PETALING JAYA: The Sarawak government has not allowed a programme under Yayasan Amal Malaysia to be held in Belaga, citing "concerns raised over such event."
The "Program Ziarah Dakwah Mahannah & Amal Kebajikan" was to be held from Oct 15 to 19 in Punan Bah, Belaga.
Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Islamic Affairs), Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman, said in a statement that the decision was made after considering all concerns raised over the event.
"It is to be informed that Sarawak Islamic Affairs Department, through agreement from Sarawak Islamic Council, has decided not to give consent to the programme due to certain reasons.
"This is in line with the powers of the Sarawak Islamic Council as provided in Section 58(1) of the Sarawak Islamic Council Ordinance 2001 and Section 11 of the Sarawak Syariah Criminal Offence Ordinance 2001,” he said in the statement.
Section 58(1) states any activity conducted to propagate Islam to the public cannot be carried out without the approval of the council.
Borneo Post reported that a group of outsiders was trying to convert longhouse dwellers in Belaga into Islam.
Their movement and activities have gone viral on social media leading to calls for the government and Welfare Department to look into the matter.
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