NUCC defends protection for atheists and Muslims alike in proposed new law
July 8, 2014 UPDATED: July 10, 2014 01:54 pm
Deputy chairman of the NUCC law and policy committee, Lim Chee Wee, speaks at a press conference on the NUCC bills on June 24. — Picture by Boo Su-Lyn
KUALA LUMPUR, July 8 — The National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC) today hit back at criticism made by a coalition of Malay groups that its proposed anti-discrimination law recognises atheism and contravenes the Rukun Negara principle of belief in God.
NUCC’s law and policy committee member Mohd Zharif Badrul said the interpretation of religious beliefs in Section 4 of The Racial and Religious Hate Crimes Bill should be read with Section 5 and 6 which criminalises hate crime based on religion.
“For example, if A hurts B because B is an atheist, then A would have to be punished under the law.
“It can also be used as B (an atheist) who attacked A just because A is a Muslim,” he said in a statement.
http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/nucc-defends-protection-for-atheists-and-muslims-alike-in-proposed-new-law
