http://dapmalaysia.org  

Keng Yaik’s claim that there would be no further Islamisation following the “929 Declaration” that Malaysia is an Islamic State most  irresponsible as patently  untrue, contradicting official stand of JAKIM for further Islamisation to overcome existing weaknesses and defects to achieve  the final objective of a full Islamic State Media Statement by Lim Kit Siang (Petaling Jaya,  Monday): Gerakan President Datuk Seri Dr. Lim Keng Yaik has started his offensive against the DAP on the Islamic State issue, but he knows that his irresponsible statements and falsehoods whether about the “929 Declaration” or his attacks on  the DAP cannot withstand scrutiny and rebuttal - and this was the reason why he quickly backed out when I had promptly accepted his challenge in October to a public debate on the Islamic State issue.  Keng Yaik is clearly very proud that the unilateral, arbitrary and unconstitutional  “929 Declaration” that Malaysia was an Islamic State was made at the Gerakan National Delegates Conference on Sept. 29, 2001, and he had no regrets or remorse whatsoever.  He said in  Malacca yesterday  that when the then Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad made the “929 Declaration” that Malaysia was an Islamic State at the Gerakan conference, it meant that there was no need for further Islamisation and that the matter was extensively discussed in the Cabinet.  Keng Yaik was most irresponsible in trying to mislead Malaysians into believing that the “929 Declaration” would mean no further Islamisation in the country, for this was and is patently untrue – contradicting  the public stand of the  Department of Islamic Development (JAKIM) in the Prime Minister’s Department after the “929 Declaration” on the need for continuous Islamisation to overcome existing weaknesses and defects until the achievement of the final objective of a full Islamic State, as evident in JAKIM articles which said:  “Status negara Malaysia sebagai negara Islam tidak boleh lagi dipertikaikan, sebaliknya adalah lebih baik menerima realiti yang ada dan berusaha memperkuat serta memperbaiki lagi mana-mana kelemahan dan kekurangan jika ada.” “Malaysia sebagai sebuah negara Islam adalah menepati dengan definisi yang diperkatakan oleh ulama masa kini dan terdahulu. Tugas kita sekarang ini adalah untuk mengisi dan memantapkan lagi apa-apa yang perlu diperkemaskan dan tidak lagi menghabiskan masa mempertikaikannya kerana telah jelas bahawa Malaysia adalah sebuah negara Islam yang terbukti dari segi sejarah, perundangan, pembangunan dan penghayatan Islam.” The final objective to establish a full Islamic State following the “929 Declaration”, which must mean a further and continuous process of Islamisation, is best expressed by JAKIM in the following extract:  “Oleh itu bagi memudahkan proses penyatuan umat di masa depan kita perlu menerima sebagai suatu kenyataan bahawa negara ini ialah sebuah negara Islam. Dengan menerima negara ini sebagai sebuah negara Islam  bukan bermakna ianya telah selesai segala tuntutannya. Kesempurnaannya perlu kepada pengisian daripada kita, sama juga seorang Muslim yang diakui sebagai Muslim selepas mengucap dua kalimah syahadah bukan bermakna Muslimnya sudah sempurna, kesempurnaan Islamnya bergantung kepada proses peningkatan ilmu & penghayatan Islam pada dirinya.” Can Keng Yaik explain why he is trying to assure that non-Muslims that the government will not carry out any more Islamisation in the country after the “929 Declaration” while JAKIM is assuring the Muslims that there will be continunous and further Islamisation as “Dengan menerima negara ini sebagai sebuah negara Islam  bukan bermakna ianya telah selesai segala tuntutannya” and the need to achieve “kesempurnaannya”? Who is telling the truth – Keng Yaik or JAKIM of the Prime Minister’s Department?  No wonder Keng Yaik dare not follow through with his challenge to me to a public debate on the Islamic State issue!  (1/12/2003) * Lim Kit Siang, DAP National Chairman