KUALA LUMPUR: An increase in allocation for broadening interfaith understanding has become an issue with claims that it is Christian evangelism, a PAS MP said in the Dewan Rakyat.
Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden (PN-Alor Setar) wanted the Youth and Sports Ministry to explain why Impact Malaysia, which falls under its purview, had its allocation increased from RM4mil to RM5mil.
“I want the ministry to justify why (one of its) agencies is organising such programmes, which are supposed to be under other ministries such as the National Unity Ministry.
“The Youth and Sports Ministry should focus on the development of youth and sports,” he said during the debate on Budget 2023 at the committee stage on Tuesday (March 14).
Afnan also claimed that a programme called “Projek Artikel 11” by Impact Malaysia had caused uneasiness among Malaysians.
“Why was the name ‘Artikel 11’ used? The entire spirit of the Constitution should be used, not just Article 11,” he added.
(Article 11 pertains to freedom of religion.)
Afnan Hamimi alleged that Projek Artikel 11 was promoting church visits to non-Christians.
“It is not wrong to learn about other religions, but to (specifically address) non-Christian youths, I feel, causes uneasiness in our community,” said Afnan Hamimi, who noted that a posting about the programme had since been taken down.
On Monday (March 13), Impact Malaysia denied organising Christian evangelical programmes.
Impact Malaysia vice-president Mastura M Rashid said Projek Artikel 11 was part of its initiative to improve youths' understanding of the racial and religious diversity in the country.
Mastura explained that Projek Artikel 11 included a “Jom Ziarah” (Let's Visit) component in which youths visit different places of worship.
So far, eight Chinese and Indian youths visited the Federal Mosque here on March 3, and three Chinese youths visited the Gurdwara Sahib in Shah Alam on March 11, she said.
A church visit has been scheduled for Saturday (March 18) and a Hindu temple visit the day after that, she added.
Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh’s political secretary had lodged a police report on Monday against a Bersatu member for linking a ministry agency to Christian evangelism.
