SARAWAK autonomy advocate Peter John Jaban has denounced recent actions by PAS with respect to both mandatory halal certification for all businesses in Kelantan and the public whipping of a middle-aged man in Terengganu “as evidence of Malaysia’s rapid descent into extremism driven by a small group of power-hungry fanatics”.
Deemed Sarawak’s most prominent activist, Jaban has called on all political representatives in the state to stand up for both their Muslim and non-Muslim constituents by safeguarding their religious freedom and human rights while preserving a harmonious multi-cultural and multi-religious society.
“The public caning is a watershed moment in our history. It has put on display one of our most barbaric punishments – practised by only a handful of states in the world – to great outcry by human rights organisations,” lamented the Global Human Rights Federation Malaysia (GHRF) deputy president.
“Now, PAS have put it out in the public domain for all to see the sentence meted out on a repeat khalwat offender, a sentence that has divided even Malaysia’s mufti fraternity on its appropriacy.
“Saudi Arabia banned this in 2020 but PAS wants Malaysia to impose such punishment. They could be advocating the stoning of women in the town square for adultery next!”
Jaban further viewed the corporal punishment and mandatory halal certification ruling as part of a multi-pronged attack by “this extremist party to marginalise non-Muslims by cutting off their incomes and cultural heritage while terrorising the Muslim population into submission”.
“It is not the role of a secular government to impose religious compliance on all parts of the population,” opined the Sarawak Associations for Peoples Aspiration (SAPA) publicity and information chief.
“This is simple free-market economics, something that PAS seems set to suppress in their pursuit of total religious control.”
Above all else, Jaban reckoned that mandatory halal certification would never be accepted in Sarawak given it would cripple the state’s economy.
“Any move to implement this across Malaysia, let alone in Sarawak, would freeze foreign investment, destroy long-standing family businesses, increase unemployment, cut taxation income and send the country into a downward spiral of decay,” stressed the Malaysian Action for Justice and Unity (MAJU) co-founder.
“Our Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim must take his Madani credentials and stand up to this movement. Anything else is the end of Malaysia as we know it.”
“As Sarawak seeks to position itself as a global leader in green energy and the hydrogen economy and as a multi-cultural territory that is in step with the modern world, PAS is chasing a future of restriction, dogma and state-sponsored violence.
“PMX Anwar might choose to placate them but Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg shouldn’t.”
Added Jaban: “Here in Sarawak, we must continue to promote inclusive and welcoming communities determined by freedom of choice and personal autonomy. Our Sarawak Muslims are secure in their faith. We welcome all the investment, international concerts and friendly Christmas greetings we can get!” – Dec 31, 2024
Main image credit: mStar
