The actions of Islamic authorities in Selangor and Penang have prompted MCA to launch a scathing salvo against Pakatan Rakyat.
Among others, Penang MCA deputy chief Tan Teik Cheng wondered if the opposition bloc is planning to get rid of all non-Muslims in their states.
"Under the administration of Pakatan, non-Muslims are continuously being harassed by the states' Islamic religious departments," he said in a statement today.
According to Tan (right), Selangor, Penang and Kelantan have witnessed numerous incidents which infringed on the rights of non-Muslims.
"In states under Pakatan's administration, marriages are stopped and those being laid to rest are prevented from being laid to rest.
"Apparently these states have now become inhabitable for non-Muslims," he added.
Tan was responding to the incident in Penang, where the state Islamic authorities (JAIPP) and police disrupted the Chinese funeral rites for Teoh Cheng Cheng.
JAIPP claimed that Teoh had converted to Islam 17 years ago and her Muslim name was Nora Teoh Abdullah. But her family denied any knowledge of this.
State executive councillor for Islamic affairs Abdul Malik Kassim later denied reports that the body of the 38-year-old waitress was "seized".
He claimed that JAIPP and the family settled the matter "amicably" and the latter agreed for the body to be brought back to the hospital mortuary.
Prior to this, Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) officials stopped a Hindu wedding after being informed that the bride was a Muslim.
'CM must not run away'
Meanwhile, Tan also told Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng "not to run away from his responsibility" since JAIPP is under the jurisdiction of the state government.
He also recalled the case of Indonesian Christian migrant worker Halimah, who JAIPP had previously arrested and charged for close proximity (khalwat).
Also taking Lim to task was Gerakan Youth chief Tan Keng Liang (left).
"With due respect to JAIPP, the matter could have been handled better than disrupting the funeral of the deceased," he said in a statement.
"The family of the deceased is already grieving after the sudden death of the deceased. JAIPP should not have added more trauma to the family of the deceased," he added.
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