SEREMBAN: DAP has slammed Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who said a minister from the party tried to settle out of court the Jill Ireland case about the use of the word "Allah".
DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said settling the Jill Ireland case out of court was a cabinet decision.
He said it was unfair for Muhyiddin to blame DAP.
"The (Jill Ireland) case was a cabinet decision at that time, and maybe he (Muhyiddin) was not present when the cabinet made the decision.
"Blame DAP alone is unfair and we know Muhyiddin's political motive is to have DAP take the blame.
"At that time, the Home Ministry did not agree and continued with the court action, that is up to (them), but when a more comprehensive solution was proposed to have it settled out of court, it was rejected and the result is the government has lost.
"So, I want to state that Muhyiddin should not have made such a statement, but we know what his game and political goals are," he said after officiating the renaming of Jalan Temiang to Jalan Dr Chen Man Hin, here, today.
Also present were Negri Sembilan Urban Wellbeing, Housing, Local Government and New Villages Committee chairman Teo Kok Seong, DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang, DAP adviser and Bagan member of parliament Lim Guan Eng and state DAP leaders.
Muhyiddin was reported to have said yesterday that a minister from DAP once requested that the "Allah" case involving Jill Ireland be settled out of court when he was the home minister in the first Pakatan Harapan government.
The Pagoh member of parliament also expressed his regret at the current government's decision to withdraw the appeal for the use of the word Allah because it involved the sensitivity of Muslims and the public interest.
Loke, who is also Transport Minister and Seremban member of parliament, described the statement as an attempt to play on racial and religious sentiments.
He said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had made it clear in the cabinet meeting yesterday that sensitive religious issues must be dealt with delicately.
"Of course the cabinet, as the highest decisionmaking institution, always defends the position of Islam and the Federal Constitution.
"This issue will be handled well and harmoniously without touching the sensitivities of any party," he said.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
from New Straits Times https://ift.tt/O7L6uGp
0 Comments