A parliamentary exchange involving Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming has triggered a broader debate on religious sensitivity after his use of commonly heard Islamic expressions during a Dewan Rakyat session drew objections from a PAS lawmaker.
The issue arose during the winding-up stage of parliamentary proceedings when Nga highlighted the completion of long-delayed housing developments under the PR1MA scheme. He announced that the final abandoned project in Bukit Katil, Melaka, had been successfully revived, marking the completion of all 34 such projects nationwide and involving nearly 40,000 housing units. In expressing gratitude over the milestone, the Teluk Intan MP used Arabic phrases that are widely associated with Islamic practice.
The remarks prompted an immediate intervention from Rantau Panjang MP Datuk Siti Zailah Yusoff, who raised concerns over the appropriateness of a non-Muslim lawmaker using religious expressions closely linked to Islam. She cautioned that such usage could confuse Muslims and risk touching on sensitive issues related to race, religion and royalty, commonly referred to as the 3R. The PAS lawmaker stressed that religious phrases should not be used casually or in a way that could be perceived as trivialising matters of faith.
Nga responded by urging restraint and moderation, noting that the expressions in question originate from the Arabic language and are commonly used to convey gratitude or hope. He also pointed out his personal background as a Kelantan-born Malaysian who has long been familiar with the everyday use of such terms in multicultural settings. He argued that excessive focus on religious fault lines could undermine national unity and invited his critic to engage in interfaith goodwill by attending his ministry’s Hari Raya open house.
The exchange quickly drew attention beyond Parliament, with reactions reflecting deep divisions over religious expression in public life. Critics accused Nga of overstepping boundaries and questioned his right, as a non-Muslim, to employ Islamic terminology in official settings. Others framed the issue as a matter of respect for religious doctrine and warned against blurring distinctions of belief.
Conversely, supporters countered that Arabic phrases such as expressions of gratitude are not exclusive to Muslims and are used by people of various faiths worldwide, including Christian communities in the Middle East. From this perspective, the use of such language was seen as a gesture of respect rather than provocation, and any misunderstanding could be addressed through dialogue rather than condemnation.
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