Pak Lah As Expected Refuses To Set Up A Non-Muslim Affairs Department

via the-malaysian

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said today it was not necessary to set up a Non-Muslim Affairs Department now because an existing special committee was playing an effective role in the matter.

"Maybe it (a department) is too big. Let's see, we will have the department in the future if it is deemed necessary.

"We are giving attention to non-Muslim affairs. Such attention is related to the problems faced by them for consideration by the government," he told reporters.

Abdullah was asked to comment on the request by non-governmental organisations for the government to set up the department to handle the affairs of non-Muslims in the country.

He said the existing committee in the Prime Minister's Department comprised Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Bernard Dompok (to handle matters pertaining to Christians), Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu (Hindus) and Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting (Buddhists).

The prime minister also said that the Department of National Unity also had a similar committee with a minister entrusted with matters pertaining to solidarity, religions and beliefs. |more...|