Mara chairman denies prohibition on other faiths

Anuar Musa says training centres and colleges are guided by the constitution and everyone is allowed to practice their respective faiths.

KUALA LUMPUR: Non-Muslim students have never been prohibited from practising their religions at the Mara junior science colleges as that will be against the Federal Constitution, said Mara chairman Annuar Musa.

He said the constitution stated that Islam was the official religion while people of other faiths were free to practise their religions.

“Feedback from the other bumiputera students in these colleges also deny this (prohibition). Students have never been prevented from bringing the Bible (to these colleges). There is no problem bringing the Bible.

The clarification made by the minister (of rural and regional development Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal) was right as it (the prohibition) had never existed,” he told reporters after closing the 2015 Giatmara seminar on “Prioritising the Bumiputera Agenda” held at the Putra World Trade Centre here yesterday.

Annuar was commenting on a statement made by an opposition leader, which was posted on a news portal last Saturday, claiming that regulations at Sarawak Mara junior science colleges were a cause of concern for parents as they were inclined towards Islam.

Yesterday, Mohd Shafie said Mara junior science colleges had never introduced additional regulations which prevented students from practising their own religions.

“We give the assurance that our (Mara) training centres, including the colleges, are centres to nurture Malaysians of the future. We are guided by the constitution and we will not practise anything that does not reflect the spirit of 1Malaysia,” he said.

- BERNAMA