Wednesday December 19, 2007
Non-Muslims looked after
By SIM LEOI LEOI
SEPANG: There are already various government committees and panels in existence that look after the affairs of non-Muslims in the country.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said various ministers in the Cabinet had been charged with the responsibility of looking after the interests of different religious groups.
“For instance, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting looks after the interests of the Buddhists, Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu covers the Hindus and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Bernard Dompok covers the Christians in the country.
“For the time being, this is quite effective and we have always been addressing the problems brought up by followers of the different faiths.
“We also have a National Unity Department which looks into matters relating to unity and the various faiths embraced by the various races in the country.
“In fact, we have always looked after the interests of non-Muslims and pay attention to any issue they may bring up to us,” he told reporters after visiting a kerepek factory in Kg Bukit Bangkong yesterday.
Abdullah was commenting on a request by Indian-based non-governmental organisations for the Government to form a non-Muslim Affairs Department to look after the interests of believers of other faiths.
However, Abdullah did not discount the Government looking into the need to set up another body.
“We will study and see if we need to set up another body to look after the affairs of the non-Muslims,” he said.
On the dropping of the charge of attempted murder against 31 people who were arrested at an illegal gathering in Batu Caves last month, Abdullah denied that the Government was under pressure to do so.
“The decision was made by the Attorney-General and I am sure he must have thought hard about what he was doing. He has also given the reasons that he did it,” he said.
Earlier in Putrajaya, Abdullah said raya had a deep meaning for Malaysians as it is the time the muhibbah spirit is strengthened by sharing festive celebrations with fellow countrymen irrespective of race and religion.
Speaking after accepting 200 heads of cattle from DiGi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd to be sacrificed during Hari Raya Aidiladha tomorrow, he said the people of the country showed respect to other religions and those who embraced it by sharing the festive joy.
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