LAMBASTED: Nurul Izzah created controversy when she told a forum on Sunday that 'freedom of religion should not just be limited to non-Malays but everyone'. Pix: The MoleKUALA LUMPUR: Following pressure and criticism from various quarters on her statement on the freedom of religion for Malays, PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar today said she is willing to fully cooperate with the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) if the latter wants to pursue an investigation on her.

She said she will also call on Malay daily Utusan Malaysia which had 'sensationalised' the issue.

"Yes, I'm ready (to be investigated) but I will drag Utusan with me because they were the ones who had sensationalised the issue," she told reporters at Parliament lobby here today.

She, however, declined further comments, only adding that she is leaving the matter with her lawyer to decide on the next course of action.

Meanwhile, her father and Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Umno's action in 'politicising' his daughter's remark was a desperate measure to attract the attention of the Malays.

He said, Umno's action in using religion to play politics was a serious matter.

"This is the question of religion, it's not a game. If Umno wants to play the religious card, Jais needs to take action on remarks made by Muslims who gamble and remarks which are deviant, but there's nothing so far.

"This is why I consider this issue serious," he said when met at Parliament lobby.

Anwar believed that Jais had been instructed by Umno leaders to sensationalise the apostasy issue.

"Umno is desperate. I think Jais received a call from Umno to call (Nurul) Izzah in," he said.

The Permatang Pauh MP also slammed Umno's religious teachers for keeping mum on the issues of tyranny, graft and corruption within Umno, but instead chose to attack Nurul Izzah in a way that supports 'pluralism'.

In a media conference yesterday, Jais said it would conduct an investigation on the recorded speech of Nurul Izzah which was made at a forum "Negara Islam: Versi Mana; Siapa Bertanggungjawab?" (Islamic Country: Which Version, Who Is Responsible?) organised by a Christian movement.

She had apparently said, like non-Malays, Malays should also be given freedom of religion.

Jais director Datuk Marzuki Hussin had said, the department would not hesitate to call the Lembah Panti MP in to give her statement if there is information that she had gone against the rulings of the National Fatwa Council.

 

 

- mD

 

Read more

Nurul Izzah's Remarks Dangerous and Misleading - Jamil Khir

Fathul Bari Claims Nurul Izzah 'Ignorant', Lacks Religious Knowledge

 

 

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