Picture credit: d-maps.com
People in Sabah and Sarawak, of all religious persuasions, gather at the same table in public without the need for any form of religious certification!
CPI PRESS STATEMENT . . .
The recent announcement by Communications Minister, Fahmi Fadzil, that the placement of Islamic Development Department (Jakim) officers in government departments was not for policy making but “to oversee the integrity and spiritual well-being of civil servants” does not allay or address the concerns of political parties, politicians and the public in Sabah and Sarawak.
We are also very apprehensive about the proposal in which Jakim was considering making halal certification compulsory for restaurants and food establishments that do not serve pork or alcohol. This latest Malaysia Madani policy measure will have serious negative ramifications and ripple effects - intended and unintended - on society and community in Sabah and Sarawak.
We are proud of our multi-religious and multicultural way of life. It is one in which people of all religious persuasions gather at the same table in public and eat, drink and socialise in genuine harmony and unity - without the need for any form of religious certification.
It is unnecessary and regressive to make it compulsory for non-Muslim shops to obtain halal certification; and to place Jakim officers to exercise religious oversight on government agencies in the Borneo region where liberal and secular norms have been the heritage and practice.
We call on the Federal authorities and government to consult and engage with our political, business, social and religious leaders before implementation of these two and other similar policy measures.
We also call on all stake players and stakeholders from Sabah and Sarawak, including the media, to share and disseminate widely their opposition to any unwarranted, ill-advised and politically opportunistic measure of Madani or any other religiously driven policy measure or action.
This Press Statement was issued by the Centre for Policy Initiatives (CPI), newly relaunched, as online Borneo-centric Think Tank and website.
Anthony Kiob
Azly Rahman
Carolyn Khor
Joe Fernandez
Murray Hunter
Lim Teck Ghee
