KUALA LUMPUR: Beruas member of Parliament Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham has apologised for a proposal he made that interfered with Islamic affairs.
In a statement today, the former Perak State Legislative Assembly Speaker withdrew and apologised over his statement on the proposal in advising the government 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.
"As it has been now clarified that the special committee was formed by the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs (MKI) headed by His Royal Highness the Sultan Selangor which I was not aware of earlier, I hereby withdraw my proposal and tender my sincere apology.
"I have no intention whatsoever to interfere in Islamic affairs," he added.
Yesterday, the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah in a post on the Selangor Royal Office's Facebook page responded to the proposal made by Ngeh saying that MKI held the trust and responsibility to handle all matters concerning the Islamic community.
Sultan Sharafuddin said the MKI also comprised experts in various fields, especially in law and Islamic matters.
"His Majesty hopes that politicians, especially non-Muslims refrain from constantly meddling in Islamic matters.
"Instead, followers of other religions should emulate Muslims who do not meddle in the affairs of other religions in Malaysia," it read.
Ngeh's suggestion received reactions from various quarters, including the Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, Religious Affairs Minister Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar and DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke.
Amirudin said Ngeh, being an experienced political figure, should re-evaluate his capacity of discourse, especially concerning issues involving Islamic affairs, particularly considering the controversies he had previously stirred on similar grounds.
While Na'im described the suggestion as entirely baseless and that in matters concerning the administration of Islamic affairs, including issues related to legal policies and Shariah justice involving the Muslim community, the Religious Affairs Ministry would always refer to MKI.
Meanwhile, Anthony Loke said that Ngeh's suggestion was a misjudgment regarding the founding reasons behind the committee's authority.