(Teluk Intan, Sunday): DAP welcomes the stand of
Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) against an Islamic State at its congress in
Kuala Lumpur today and urges Parti Keadilan to take a clear-stand on the issue.
After the 1999 general election, DAP had sought to resolve
our fundamental differences with PAS on the Islamic State issue and to get the
Barisan Alternative to adopt a stand which is compatible with democracy,
pluralism, human rights, women rights, social tolerance, development, modernity,
and in keeping with the Malaysian Constitution and the 1999 Barisan Alternative
common manifesto.
However, we did not get much help from PRM and Parti
Keadilan and it is now history that the DAP decided to pull out of the Barisan
Alternative last September because of irreconcilable differences with PAS on the
Islamic State issue.
The tabling of the Syariah Criminal Bill (Hudud and Qisas) in the Terengganu State Assembly this morning has completely undermined the 1999 Barisan Alternative Common Manifesto “Towards A Just Society” as it is a clear violation of the pledge by all the subscribing parties to the common manifesto to uphold the fundamental principles in the Malaysian Constitution.
Nobody in PAS, whether at the national or state level, disputes that Terengganu Syariah Criminal Bill (Hudud and Qisas) violates the Federal Constitution. It also violates human rights and discriminates against women.
DAP’s “No to 911, No to 929, Yes to 1957” campaign is
a patriotic and nationalistic campaign to reaffirm the 1957 Merdeka
Constitution, the “social contract” and the 1963 Malaysia Agreement that
Malaysia is a democratic, secular, multi-religious, tolerant and progressive
nation with Islam as the official religion but not an Islamic State, whether of
the UMNO or PAS concept and we call on all Malaysians, regardless of race,
religion or political affiliation, to give support to this campaign.
(7/7/2002)