Dangerous to politicise religion, says Sabah lawyer
KOTA KINABALU: A Sabah lawyer argues that the government cannot legislate laws to compel citizens on matters involving religion.
Saban Sawayan, who is also Parti Solidariti Tanahairku (Sabah Star) vice president, said any attempt to do so would be dangerous and could possibly be catastrophic.
“We must learn from history where religion was used by religious bodies and authorities with support from state authority. It resulted in people getting persecuted for practicing and propagating their faith.
“So, religious matters cannot be turned into laws that govern the lives of an entire nation. When religion becomes politicized, it can be dangerous. Religion is a personal and the freedom to practice must be respected at all times,” he said.
He was referring to the proposed amendment to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) 1965 or better known as the RUU355, which is a Private Member’s Bill by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, mainly seeks to increase criminal jurisdiction of the shariah courts.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had said that the government will be intensifying efforts to prepare the draft bill for tabling in Parliament after consultations with various state governments.
The proposed amendment bill had raised concerns and fears among many groups that have accused the federal government of seeking to allow the implementation of hudud as part of the Islamic penal code.
Others have expressed fear that Malaysia could become a Taliban country while demanding that the government must never mess with anyone’s religion.
“It appears that the proposed amendment bill is destroying the fundamental rights to freedom of religion as enshrined in the federal constitution, the Rukun Negara and the Oath Stone in Sabah,” he said.
Sabah guarantees freedom of religion as enshrined in the Oath Stone.
“This Oath Stone is similar to that of a gravestone where the name of a person buried underneath is carved and can never be amended or erased, not even by the force of law,” added Saban.
He believes Sabahans and east Malaysians in general will always reject any interference from the government or any religious authority with regard to anyone’s individual religious belief and practice.
He said the people in the Borneon states who are mostly indigenous have always been peace loving and do not want to see any unwanted clashes in the name of race or religion.
“Race and religion don’t divide the people here. Instead, we always celebrate unity in diversity. This has been the way of life of the people in the Borneo states.
“And we will fiercely defend this way of life for many generations to come.
“So, anyone who intends to impose their religious ideology that is laced with political motive must stay away from Sabah and Sarawak. Let it be known that extremism is always rejected here,” he warned.