This was met with criticism from the opposition bench, with DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang calling it a coward act.
In a parliamentary written reply, minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh said the ministry does not condone any type of provocation which is against the Federal Constitution.
"The reason for organising the seminar was to discuss ... a critical issue academically, in line with the intellectual culture in the higher education stage," he said.
"Furthermore, the seminar had also explained the threat of Islamic State (IS), syiah, terrorism and historical discussion including the Crusades...," he said in reply to a question by Darell Leiking (PKR – Penampang).
Leiking had asked the ministry to provide reason why the seminar was given the green light to be held.
The Universiti Teknologi Mara's (UiTM) Malacca campus had in December last year organised a seminar on threat of proselytisation, which drew criticism from political parties and the Christian Federation of Malaysia.
Idris said the ministry had granted autonomy powers to public universities in order to enhance competitiveness against other universities worldwide.
"UiTM through the autonomy can conduct any seminar that is not against the Federal Constitution," he said.
DAP’s Lim Kit Siang accused today Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh of lacking the courage to admit that it was wrong for a public university to organise purported anti-Christian programmes.
The DAP parliamentary leader told Idris and Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) that Malaysians have the constitutional right to freedom of religion.
“What shouts from the rooftops from Idris’ answer is his political, moral and intellectual cowardice in admitting that it was wrong for UiTM to conduct anti-Christianisation forums and to give an assurance to Parliament and the nation that public universities will not be allowed [to] conduct any activities which promote hatred against any religion in Malaysia,” Lim said in a statement.
“When will Malaysia have ministers and leaders in government who have the moral, intellectual and political courage to defend and uphold the plural character of Malaysia’s nation-building basis, take a bold stand on moderation against all forms of extremism and intolerance, whether in public universities or elsewhere?” added the Gelang Patah MP.
- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/kit-siang-minister-cowardly-for-defending-uitms-anti-christianisation-semin#sthash.NPBTbxFh.dpuf
The DAP parliamentary leader told Idris and Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) that Malaysians have the constitutional right to freedom of religion.
“What shouts from the rooftops from Idris’ answer is his political, moral and intellectual cowardice in admitting that it was wrong for UiTM to conduct anti-Christianisation forums and to give an assurance to Parliament and the nation that public universities will not be allowed [to] conduct any activities which promote hatred against any religion in Malaysia,” Lim said in a statement.
“When will Malaysia have ministers and leaders in government who have the moral, intellectual and political courage to defend and uphold the plural character of Malaysia’s nation-building basis, take a bold stand on moderation against all forms of extremism and intolerance, whether in public universities or elsewhere?” added the Gelang Patah MP.
- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/kit-siang-minister-cowardly-for-defending-uitms-anti-christianisation-semin#sthash.NPBTbxFh.dpuf