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Archbishop Simon Poh – File Photo
KUCHING: The Sarawak Association of Churches (ACS) considers the comments made by MP Pasir Puteh Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh on the Bible as inflammatory and disrespectful to all people of good will seeking to live in harmony in Sarawak and Malaysia.
“ACS respects the right of everyone to have their opinion. When this becomes an insult to religion, ACS strongly rejects such a form of religious imposition by YB Pasir Puteh on Christianity and other religions, ”said ACS President Archbishop Simon Poh in a statement issued yesterday.
As such, ACS demands that MP Pasir Puteh retract his comments in Parliament and present a public apology to all Christians.
“Your comments that ‘Kitab Injil ini dipesongkan ataupun diubah’ (The Bible is distorted or changed) has crossed the line of religious sensitivity and is considered an insult to all Christians who consider the Bible to be sacred and holy,” he said. Poh. in the statement.
Nik Zawawi made the remarks during the debate on the 2020 Trucking (Amendment) Bill to propose tougher fines for offenders for driving under the influence on August 26.
The PAS elected representative made the comments to support his claim that all religions prohibit the consumption of liquor.
Poh said that insensitive comments with a strong accusation against another religion should not remain uncorrected, calling them a violation of the Federal Constitution and the 1963 Malaysia Accord that guarantee the right of all citizens to religious freedom.
He added that the ACS holds Parliament in the highest esteem and believes that all issues should be addressed in a rational and civilized manner, but crossing the borders into religious insensitivity with insults against sacred texts and the teaching of religions was totally inappropriate.
“ACS considers the opinion and statement of YB Pasir Puteh as a direct insult to the Holy Bible, the Most Holy Book for all Christians. This is considered serious and unacceptable as these statements were said openly and recorded in the official transcript of the 14th Dewan Rakyat Parlimen on August 26 at 2.57 pm onwards, ”he said.
Poh also said that ACS is committed to interracial and religious harmony and to contributing to nation building through mutual respect and acceptance among people of all races, religions and status in Sarawak and in our Malaysian nation.
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