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DAP's Hannah attacks 'religious extremists' after her claims to being 'God's ambassador' resurface

The youth and sports minister defends herself amid calls for her to resign.

MalaysiaNow
3 minute read
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Hannah Yeoh claims she has been targeted by 'religious extremists'.
Hannah Yeoh claims she has been targeted by 'religious extremists'.

Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh has defended herself after extracts from her book, in which she describes herself as playing the role of "ambassadors of God", resurfaced following the outcome of a defamation case against former police chief Musa Hassan.

Yeoh, a rising star in DAP who was embroiled in a controversy over her husband's business dealings with the Selangor government, recently failed in her suit against Musa over remarks he made at a forum four years ago in which he allegedly accused her of having links with evangelicals who could undermine Islam in Malaysia.

The Segambut MP said she was also lodging a police report over text messages and videos which she said were "politicising" the court decision, adding that it was the work of "religious extremists".

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"As has occured many times in my political career, my faith has again become political fodder by religious extremists," she added.

Yeoh said she respected the status of Islam in the Federal Constitution.

"There are clear legal restrictions against propagating religions other than Islam to Muslims in Malaysia. I took my oath of office and swore to uphold the Federal Constitution. It is an oath I take seriously and will abide by at all times," she said.

This comes amid calls for her removal from the Cabinet.

Among them is Muslim pressure group Gerakan Pembela Ummah which called on her to resign.

"Those involved must be accountable for every action, especially when it comes to issues that could tarnish the reputation and trust of the people in the government," the group said.

Bersatu women's chief Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, called on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to take action against Yeoh, adding that she had violated laws banning the proselytisation of Muslims.

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"Therefore, Bersatu will bring this to the attention of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the Malay rulers and the Conference of Rulers," she said.

On Monday, Musa's lawyers welcomed the court's decision, recalling that Yeoh herself had admitted in her book "Becoming Hannah" to "subtly teaching Christianity" in Malaysia upon her return from studies abroad, in addition to her claim of fulfilling her role as an "Ambassador of God" to "spread the teachings of her God through political office".

The lawyers also quoted several excerpts from Yeoh's book that formed part of the defence's arguments, which were soon shared on social media and sparked a debate over her suitability to remain in the Cabinet.

"I also felt that politics took me away from my true longing, which was to be a preacher. But had I not obeyed God's call, I would not have had the opportunity to preach at churches, to world leaders and to young people, like I am able to do now.

"God wants to reclaim politics and public service in Malaysia for righteousness' sake. He is looking for God-fearing men and women who are willing to roll up their sleeves and labour in this very demanding field.

"God knew the desire of my heart to preach and serve Him. And He made it happen through my political office," reads some quotes from Yeoh's book.

Yeoh writes in her book that while studying in Australia, she was part of a campus group called Overseas Christian Fellowship (OFC), which trained its members to "Reach Out, Build Up, Send Back".

"It was drummed in pretty clearly into all OCF Australia members that upon completing our degrees, we were to return to our home countries as 'ambassadors of God' and to make disciples of others," she wrote.

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Yeoh is no stranger to similar controversies in the past.

Just four months after her appointment to the Cabinet, she came under fire from Muslim groups for defending a programme to visit churches organised by an agency linked to her ministry.

The programme, organised by Impact Malaysia under its Projek Artikel 11, was also attacked by Umno Youth and the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais).

PAS, meanwhile, had agreed to the programme on the condition that such visits take place as long as Muslim scholars are involved.