Don't just monitor Opposition and pro-Opposition NGOs, govt told

KUCHING, Jan 14, 2015: The State government should closely supervise all activities organised by its agencies and pro-government non-governmental organisations (NGOs), a PKR branch leader Abang Zulkfili Abang Engkeh stressed today.

"The supervision should be done in the same way the government does to activities organised by the Opposition and pro-Opposition NGOs," he said in a statement.

Abang Zulkifli Abang Engkeh

"This pro-active approach should have been taken in all situations, and not taking an easy approach when it comes to pro-government NGOs," he said when commenting on the cancellation of a lecture by an Iraqi cleric Shaykh Afeefuddin Al-Jailani planned for today and tomorrow.

The lecture  based on the topic  "Muhammad SAW In The Bible"  was ordered cancelled by the State government following complaints by the Christian community who condemned the lecture as blasphemous and inappropriate.

The lecture, organised by the Islamic Information Centre (IIC) and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak's Islamic Centre,  was planned to be held at IIC today and at Islamic Centre tomorrow.

Abang Zulkifli, who is PKR Batang Lupar branch chairman, said he is not opposed to any religious forum or lecture, and instead would give his support, but it must be organised in a proper place and conducive atmosphere.

He said such lecture should not be held in public institutions of higher learning and using Unimas as a venue  is not appropriate since it is a place where people from various religious and cultural backgrounds mingle.

"We have mosques and other Islamic centres to hold such lecture, and in Kuching, we have Masjid Jamek which is big and beautiful, Diwan Bina and Diwan Baitulmal.

"But why must we chose Unimas? It is hoped that no-one deliberately tried to make provocative action since religious issue is sensitive. We must know the consequences if we raise sensitive issues," Abang Zulkifli said.