East M’sian NGOs reject proposed Mufti Bill, claim religious decrees could impact non-Muslims as well

MIRI (Oct 11): A group of 14 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) from Sarawak and Sabah have voiced their opposition towards the Mufti Bill 2024, which is up for the second and third reading in Parliament from next Monday.

In a statement, the groups claimed the Bill violates the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and constitutes a direct attack on the secular system.

“We in Sabah and Sarawak strongly oppose the proposed Mufti Bill that seeks to expand the powers of the mufti in the Federal Territories.

“We firmly reject any move to be ruled by muftis, as this would effectively sideline the constitutional monarchy, the Madani government, and the secular parliamentary democracy that Malaysia is built upon. Such a change would transform Malaysia into an Islamic state overnight,” the NGOs claimed.

The group alleged that ongoing violations of the MA63 have reached a critical point, with developments such as the recent halal certification issue, the divisive #RUU355 Bill, appointment of halal inspectors, and the impending passage of the Mufti Bill 2024.

According to them, these measures represent yet more serious breaches of MA63 and have sparked widespread concern among citizens, especially in Sabah and Sarawak.

They claimed this Bill is also opposed by Muslims who are concerned that “the Mufti Bill marks a more explicit sectarian turn in the bureaucratisation of Islam since the 2000s, aiming to institutionalise Sunni Ash’arism as the state-sanctioned version of Islam”.

The NGOs opined the politicisation of ideologies “will foster intolerance and radicalism by promoting dehumanising values and undermining democracy”.

“These actions constitute direct attacks on the secular system, which was a fundamental guarantee to Sabah and Sarawak when Malaysia, and also the Malayan Federation, were set up.

“The cumulative effect of these breaches highlights a pattern of erosion of the constitutional safeguards that were intended to protect the pluralistic and secular nature of the federation,” said the NGOs.

According to the group, the Mufti Bill, which is expected to be passed on Oct 16 or 17, would grant sweeping powers to the mufti, enabling the issuance of religious decrees that could have significant impacts on both Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

The NGOs opined such decrees could bypass the authority of Parliament and the courts, effectively placing religious law above civil law while on the other hand, muftis have no jurisdiction in Parliament as they are not elected representatives of the people.

They stated Sabah and Sarawak should assert their right to self-determination, as violation of their rights under the federation has shone a light on the importance of allocating 35 per cent of seats in the Dewan Rakyat to the states – a principle rooted in constitutional and historical obligations to safeguard East Malaysian interests.

“Yet even this has been undermined, leaving the regions vulnerable to domination by the more populous Malaya,” added the NGOs.

Among those who signed the joint statement were Borneo’s Plight in Malaysia Foundation president Daniel John Jambun, Sabah Sarawak Rights Australia New Zealand president Robert Pei, Saya Anak Sarawak founder Peter John Jaban, Republic Sabah North Borneo president Mosses Paul Anap Ampang, Parti Bumi Kenyalang president Voon Lee Shan, and Gabungan Orang Asal Sabah Sarawak Dayak cultural ambassador Themothy Jagak.

Also on the list were Ahmad Awang Ali – Pusat Latihan Orang Asal Sarawak, Alim GA Mideh – Bulang Birieh Dayak Civil Movement, Gindol Initiative for Civil Society Borneo chairman Kanul Gindol, Persatuan Pembangunan Sosial Komuniti Sabah president Jovilis Majami, Pertubuhan Kebajikan Rumpun Dayak Sabah president Cleftus Stephen Mojingol, Sarawak Association for People’s Aspirations, Society for Rights of Indigenous People of Sarawak secretary general Michael Jok, and Society for Rights of Indigenous People of Sarawak legal advisor Paul Rajah.