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PETALING JAYA: PAS has accused an interfaith group of Islamophobia after it criticised plans to place Islamic development department (Jakim) officers in every government department, saying it could be unconstitutional.

The Islamic party said the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) should retract its statement that the move could affect the fundamental rights guaranteed to all Malaysians.

PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan claimed that the group’s legal interpretation is "half-baked" and only serves to disguise MCCBCHST’s "darker and more dangerous true intentions".

He also accused the council of consistently and intentionally trying to cause disharmony and enmity among Malaysians of different faiths, citing its statement on the proposed amendments to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 (Act 355).

“In both cases where they spoke in protest, MCCBCHST has clearly shown an Islamophobic attitude coupled with narratives depicting that any effort to improve the practice and position of Islam in this country would threaten the rights and freedoms of non-Muslims.

“PAS believes that the council’s attitude and stand on the (Jakim officers) issue are merely assumptions and sentiments.

"PAS also believes the council’s stand is a challenge on Muslims’ right to practise their faith freely, and build a good and harmonious relationship in their community, and also raises questions about the position of Islam as the religion of the federation (of Malaysia),"he said in a statement.

Takiyuddin, who is also the Kota Bharu MP, urged MCCBCHST to go back to being a consultative council aimed at fostering greater interreligious understanding and harmony.

He also said the group should seek to curb the spread of divisive and damaging tendencies.

Yesterday, MCCBCHST issued a statement in response to a Daily Express article quoting Sabah’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) vice-president David Ong.

In the article, Ong raised concerns about reports that Jakim officers will be placed in every government department to ensure decisions align with Islamic principles.

MCCBCHST emphasised its support for Article 3(1) of the Federal Constitution, which stipulates that Islam is the religion of the federation, but argued that Jakim’s role in ensuring government policies align with Islamic principles would fall outside the constitutional scope of the term Islam as interpreted by the courts.

However, religious affairs minister Na’im Mokhtar has since said Jakim officers are not being placed in government departments to influence policy, but to organise Islamic religious programmes.