Malaysia a secular state, insists Gerakan

Gerakan has weighed in on its BN partner's claims that Malaysia is an Islamic state, saying it views the country as "fully secular".

The party said it also stands by the cabinet decision made in April 2009 to prohibit unilateral conversion of an underage child.

Gerakan president Mah Siew Keong said that the welfare of children must be given utmost priority and conversion of minors cannot be allowed as an avenue to escape one’s parental obligation.

“So we support the decision by the cabinet in April 2009 to prohibit unilateral conversion of the underage child by one parent,” stressed Mah after chairing the party central committee meeting today.

At the event the party also circulated a statement stating Gerakan's stand that Malaysia is a “fully functional secular-based constitutional monarchy with Islam as the religion of the federation”.

This Monday, a leader from Gerakan's BN partner Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom caused a stir when he said in Parliament that Malaysia is "not a secular country".

[More to follow]