By Cornelius Henry, Perpaduan Anak Negeri Sabah (PAN Sabah) chairman
KOTA KINABALU: Perpaduan Anak Negeri Sabah (PAN Sabah) expresses deep concern over recent allegations that non-Muslim indigenous students from Sabah and Sarawak were coerced into participating in Islamic religious activities at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM).
Perpaduan Anak Negeri Sabah (PAN Sabah) emphasises that, if proven true, these allegations would constitute a serious violation of constitutional rights and a significant infringement of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
We, Perpaduan Anak Negeri Sabah, underscore that religious freedom is a fundamental right enshrined under Article 11(1) of the Federal Constitution. This article guarantees that every citizen has the right to profess, practice, and propagate their religion, provided it does not contravene public order, health, or morality.
We further highlight that Article 12(3) explicitly prohibits coercing any individual into receiving religious education or participating in religious ceremonies that are not of their own religion, thereby safeguarding individuals from religious coercion.
Perpaduan Anak Negeri Sabah also stresses that existing laws clearly prohibit actions that infringe upon individual freedoms. Specifically, Sections 340 to 348 of the Penal Code criminalise acts such as unlawful detention and harassment, which may encompass coercive religious participation.
Moreover, Perpaduan Anak Negeri Sabah emphasises that educational institutions have a fundamental obligation to respect students’ constitutional rights and personal beliefs, and any violations of this principle are unacceptable.
To address these concerns and prevent similar incidents in the future, Perpaduan Anak Negeri Sabah strongly urges the following actions:
The Ministry of Education and UiTM management should conduct a comprehensive and transparent investigation to ascertain the facts.
Clear policies should be established to strictly prohibit coercion into religious activities.
A convenient reporting mechanism should be implemented to support students facing religious discrimination, and
Regular monitoring of institutional practices should be implemented to ensure compliance with constitutional and MA63 obligations.
We urge UiTM and other public institutions to foster truly inclusive environments that celebrate Malaysia’s diversity. This includes respecting the cultural and religious identities of Sabah and Sarawak’s indigenous peoples, as enshrined under MA63 and the Federal Constitution.
At the same time, Perpaduan Anak Negeri Sabah reaffirms its steadfast commitment to upholding religious freedom, safeguarding cultural identity, and promoting equality as guaranteed by the Federal Constitution and the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). We call upon the federal government and relevant authorities to address these allegations promptly and take decisive measures to prevent such incidents from recurring.
For justice, equality, and unity.
