Malay politicians from both sides of the divide were not divided on this. In other words, they were united in getting all worked up. And they were joined by non-political groups, like the Malaysian Muslim Lawyers Association.

Some Malay folks I know were also riled up venting their displeasure on social media.

What were they angry about? That suggestion by DAP Raub Member of Parliament Chow Yu Hui for a non-Muslim affairs minister.

There is a minister for Islamic affairs, so Chow felt one is needed for non-Muslims.

The folks who got all riled up didn’t like that obviously. I get it. But what I did not get is why the early outburst. Too early I would say. Premature.

Chow made his suggestion in parliament as an MP. That was his right. I don’t want to go into specifics.

But the key word here is “suggestion”. He was suggesting, meaning there was no decision. There was never any discussion at all by the powers that be. Because it was just a suggestion.

Now, if there was a decision that a minister for non-Muslim affairs would be appointed, then I can understand the outbursts, protests, and what not.

So, there was no need for the PAS Ulama Council to argue that the suggestion or proposal, as it puts it, reflected the “flawed understanding of the constitutional principles among DAP members”.

Also, it’s not necessary for PAS Youth and the Muslim lawyers group to cite Constitution’s provisions about Islam without making clear arguments about how a non-Muslim minister would affect the provisions.

Then there was the Facebook post by Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki: “Show respect to Article 3 of the Federal Constitution that stipulates the position of Islam and Malay Rulers as protectors of Islam. There is no need for a minister in charge of other religions.”

OK, I say it again. I get it. The Umno sec-gen felt no need for minister “in charge of other religions”.

In fact, the suggestion was about non-Muslim “affairs”. I don’t think non-Muslims, like the Muslims, would want a minister in charge of their “religions”.

Their affairs, then it’s a different story. But I don’t want to be accused of being trivial picking up such “minor” issue. A slip of the tongue maybe?

But asking to show respect to the Constitution? And the position of Islam and the Malay Rulers? Was there anything disrespectful in Chow’s suggestion? I don’t think so.

No mention of the Constitution, Islam’s position or Malay Rulers. I don’t intend to repeat what he said. Anybody interested can always Google.

Asyraf was not done yet. He went on to remind Chow that all non-Muslim leaders from parties that form the coalition government have signed an agreement not to challenge the Constitution with regards to Islam, the special position of the Malays and Bumiputera, Malay Rulers and Bahasa Malaysia.

Why go there? I ask again was there a challenge in the suggestion in the first place? Again, I say I don’t think so.

But the Umno man went further to say “some might say that the Constitution can be amended. While this is true, any attempt to amend the Constitution when it comes to the position of Islam and the Malays, would require not only a two-thirds majority but most importantly they have to get the blessing of the Conference of Rulers”.

Just who is the “some” when he said “some might say the Constitution can be amended”?

There’s more. Said Asyraf: “DAP only has 40 seats. So you can just daydream about amending the Constitution to change anything about the position of Islam.”

Did the DAP, and for that matter their Raub MP, say anything about amending the Constitution? With regards any matter what more on Islam? Nobody is crazy enough to do such a thing. C’mon-lah bro!

At least Opposition Leader Hamzah Zainudin was on point. He questioned Chow why he proposed to split the religious affairs portfolio into one for Islamic affairs and another for non-Islamic.

Chow did moot the separation of Muslim and non-Muslim affairs under the Prime Minister’s Department.

But Hamzah also reminded Chow that Islam is the official religion of the country. I guess Hamzah can’t resist taking a swipe.

But the one who takes the cake (or ketupat) must surely be Umno Youth chief Akmal Saleh.

According to a Malaysiakini report, Akmal said, “When elected representatives are ignorant of the functions of the government, the Constitution and the sensitivities that must be respected, this is the kind of utterly foolish representatives we end up with.

“If such an idea is supported and those who oppose it are accused of being opposition supporters, then my response to you is: it would be better for you to just die.”

I agree with academic Professor Dr Tajuddin Mohd Rasdi that Akmal has managed to lower the bar even further when it seemed impossible for him to sink any lower.  

Anyway, Anwar Ibrahim has said that as the prime minister, he had not considered Chow’s proposal.

My point exactly. Why the hoo-ha when it was not even considered? And the cabinet said the PM had dismissed the suggestion. So that is that!

But if you ask me … No, let’s not prolong this.

(Mohsin Abdullah is a veteran journalist and now a freelancer who writes about this, that and everything else.)