KUALA LUMPUR - Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh has insisted that the Article 11 Let's Visit Church project run by Impact Integrated Berhad does not involve Muslim youth.
The Segambut member of Parliament also denied that the program was an effort to make all religions equal as claimed by certain quarters.
"The Article 11 Let's Visit project undertaken by Impact under the Youth and Sports Ministry is not to generalise the position of any religion, nor is it a project that intends to give the impression that all religions are the same as some parties claim and assume.
"Let's Visit is an effort to recognise the religious differences that exist among us. It is our effort to differentiate and so that in that way the Malaysian society of multiple religions and races can live in peace, harmony and tolerance.
"The implementation of the program to visit houses of worship is not a new thing, the of National Unity Ministry has also held visits to houses of worship involving various believers through the committee to promote understanding and harmony between religious believers which is now known as the harmony committee under the ministry," he said.
She said this during the 2023 KBS budget winding-up session at the committee level in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday.
In the meantime, Hannah said, as a former Selangor State Assembly (DUN) Speaker and Subang Jaya State Assembly member, she understood the Federal Constitution regarding the position of Islam.
She also emphasised that the spread of Christianity to Muslims is wrong from a legal point of view.
"As a former of the Selangor state assembly Speaker and a Subang Jaya assemblyman for 10 years, I know and understand the law that prohibits 'evangelism'.
"Defaming me for using an agency under KBS for that purpose is an extreme accusation and wants to make me a 'punching bag' to cover up the allegations and misconduct faced by their leaders. I'm not talking about PAS, I'm talking about Bersatu (Pertubuhan Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia) who has accused me.
"I am also a DAP member, I know and understand the Federal Constitution which recognises Islam as the religion of the Federation," she explained.
Meanwhile, Hannah also informed that any program involving youth organised by other ministries will not be implemented by KBS again to prevent such things from happening in the future.