KUCHING, Dec 22 — Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) president Voon Lee Shan today expressed hope that Christmas can bring the spirit of togetherness, peace, and a better future for Malaysia.
He said it is hoped that the unity government under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim can bring peace, harmony and reduce tensions caused by the recent wave of racial politics, particularly in Peninsular Malaysia.
"The festive season has helped to unite the various races of Sarawak since the time of the Brooke Rajah and it should not be disrupted," Voon said in his Christmas message.
He said it was for this reason before the idea of forming Malaysia in 1963 that the people of Sarawak insisted that there should not be any official religion for the state.
"The fear of being forced to convert from one's own religion to another religion against one's own free will is something not acceptable to most Sarawakians," he stressed.
He added although Article 3(1) of the Federal Constitution states that Islam is the official religion of the federation and other religions are to be practiced in peace and harmony in Malaysia; this had in the past been twisted or misread by certain groups of people and politicians.
"In order to ensure peace and calm among citizens in Sarawak about the official religion in Sarawak, the Article should be amended to plug all ambiguities.
"It must be stated clearly that Sabah and Sarawak are allowed to practice all religions in peace and in harmony and that there is no official religion for the two Borneo states," Voon, who is a practicing lawyer, added.
He pointed out that the State Constitution is clear that Sarawak has no official religion.
