DAP voiced today that it is opposed to the establishment of any theocracy and questioned the police for dragging their feet in investigating Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia and other supporters of the Malay party for purportedly spreading “dangerous lies” and “religious hatred” with their claims of a Christian state being initiated in Penang.In a statement today, the opposition party’s secretary-general Lim Guan Eng demanded to know the reason for police inaction against those he said had persistently propagated the unsubstantiated claim that DAP was attempting to build a Christian theocracy in the northern state.
“DAP is consistent in opposing any establishment of a theocratic state, including opposing a Christian state,” said Lim, who is also Penang chief minister.
“Anwar is correct that there was no truth in such lies against the DAP and me because both DAP and myself has been unwavering in our support for the position in the Federal Constitution of Islam as the religion of the Federation,” he said, backing political ally and PKR de facto chief, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who had made similar remarks over the weekend.
The lawmaker added, “These lies were made by Umno groups and Utusan Malaysia against the DAP merely on the flimsy ground that DAP leaders had attended a closed-door meeting with Christian pastors.”
Anwar, who is also Permatang Pauh MP, was yesterday reported to have refuted any plans by DAP to do so, saying he had not witnessed any attempts.
“From all our meetings and from all the documents I have received or seen from the DAP, the party or its leaders have never raised such issues... Indeed, if they tried, PAS and PKR would never allow it,” Anwar told reporters yesterday.
“Any group who tries to stir up racial and religious sentiments must be rejected even if they come from the Muslim community,” added Anwar.
Pro-Umno bloggers recently reignited the theocratic debate when they claimed DAP leaders had held clandestine meetings with Christian pastors, leading to several police reports against the party and several pastors.
Lim said today there is nothing wrong with their leaders meeting Christian pastors in closed-door sessions, and pointed out they had also attended meetings with leaders of other religious groups, including Islam.
Malay broadsheet, Utusan Malaysia, had also made the same accusation two years ago, claiming DAP was conspiring with Christian leaders to take over Putrajaya and abolish Islam as the country’s official religion.
Police investigation on DAP’s Jelutong MP, Jeff Ooi, had proved the allegation to be a lie, Lim said.
He stressed that Ooi is a Buddhist.
“Even though police closed the case, no action was taken against these irresponsible groups who spread such lies,” Limsaid. - themalaymailonline
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