KUALA LUMPUR: DAP today stressed that it has no intention of meddling in Islamic affairs, especially in the enactment of Syariah laws.
DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said its Beruas member of parliament, Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham, was mistaken when he had proposed that non-Muslims be included in the special committee to study the powers of the Syariah Court.
Loke said the committee was established by the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs (MKI), chaired by Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, with the aim of advising the council on ideas to empower the Syariah courts' scope of powers.
He said any suggestion by the committee on any legal amendments will have to be brought to the cabinet to undergo the usual process of legal enactments.
"It has to be stressed that the establishment of this special committee was not decided by the cabinet but by MKI, and it reports directly to the MKI.
"I understand how Ngeh's statement could create a polemic on how DAP is allegedly trying to meddle in Islamic affairs.
"This is absolutely untrue. DAP respects the wisdom of the Sultan of Selangor in making any decision regarding MKI," he said in a statement.
`Ngeh's statement had elicited anger from Umno, whose secretary-general, Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki labeled the idea as being "out of touch with reality."
Johor Umno secretary Senator Datuk Abdul Halim Suleiman, had also said
Muslims did not need non-Muslim legal experts to advise or help the committee in enacting Syariah laws, as there were many Muslims who were knowledgeable in the area.
Meanwhile, Loke said the non-Muslim community need not worry over this matter as any legislative amendments to laws pertaining to the rights of non-Muslims would have to be studied and decided upon by the cabinet.
He said such amendments would also undergo the usual process and implemented in Parliament.
"DAP is committed to the principles of mutual respect. Religious and racial harmony is a shared responsibility.
"Let us end 2023 on a harmonious note and contribute to a prosperous Malaysia in 2024," he said.