Miro Simuh
KUCHING: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) youth has joined the chorus condemning Education Minister Maszlee Malik’s call for religious teachers from West Malaysia to make Sabah and Sarawak their ‘medan dakwah’ (Islamic propagation field).
Its deputy chief Miro Simuh said the minister was “out of his mind” by urging religious teachers to do so in Sarawak and Sabah.
“I am very sure that even our Muslim brothers and sisters here in Borneo and in the PBB youth wing will never agree with his statement,” he said.
Miro said this in response to the minister’s recent statement in Parliament appealing to religious teachers from Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah who were teaching in Sabah and Sarawak not to return to Peninsular Malaysia, but to make the two states their ‘medan dakwah’.
He pointed out that the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) clearly stated that complete freedom of religion would be guaranteed in the Federal Constitution and that “Sarawak has at present no official religion and it would not be required to accept Islam as the state religion”.
He said since there was no official religion for the Borneo states, it should remain so.
“We have done it our way for hundreds of years and we live happily in harmony, unity and tolerance.
“Making such a statement is uncalled for. If it were to happen, it will affect religious freedom in Sarawak and Sabah,” he added.
Miro, who is Serembu assemblyman also beseeched the minister’s counterparts in Sarawak, Works Minister Baru Bian and other Pakatan Harapan leaders to give their views pertaining to the issue.