KEPALA BATAS, Feb 20 — There is no need for the Penang government to have a portfolio for non-Muslim affairs as the federal government has always looked after the welfare of non-Muslims, said former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Abdullah, who is also the MP for Kepala Batas in Penang, said the federal government had also always been responsive to the needs of non-Muslim communities.

“The Federal government has never marginalised anyone and as such, I do not think there is need for a specific institution to look into non-Muslim affairs,” he told reporters after opening the annual general meeting of Sekolah Kebangsaan Kepala Batas’ Parent-Teacher Association, here today.

On Wednesday, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who is also DAP secretary-general, announced that the state government would be adopting a portfolio to look into the affairs of Buddhists, Taoists, Christians, Sikhs and Hindus.

The portfolio will be chaired by Lim himself while Deputy Chief Minister II P. Ramasamy was appointed the deputy. — Bernama