The Federal Court’s decision in dismissing the Catholic Church’s application for leave to appeal against the Home Ministry’s ban on the use of ‘Allah’ in the Herald goes against the fundamental rights of Malaysians.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Federal Court’s decision in dismissing the Catholic Church’s application for leave to appeal against the Home Ministry’s ban on the use of ‘Allah’ in the Herald goes against the fundamental rights of Malaysians.
Member of Parliament for Selayang, William Leong Jee Keen in a press statement said that, “In a multiracial and religious Malaysia, the government has a duty to create and maintain an environment where the different faiths may peaceably be practised and equal protection of all are ensured.”
He warned that if the government fails to do so, it can be held accountable if there is tension and tyranny in the country.
“The government is reminded that freedom of religion is an internationally recognised basic human right.
“It is enshrined in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights where the United Nations had in particular mentioned that “if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of the law”,” said William.
In line with that William stressed that Article 11 in our Federal Constitution guarantees that every person has the right to profess and practice his religion and to propagate it except among Muslims while Islam is the official religion of the Federation as enshrined in Article 3.
“The government of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak must take immediate action to correct the incursion into Article 11 of the Federal Constitution if it believes in the rule of the law,” said William.
Also William was not short of reminding the government that the decision of the Federal Court has now rendered the 10 point solution meaningless.
Under the current situation William said that Malaysia’s attempt to seek a seat in the Security Council of the United Nations is meaningless.
“If the government does not practise the basic tenets, its attempt for a seat in the Security Council is hypocritical and farcical.”