Pakatan divided on secular state issue

While DAP insists Malaysia is a secular state, PKR says it is a non-issue while PAS says the matter is best debated when the political climate is more 'free'.

KUALA LUMPUR: Pakatan Rakyat MPs are divided on the issue of whether Malaysia is a secular state or otherwise.

While DAP insists that Malaysia is a secular state, PKR and PAS MPs were non-committal, saying what matters most is to rejuvenate Malaysia democratic space.

Yesterday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nazri Aziz told the Dewan Rakyat that Malaysia is not a secular state as the Federal Constitution is “silent” about it.

But the Padang Rengas MP did not state if Malaysia was an Islamic state either.

However, he added that the country had been using secular laws which had been brought over from before Independence, through Article 162 of the Federal Constitution.

Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua was not impressed with Nazri’s answers and accused the minister of being in denial syndrome, to serve the political interest of Barisan Nasional.

“It’s like saying you’re neither a man nor woman,” said Pua.

The DAP publicity chief also said that Nazri’s refusal to recognise Malaysia’s secular constitution was a clear attempt to influence the Malay voters.

“There is nothing wrong with a secular state having Islam as the official religion. It just means that everyone is free to practise their own religion,” said Pua.

Respecting the constitution

Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar said that BN had always used the secular state and Islamic state argument to confuse the masses for its own political advantage.

“I think it’s a bait. As far as we are concerned, we will continue to uphold and respect all that is enshrined in the constitution,” said Nurul.

Whether Malaysia was a secular state or otherwise, Nurul said it was a non-issue.

“The point is that our constitution has helped navigate Malaysia as a moderate Muslim state. The most important thing now is to improve our democratic state to realise our potential to be a beacon of democracy,” said the PKR vice-president.

Meanwhile, PAS’ Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad said that it was best for everyone to leave the debate at an academic level as some quarters may politicise the matter for their own agenda.

“I also think that it’s best for us to debate the matter when the environment is more free. Currently, the situation is too politicised.

“So, it’s more important to get a good government to power that will make the enviroment more conducive for discussions and debates,” said Khalid.

When pointed out that two former prime ministers and a former chief justice had declared Malaysia as a secular state, the PAS MP said that the statements were made based on the situation back then.

“Tunku Abdul Rahman and Hussein Onn interpreted the constitution in the way consistent with whatever they were doing then.

“As for former chief justice Salleh Abas, you must remember that when he was a Terengganu exco, he agreed to the tabling of Syariah enactments by then PAS state government,” said Khalid.