Bersatu Supreme Council member Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal said a new department was unnecessary sinces matters involving non-Muslims already fell under the unity ministry’s purview.

“Any issue involving non-Muslims, whether Buddhists, Christians, or Hindus, can be discussed within the scope of the national unity ministry.

“If there is a dispute between Muslims and non-Muslims, it can be jointly handled by the unity minister and religious affairs minister,” he told FMT.

PAS Youth chief Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden agreed, saying that one of the ministry’s roles was to manage non-Muslim affairs.

“Therefore, there is no need for a new department,” said Afnan, who is also the head of Perikatan Nasional Youth.

Yesterday, MIPP deputy president S Subramaniam stated support for DAP MP Chow Yu Hui’s proposal for two religious affairs ministers in the Prime Minister’s Department – one for Muslims and another for non-Muslims.

He also said the government could instead consider setting up a non-Muslim affairs department under the unity ministry, adding that this could address “issues that go unnoticed” involving non-Muslim faiths.

Chow’s proposal drew backlash from opposition parties as well as leaders of government allies Umno and Amanah. It came on the heels of the uproar over proposed guidelines pertaining to Muslims attending non-Muslim festivities, funerals as well as events at non-Muslim places of worship.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim later said there was no need for such guidelines.