KUALA LUMPUR: Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming said he will continue to promote racial and religious harmony in Malaysia.
The DAP vice chairman said he would never succumb to threats by 'extremists' and would defend the country's fundamental liberty enshrined in the Federal Constitution.
"I am a Minister for all Malaysians regardless of race and religion. I will continue to promote racial and religious harmony. I will continue to defend our fundamental liberty enshrined in the Federal Constitution and never succumb to threats by extremists. For the nation (Demi Pertiwi)," Nga said in an X post. In the same post, he also included the hashtags #AnakKelate and #MalaysiaMADANI.
His response came after PAS announced plans to take legal action against Nga following criticism made by the minister against the party for their stance against a Christmas celebration at his ministry.
According to PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan, Nga accused PAS of being "deviant", "spreading deviant teachings", "exploiting religion", "damaging societal harmony", and "blocking Christmas celebrations" after the party's Youth vice-chief Hanif Jamaluddin objected to the Christmas celebration at the ministry office because it involved Muslim employees.
He also believed that Nga's remarks violated the rights, authority, and position of the King and the Rulers as the heads of Islam, as well as challenging the jurisdiction of the National Fatwa Council and the religious authorities responsible for determining the religious status of any individual or group of Muslims.
"Despite the loud rhetoric about harmony, unity, diversity, mutual respect, and so on, Nga himself has unabashedly violated and challenged not only the authority of religious authorities in this country but has also blatantly interfered in Islamic affairs," Takiyuddin said in a statement.
He added that since independence, no ministry or any government agencies had organised religious celebration programmes other than Islam on government premises, let alone involving Muslim officers.
Full liability would also be placed against Nga if his recklessness leads to tensions, said the party.