Muhyiddin’s stand on secularism disconcerting, says Kit Siang

 

Lim Kit Siang says Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s policy speech at the PPBM assembly recently raises concerns on the future of secularism in Malaysia.

PETALING JAYA: DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang has likened Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s attack on secularism as resorting to the use of the religion card in a bid to shore up his position in view of recent events that has threatened his position in the government.

The party veteran said Muhyiddin, in his policy speech at last week’s PPBM annual general meeting, had vowed to fight against secularism and liberalism, saying that the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government’s alliance with Umno and PAS was “God’s will”.

“What he said must be viewed with great concern by all Malaysians who abide by the 1957 Merdeka Constitution, the 1963 Malaysia Agreement and the 1970 Rukun Negara which addresses secularism and the freedom of religion in the country.

“The status of Islam as the official religion of Malaysia has also never been in dispute but Malaysia is a secular state,” he said in a statement today.

He cited Article 3 of the Federal Constitution which says “Islam is the religion of the Federation; but other religions may be practiced in peace and harmony in any part of the Federation.”

The Iskander Puteri MP said the historical reasons behind the inclusion of this clause prior to independence in 1957 was a form of assurance that Malaysia will continue to be a secular state.

“In the light of this constitutional and historical background, Malaysians are entitled to know if PPBM now follows PAS in refusing to accord recognition to the secular principles in the Malaysian Constitution.

“It is most regrettable that for his own political survival and to avoid becoming the shortest serving prime minister, Muhyiddin is trying to compromise the nation’s founding principles,” he said.

Yesterday, Selangau MP Baru Bian called for Muhyiddin to retract his statement against secularism and liberalism as it was deemed grossly insensitive to Sarawak’s aspirations.

The Parti Sarawak Bersatu leader also called upon all right-thinking Sarawak leaders to make their stand on this issue and be heard, so as to safeguard the Federal Constitution and secularity. - FMT