debate over the official religion of Sarawak highlights the complexity of religious issues in the state. While some argue that Sarawak is a secular state with no official religion, others believe that Islam should be recognized as the official religion under the Federal Constitution. As the issue continues to be debated, it remains to be seen how it will be resolved.

FAQs

* What is the current stance of the Sarawak government on the issue of an official religion?
The Sarawak government has not explicitly stated whether Sarawak has an official religion or not.
* What is the position of Parti Bumi Kenyalang on this issue?
Parti Bumi Kenyalang president Voon Lee Shan believes that Islam should be recognized as the official religion of Sarawak under the Federal Constitution.
* What is the stance of the federal government on the proposed guidelines for Muslim participation at non-Muslim events?
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has expressed opposition to the proposed guidelines, saying they are unnecessary and would cause anxiety.