[ad_1]
KUALA LUMPUR: PAS MP Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh today retracted his statement that he called the Bible “distorted or altered” and apologized to Christians.
Nik Zawawi, who made the statement in the Dewan Rakyat in August, said he did not intend to hurt the feelings of Christians when he referred to the Bible during the debate on the 2020 Road Transportation (Amendment) Bill to propose stiffer fines for driving under the influence of alcohol. .
His claim that the biblical injunctions on alcohol use had been “distorted or altered” sparked a chorus of protests and condemnation from Christian associations and politicians.
Yesterday, Dewan Rakyat speaker Azhar Harun said he would study Nik Zawawi’s remarks.
Nik Zawawi, who is the MP for Pasir Puteh, told the house today that he respected all religions and had made the statement to “protect the originality of the Bible.”
He said that academically, there were three translations of the Bible regarding alcohol use.
According to him, the first translation prohibits the consumption of liquor, the second affirms that an excess of liquor can cause immoral behavior and abuse, and the third affirms that alcohol can be drunk but in a limited quantity.
Dr. Kevin Yii (PH-Bandar Kuching) had asked the speaker for an update on the matter after Nik Zawawi initially refused to withdraw his statement and apologize.
