Religious ban in Mara junior colleges against Constitution

Mara should be reminded that its ban on non-Muslim religious activities at its junior science colleges (MRSM) in Sarawak is a breach of the Constitution which guarantees the freedom to worship and practise one’s religion, Sarawak minister Tan Sri Dr James Masing said.

Feb 13, 2015

KUCHING: Mara should be reminded that its ban on non-Muslim religious activities at its junior science colleges (MRSM) in Sarawak is a breach of the Constitution which guarantees the freedom to worship and practise one’s religion, Sarawak minister Tan Sri Dr James Masing said.

The outspoken state land development minister said freedom of religion was enshrined in the Federal Constitution and it was constitutionally and morally wrong for Mara to impose such a ban at its colleges in Sarawak where the Malays and Muslims were in the minority.

“By having a circular banning other religions in their college campuses, Mara and MRSM are in breach of the Constitution and should be hauled up to face legal action,” Masing said, responding to calls by some parents of MRSM students to put an end to the religious discrimination.

The Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president said religion was one of the ways to guide students in proper ways of living. Therefore, it was morally wrong to prevent spiritual betterment of young people.

“MRSM should be the leader in this manner and not an obstacle to spiritual fulfilment of our young minds.

“Religious bigotry is unbecoming of those in institutions of higher learning, especially in Sarawak.”

Dayak parents in Sarawak had questioned the ban on all non-Islamic religious activities at the Mara junior science colleges in the state.

One parent who decided not to send his daughter to study in the Kota Samarahan MRSM after coming across the rules on non-Islamic activities, said he was shocked when he read the peraturan tambahan untuk pelajar bukan Islam (additional rules for non-Muslim students).

The “additional rules” state that all religious activities, with the exception of Islamic religious activities, are prohibited on campus.

All religious symbols, other than that of Islam, are also prohibited from being displayed in the college and attendance of non-Islamic religious activities outside the college campus on weekends required permission.

“When I read these rules, I made up my mind that my daughter is not going to study in a college that won’t allow her to wear her cross or needs permission to attend church on Sundays,” said Gima Duin. -- The Malaysian Insider.”

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