PBS: Asyraf’s ‘Islamic state’ comment will raise alarm among M’sians

KOTA MARUDU: Any attempt to make Malaysia an Islamic state runs against the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) rejects it, said the party’s acting president Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili.

“PBS does not subscribe to the definition of the Islamic state. Our stand on the matter has been consistent as this is against the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and the constitutional provisions in the respect of the practice of religion in Malaysia.

“We have and will continue to object if the Federal Government pursues the matter,” Ongkili said at the launch of the Kota Marudu-level Jalinan Rakyat Plus (JR Plus) programme here yesterday.

He was responding to Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki’s remarks that Barisan Nasional had agreed to Malaysia being categorised as “Islamic”.

Ongkili, who is Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister, said Dr Asyraf ’s statement would raise unnecessary alarm among multiracial Malaysians.

“He could be speaking in his personal capacity because that (his statement) is not the Barisan stand,” Ongkili said.

He said he was aware that seven other Barisan component parties in Sabah and Sarawak – Upko, PBRS, LDP, PBB, SUPP, PRS and SPDP – shared PBS’ sentiments on the issue.

Earlier during the function, Ongkili said the Wanita Umno JR Plus programme, which was launched to replace the Konsep Ketua 10 initiative, was a strategic move for the Barisan to build closer rapport with the people.

He called on all Barisan component parties to work closely together under JR Plus, which will harness the coalition’s election machineries, especially with the 14th general election drawing near.

JR Plus, he added, would be the bridge between the people and the Government, Ongkili said.