Anthony Loke has slammed Muhyiddin Yassin for saying that DAP had tried to pressure the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government in 2019 to settle the “Allah” issue out of court.
The DAP secretary-general said the cabinet at the time, and not DAP, had suggested for the matter to be settled out of court.
He said Muhyiddin, who is now the chairman of rival coalition Perikatan Nasional (PN), was linking DAP to the issue just to politicise the matter.
“The (Jill Ireland) case was a cabinet decision at the time and maybe he (Muhyiddin) was not present when the cabinet made the decision,” Loke said.
“His actions of blaming DAP alone is not appropriate and we know Muhyiddin is only looking to heap the blame on DAP.
“At that time, the Home Ministry did not agree with the cabinet’s suggestion and continued with court action. When a more comprehensive solution was proposed for out-of-court settlement, it was rejected, and the government lost the decision.
“Muhyiddin should not have made such a statement, but we know his game and what his political purpose is,” he said after officiating the renaming of Jalan Temiang to Jalan Dr Chen Man Hin in Seremban today.
Loke said PN has no capital other than to stir up racial and religious sentiments.
“As stated by Prime Minister (Anwar Ibrahim), the cabinet firmly defends the principle that religious issues need to be handled with sensitivity,” he said.
The transport minister said the cabinet, as the highest decision maker in the country, always defends the position of Islam and the position of the Federal Constitution.
He adds that the issue needs to be dealt with well and harmoniously in Malaysia, which has a pluralistic society.
“So, we hope that issues like this are managed with prudence and kindness without touching the sensitivities of any party,” he said.
Yesterday, Bersatu supremo Muhyiddin claimed that a DAP minister had approached him to try and get the Jill Ireland case settled out of court during his tenure as the home minister under the previous PH government.
Muhyiddin claimed in a statement that he had rejected the suggestion as the Home Ministry wanted Ireland’s case settled in court.
During the time PH was in power, Ireland – a Melanau Christian – was awaiting a High Court decision on her bid for a declaration that she had a right to use the word “Allah”.
The case was decided in her favour in 2021 when Muhyiddin was prime minister under the Perikatan Nasional-Barisan Nasional administration.
Former works minister Baru Bian – a PKR member then – said after the court decision, the cabinet had decided to settle the Ireland case out of court in 2019.
DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng also challenged Muhyiddin to name the minister he was referring to. – TMI