KUCHING, March 22 — Sarawak’s Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah today defended Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh who is under attack for her ministry’s involvement in the "Jom Ziarah Gereja” programme.

He said he personally believes that what she had planned to do is noble.

"It is good for anyone of different faiths to understand the faiths of the others,” Karim said.

He said there is nothing wrong with people of different faiths entering the houses of worship of other faiths.

"I think we don’t have that problem in Sarawak. A lot of us go to mission schools, including myself, and we can understand each other well.

"Like myself, I took Bible Study for my Senior Cambridge Examination. It was one of the subjects that I took,” he said.

He said taking Bible Study when he was a Form Five student did not make him lose faith in his religion.

"I know Hannah personally, and even though I have not discussed it with her, I can feel that her intention is to make Malaysians be much more harmonious," he said.

He slammed those who are trying to be a little rhetorical by making accusations that the programme is to evangelise the Muslims.

"Don’t tell me the Muslims are so low in their faith, that you just bring them to the church and they become Christians.

"It is not so simple like that. That is the reason I feel that what she did was misconstrued by some Opposition politicians,” he said.