Can national unity ministry handle non-Muslim religious affairs?

It is somewhat interesting to see National Unity Minister Aaron Ago Dagang putting forth the notion that his ministry can handle non-Muslim religious affairs.

“The various divisions under the ministry can handle non-Muslim religious affairs as will the various religious representatives.

“Besides BKAPA, the unity issues management committee also handles sensitive issues pertaining to religion,” he was quoted by Berita Harian.

Aaron also co-chairs the interfaith harmony committee with (Islamic) religious affairs minister Datuk Na’im Mokhtar.

The issue came forth after Raub MP Chow Yu Hui suggested that the religious affairs portfolio be split into two separate ones for Muslim and non-Muslim affairs

The suggestion, however, was shot down by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as well as the Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.

Can national unity ministry handle non-Muslim religious affairs?

The track record thus far

Mind you, national unity can be achieved via sports and other community based activities.

Hence the non-Muslim religious affairs is a separate ball game altogether.

Going back to the issue at hand, Deputy National Unity Minister K Saraswathy admitted her ministry is not empowered to act against independent preachers who stir up controversies by raising racial religious issues.

“At the ministry level, we invite them to discuss with them. That is why Religious Issues Management and Mediation Bureau was formed so that we can mediate with them.

“However if they still float 3R, the jurisdiction to take action is under a different ministry with enforcement agency.

“At the ministry, we can only educate the public to accept diversity as a strength to form Malaysia,” said the deputy minister in response to an oral question from Senator Dr A Lingeshwaran in the Dewan Negara on Dec 9.

This was over the actions of independent Chinese Muslim convert preacher Fridaus Wong’s open advocacy to convert school going children without the consent of the parents.

Islamic Dakwah Foundation Malaysia (Yadim) chairman Hasanuddin Yunus in an interview with Harapan Daily meanwhile blamed the enforcement for the lack of action when Muslim preachers go overboard.

Hence it is yet to be seen whether the ministry can live up to the expectations of the non-Muslim community in Malaysia.