Social activist urges govt to prioritise facts, merit over religious doctrine

KUCHING (Aug 24): Social activist Voon Shiak Ni has urged the government to ensure that all decisions are made based on facts, merit, and the best interests of all Malaysians, rather than being influenced by religious doctrine.

She asserted that government departments should serve all Malaysians impartially, regardless of their religious beliefs.

“Introducing religious considerations into decision-making processes within these departments could compromise this impartiality, leading to discrimination against non-Muslim citizens and civil servants,” she said.

She said this in a statement issued in response to the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) vice president David Ong’s recent remark on reports that officers from the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) might be placed in every government department to ensure decisions align with Islamic principles.

Voon pointed out that Malaysia is a nation renowned for its diversity, comprising people of various faiths and ethnicities, all of whom contribute to the rich cultural tapestry of their country.

Additionally, she said the Federal Constitution guarantees freedom of religion for all, a fundamental principle of Malaysia’s democracy and way of life.

“The placement of religious officers in government departments, as reported, raises serious concerns about the potential impact on the secular nature of our institutions.

“While we recognise Islam as the religion of the Federation, in Sarawak we must also uphold the clear separation between religious affairs and the secular functions of government,” she said.

According to Voon, this separation is essential to safeguarding the rights and freedoms of all Sarawakians and ensuring that the government remains inclusive and fair to everyone, regardless of their religious background.

“I echo David Ong’s call for the government to clarify the reported policy and to reconsider its implementation if the reports are accurate.

“It is vital that we maintain equal opportunity, non-discrimination, and the plurality that are central to a just and harmonious society,” she said.

She was glad that Sarawakians have always valued their diversity and the peaceful coexistence of different religious and ethnic communities.

“Sarawakians must continue to uphold these values and ensure that the government reflects the principles of fairness, equality and respect for all.”