SELANGOR SULTAN AN EXTREMIST, SAYS PKR

Yes, as PKR Sabah said, with Islam under the Sultan, Selangor is beginning to look like extremists are running the state. If Islam comes under Pakatan Harapan then DAP can guide Azmin on what they should and should not do. Then at least Secularism can be implemented in Selangor even if the Federal Constitution of Malaysia is not amended to turn the Federation into a Secular State.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Seriously, the Menteri Besar of Selangor Azmin Ali should clarify on whether he agrees with JAIS on this position. Sabah agreed to form the Federation on the basis of a Secular Federation and one which is tolerant. It is beginning to look like the extremists are running the State of Selangor!

That was what Sabah PKR leader and Member of Parliament Ignatius Darell Leiking posted in his Facebook. He was referring to the news report by Malaysiakini titled Jais’ Hari Raya sermon lauds Hadi’s Bill, win over SIS in court (READ HERE).

This is yet another attempt by an opposition leader who is supposed to be lettered in the law to declare that Malaysia is a Secular State. The Federal Constitution of Malaysia does not specify that the Federation is a Secular State. In fact, what the Federal Constitution of Malaysia does specify in Article 3(1) is that Islam is the religion of the Federation.

Article 3(2) of the Federal Constitution of Malaysia then states: In every State other than States not having a Ruler the position of the Ruler as the Head of the religion of Islam in his State in the manner and to the extent acknowledged and declared by the Constitution, all rights, privileges, prerogatives and powers enjoyed by him as Head of that religion, are unaffected and unimpaired; but in any acts, observance or ceremonies with respect to which the Conference of Rulers has agreed that they should extend to the Federation as a whole each of the other Rulers shall in his capacity of Head of the religion of Islam authorize the Yang di-pertuan Agong to represent him.

A Secular State would mean that there is separation of church and state. Contrary to those who say that Malaysia is a Secular State, there is no separation of church and state in the Federation. The state very much says what you can and cannot do regarding the rules and laws of Islam. In short, the state implements and imposes God’s rules and laws, which a Secular State does not do.

I have said this before and allow me to say it again. Malaysia is actually a cross between a Secular State and a Theocratic State (like a kathoey or lady-boy of Thailand). In short, Malaysia is not quite a Democracy nor is it quite a Theocracy. It is something in between the two. So it is time that we accept that and it is also time that the politicians stop twisting this and confuse the gullible Malaysians even further.

The opposition insists that although the Federal Constitution of Malaysia does not specify that Malaysia is a Secular State, it is, however, implied. Yes, this is the favourite argument of these opposition people. The Federal Constitution of Malaysia might not exactly specify that Malaysia is a Secular State. However, it is implied that Malaysia is a Secular State. Where in the Federal Constitution of Malaysia is it implied and in what way is it implied? Which Article of the Federal Constitution of Malaysia are you referring to?

As I have said before, instead of uttering useless and senseless statements, which many Pakatan Harapan politicians such as Darell Leiking are fond of doing, they should correct this very confusing state of affairs. Get it specified in the Federal Constitution of Malaysia whether Malaysia is or is not a Secular State. And for that to happen maybe Darell Leiking himself can propose a private member’s bill in Parliament (like what PAS President Abdul Hadi Awang did) to amend the Federal Constitution of Malaysia to specify that Malaysia is a Secular State.

If at least 148 Members of Parliament support the bill then the Federal Constitution of Malaysia can be amended to state that the Federation is a Secular State. And this would mean there will be separation of church and state and would further mean the government no longer has any business to dictate and impose Islam on Malaysians or interfere in what we do.

Those Muslims who wish to leave Islam and officially announce their apostasy (murtad) or maybe officially convert to Christianity (a number have secretly done so but are not able to announce it) would welcome this move. And those Muslims who are now Christians can at last come out of the closet.

The religious department will no longer be able to force you to pay fitrah, and arrest you if you don’t. They also can no longer stop you from or arrest you for drinking, gambling, illicit sex, close proximity, participating in beauty contests, cross-dressing, and whatnot. You can do everything that they do, say, like in Phuket, Thailand.

For too long the opposition has been screaming and has been insisting that Malaysia is a Secular State. When we point out that the Federal Constitution of Malaysia does not say this they argue that it may not be specified but it certainly is implied.

Well, merely implied is not good enough. It has to be specified. So I am puzzled as to why the opposition keeps on screaming but does nothing beyond screaming. Why is the opposition reluctant to propose a private member’s bill in parliament to amend the Federal Constitution of Malaysia to specify that the Federation is a Secular State?

PKR Sabah also whacked Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali and asked him to come out and declare his stand. Azmin, however, has not responded. So does this mean PKR Selangor disagrees with PKR Sabah? Why does Azmin not say so?

Furthermore, HRH the Sultan is head of Islam in Selangor and the religious department has to seek HRH’s consent in all matters regarding Islam. Can Azmin issue a directive that from now on the religious department must report to the Menteri Besar’s office and take instructions only from the politicians and not from the Sultan?

Yes, as PKR Sabah said, with Islam under the Sultan, Selangor is beginning to look like extremists are running the state. If Islam comes under Pakatan Harapan then DAP can guide Azmin on what they should and should not do. Then at least Secularism can be implemented in Selangor even if the Federal Constitution of Malaysia is not amended to turn the Federation into a Secular State.

Thailand’s lady-boys, something that Malaysia forbids but will be allowed under a Secular State