MCA and Gerakan should  give careful and serious study and consideration before giving full endorsement to UMNO’s Islamic state objective and undermine the secular basis of Malaysia


Media Statement
by Lim Kit Siang
 

(Penang,  Sunday): The headline screaming from the front page of Mingguan Malaysia today is “Malaysia negara Islam - PM”, reporting on the  speech by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad yesterday when opening the Gerakan 30th Delegates’ Conference in Kuala Lumpur, declaring categorically that Malaysia is an Islamic State under UMNO rule.

It is a double shock to  Malaysians, firstly, that  such a declaration was made at the Gerakan Delegates’ Conference, and secondly, the instantaneous and  fulsome support given to Mahathir’s declaration by the Gerakan President, Datuk Seri Dr. Lim Keng Yaik and the MCA President, Datuk Seri Dr. Ling Liong Sik, who was also present at the function.

Only a week earlier, Keng Yaik had campaigned in the Sarawak state general elections calling on the Sarawak voters to reject the DAP in  falsely alleging that  the DAP  supported an Islamic State.  A week later, however,  Keng Yaik could publicly declare support for  UMNO’s Islamic State after its announcement  by Mahathir at the Gerakan Conference.  What type of Gerakan politics is this?

I would seriously urge both Gerakan and MCA  to  give serious and careful study and consideration before giving full endorsement to UMNO’s Islamic state objective as declared by Mahathir, for it  undermines the secular basis of Malaysia and would have far-reaching consequences for the Malaysian nation-building process in the 21st century.

It is most shocking that Gerakan and  MCA could overnight make  such a drastic and   fundamental change of heart as to compromise on the democratic and secular basis of the Malaysian Constitution and nation-building process, as to agree with UMNO that   Malaysia is  an Islamic State.

My first reaction, therefore, is to ask the MCA and Gerakan to fully consult all levels of their leadership and membership, as well as the Malaysian public, as to whether they have the mandate to compromise away  the secular and democratic basis of the Malaysian Constitution and nation-building process and to accept that Malaysia is an Islamic State according to UMNO tenets.

(30/9/2001)



*Lim Kit Siang - DAP National Chairman