7 societies demand UiTM ensures non-Muslim Bornean students not forced to attend Islamic events

KUCHING (Jan 14): Seven civil societies from Sabah and Sarawak have demanded that Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) campuses in the peninsula ensure non-Muslim Bumiputera students from Sabah and Sarawak are not coerced into attending Islamic events.

In a joint press statement entitled ‘Stop Forcing Our Faith: Sabah and Sarawak Demand Respect for Religious Freedom’, the organisation said they are outraged and deeply appalled by the allegations against UiTM.

“This is not just an attack on the religious freedom of our people – it is an affront to the dignity, identity, and autonomy of Sabah and Sarawak.

“Let us be clear: Sabah and Sarawak formed Malaysia under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) with the assurance that our religious and cultural rights would be respected. What we are seeing now is a blatant betrayal of that promise.

“These allegations — if true — prove that the federal government and institutions like UiTM have no regard for the feelings or beliefs of the indigenous people of Sabah and Sarawak,” the societies claimed in a statement.

They said UiTM was created to support Bumiputera students, not to impose religious conformity.

The societies stressed non-Muslim students should not be subjected to dakwah programmes or any kind of forced religious indoctrination.

“It is deeply offensive to the followers of other religions in Sabah and Sarawak who are now being treated as second-class citizens in their own homeland.

“How dare the federal government allow this kind of disrespect to persist? Have they forgotten that Sabah and Sarawak are equal partners in Malaysia, not colonies to be manipulated? Do the leaders in Putrajaya not understand that our people’s trust and goodwill are being shattered by such actions?” said the statement.

The groups demanded an immediate and public explanation from Minister of Higher Education Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir on the issue.

“What are you doing to protect the constitutional rights of non-Muslim Bumiputera students? Enough is enough. The people of Sabah and Sarawak will not stand by while our cultural and religious identity is systematically undermined,” the group said.

“This is not just about religion – it is about respect, fairness, and the future of Malaysia as a multicultural nation. We demand justice, accountability, and an end to this blatant disregard for the feelings and rights of other religious communities in Sabah and Sarawak.”

The statement was signed by Global Human Rights Federation Malaysia deputy president Peter John Jaban; Borneo’s Plight in Malaysia Foundation president Daniel John Jambun; Sabah Sarawak Rights Australia New Zealand president Robert Pei; Republic of Sabah North Borneo president Moses Anap; Persatuan Pembangunan Sosial Komuniti Sabah president Jovilis Majami; Pertubuhan Kebajikan Rumpun Dayak Sabah president Cleftus Stephen Mojingol; and Forum Adat Dataran Tanah Tinggi Borneo advisor Ricky Ganang.

The issue has also caught the attention of Michael Kong – special assistant to Sarawak Democratic Action Party chairman Chong Chieng Jen – and human rights activist and lawyer Siti Kasim.

Author Preeta Samarasan recently claimed on Facebook that non-Muslim UiTM students were being forced to attend Islamic events and alleged UiTM required students in certain degree programmes to fulfil a conversion quota before they can graduate.

She was commenting on an allegation by a UiTM undergraduate that the higher learning institution is forcing non-Muslim Sabah and Sarawak Bumiputeras to attend spiritual seminars in mosques.