KUALA LUMPUR: A Johor Umno leader has warned DAP to stay in their lane, after a suggestion to include non-Muslim experts in the committee to study the powers of the Syariah Court was proposed by DAP lawmaker Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham.
Senator Datuk Abdul Halim Suleiman, who is also Johor Umno secretary, said Muslims did not need non-Muslim legal experts to advise or help the committee in enacting Syariah laws, as there were many Muslims who were knowledgeable in the area.
He described the Beruas member of parliament's move to suggest the idea as "going overboard" and seen as wanting to meddle in Islamic religious affairs.
"We cannot keep silent anymore. I, as Johor Umno secretary and Tebrau Umno division chief, want to warn Ngeh and other non-Muslim DAP leaders not to try to be smart and interfere in Syariah law matters.
"Ngeh's statement suggesting the government to appoint experts from the non-Muslim community to help the committee reviewing the jurisdiction of the Syariah Court goes over the line," he said in a Facebook post today.
Earlier, the media reported that the government was advised to appoint experts from non-Muslim communities to assist the Special Committee to Study the Competence of the State Legislative Assembly in Enacting Islamic Laws established earlier this month.
Ngeh was quoted as saying that this step is to consider the views of non-Muslims before any changes to the law are made.
Abdul Halim said Malays and Muslims in the country did not need others, particularly politicians representing other races, to interfere as it would only cause disunity, disrupt the harmony and would raise doubts among Muslims themselves.
"If DAP wants to continue to make amends and build a strong relationship within the Unity government for the benefit of a multiracial Malaysia, sensitive issues like this do not need to be raised again.
"My advice to other DAP leaders, please use your brains to talk and not just your mouth or desire to be a political champion until you touch on the sensitivities of Malays and Muslims.
"You don't need to interfere with matters surrounding Syariah law as how we don't interfere in the matters of other religions," he added.