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Alea jacta est?

David Soong Tshon Li

I don't think the die is cast lah, David. It seems to be the usual sabre rattling sandiwara prior to elections.

UMNO shows the Malays they are fighting for their rights.

The MCA shows the Chinese they are still fighting for their rights.

The sandiwara will continue for a while, then the PM will come out with some statesmanlike pronouncement which will not say anything at all and ban further discussion.

Then, they'll give a big payout to all the civil servants, some nice big donations here and there, a few key infrastructure projects in marginal constituencies.

We'll then all happily vote these people in again.

Unless we do something

Shanmuga Kanesalingam

Someone told me that clown Hishamuddin is trained as a lawyer. I sincerely think that his father would have been very disappointed in him if he was still around. Why is he behaving like a "thug" now? Why must you say "amaran" and so forth? Why can't he be civil and learn how to be rational and discuss matters without the need for theatrics? To think that he is the Education Minister of Malaysia. What is so wrong to have another viewpoint Mr Minister? Mr Deputy Prime Minister is entitled to his view and to get it reported, but not anyone else!!! Why the inequality?

Visvanathan Murugiah

Who is Hishammudin to give such a stern AMARAN to MCA leaders?? He might be a BIG head in Umno (or perhaps the BIGGEST as he wishes to be) but he is never a member of MCA, so what say does he have?

I am never a fan of BN, but I do look forward to see what will be the reaction of our MCA leaders who had sounded very brave in the press lately, just hope they won't now swallow all their words down with the saliva and suck up to Hisham's boots. But then again, this is politics, if no dramas, what else left?

Shim Wai Loon

With respect, I disagree with you, Minister. By the MCA and other bodies continuing to insist that Malaysia is not an Islamic state, there is a benefit. The benefit is that historical truth is upheld. The benefit is that intellectual honesty and integrity are maintained. The benefit is that the Federal Constitution is upheld and the rule of law prevails. (Remember "keluruhan perlembagaan dan kedaulatan undang-undang"?) The benefit is that millions of non-Muslims (and many Muslims as well) will have it reiterated that Malaysia is not an Islamic state. The benefit is that we will not let this issue be swept under the carpet. The benefit is that we will not go quietly into the night.

How one-sided can someone be in support of something which is not true? Now that the department in charge of publications and quranic texts in the Ministry of Home Affairs has reportedly issued an order silencing the press, ordering that they cannot report stories where the question of an Islamic state is challenged, but only stories where it is stated with approval, does the Government for one moment think that the issue will go away? What has happened to the PM's pledge that he would be PM of all Malaysians? Well a good number of Malaysians for whom he is PM have clearly indicated that they do not agree that Malaysia is an Islamic state. Muslim or non-Muslim, they do not want Syariah law to prevail over the Federal Constitution for any segment of the population.

So now what? What about your "amaran", Minister. Stop saying that Malaysia is not an Islamic state, or else what, Minister? Will the ISA be unleashed? Will the Sedition Act be used against those allegedly challenging the special position of Islam (which no one is)? Will you bring out the keris again and kiss it in front of the UMNO Youth Assembly later this year? What does that prove to the millions of Malaysians who are not members of UMNO? That it is party first, kaum second, rakyat jelata a distant third? What about bangsa Malaysia, what about negaraku? This is my country too, this is tanah tumpahnya darahku as well. This is the land of my father, grandfathers and great-grandfathers, teachers some of them, all of whom worked long and hard to contribute to help build this nation, to educate the next generation of Malaysians, to defend this country, to honour the ideals for which she was founded. I will not be silenced. Malaysia is not an Islamic state.

Andrew Khoo

First Najib, now this chap.

Go on, Minister... pls go on dividing this country. You have truly turned to the dark side of politics.

I have a feeling that some of these Ministers don't really care for us non-political Malaysian. Some Ministers continue to make statement to divide us Malaysians whilst the Ministers are busy assisting Corporate companies:-

1. Buy over Banks;
2. Merge Plantation Companies;
3. Assist and in fact protect loss making Corporates

etc etc.

I use to have high regard for Hismamuddin, when I started practice. He sounded intelligent and for a while I told myself that :-

'if this chap is elected Prime Minister, we wont be so bad, as he is not daft'

But now, he is nothing more than our standard 'divide and conquer' Minister. And can you imagine what he can do at his Ministry, the EDUCATION MINISTRY :- -

what is he implementing in our schools?

what is he planting in the minds of our young Malaysians?

Richard Wee Thiam Seng

Should DPM be charged for sedition?

Lim Sey Wee

I think being an Islamic Country all forms of gambling like lotteries and alcohol should be banned throughout the country. There should be no two ways about things.

Ng Hong Chai

Relax, everybody. This is merely another sandiwara stunt. Merely lip service. No action talk only. They want us to believe that they needed to do this to get all the votes. However, the question is how long can they sustain such childish act and mindless stunt? They think we are morons or what? We are definitely moronic if we allow this to persist.

Nicole Tan Lee Koon

Sandiwara or not, a statement made to the public persuades weak minds. We do acknowledge that if you slowly boil a frog in a pan of water, they won't even know they are being boiled to death. So, it's better that a strong statement is made now.

Desmond Ho Chee Cheong

I view the above statement in a very dim light.

How can the head of Umno Youth issue an AMARAN to a senior component party of the ruling National Front component? If it is the head of Umno itself telling the MCA something, not warning the party, the matter can still be discussed.

(1) Does this statement reflect the kind of affection or actually the lack thereof that the Umno Youth leader (and not the entire Umno Youth) has of the entire MCA? I hope not.

(2) Is this statement an accurate reflection of how the Umno leadership views the MCA? Or worse still, is this statement an accurate reflection of how the Umno views the MCA? I hope not.

(3) Does it also mean that the MCA, as a senior component party in the ruling coalition, have not input whatsoever in stating and reiterating the Merdeka Bargain? I hope not.

Well, I guess it is about time that the MCA leadership finds sufficient courage to state in plain and unemotional terms that the party must now review its position in the ruling coalition. Maybe, it is about time for the MCA to close shop and stop perpetuating the politics of race and allow others to proceed with the politics of issues?

Stephen Tan Ban Cheng

Unbelievable and unwarranted especially it comes from a man who is the current education minister. As a Minister of an important portfolio and a former lawyer who have read the law and understand our constitution, he must know that Malaysia is never an Islamic State except that this is a country where Islam is the official religion.

Hisham's threat and warning is nothing short of political speech and ploy trying to win the hearts of the Malays just like his cousin, the DPM recently. I guess UMNO is trying hard to win the hearts of the Malays. Now coming back to his statement, he feels that it this will cause tension. Now what is the tension about and who creates the tension first? Who is the one that cause all the disunity and the disharmony among all race? Who is the one that divides each races with such discriminating policies? The answer is staring at our face. Not the opposition parties, not the NGOs BUT they that have spoken and threaten all Malaysian. I remember every time when there is an election, somebody from the 'dacing' must say '1969'. AND every time in their general assembly a dagger is raised.

Hisham's threat whether a mere political wayang kulit, I must agree with Desmond. Sandiwara or not, the constitution MUST be defended no matter what and we, as LAWYERS ought to defend it.

Damian Yeo Shen Li

First play it to the tune of their grassroots, after that pacify the rest that the country is for all. Bold statement is giving a warning to a fellow component party. If this issue is not to be raised at all, does that mean that Hishamuddin is reprimanding Najib as well? Afterall, Najib was also part of the furore. The knife cuts both ways, definitely cannot have the cake and eat it. I am sure that suddenly Hishamuddin will find it hard to explain his actions to other races. There is always the middle path and we expect our leaders to be sensitive to all. Now let's hear Pak Lah speak and as expected we can all guess...

Ng Chung Yee

A "lie" repeated enough times by the so called leaders of this country will never be the truth!!! Fact is we are a secular country. Face it Mr Minister. Every facet of life in Malaysia is secular.

When your UMNO was in trouble did you run to the Syariah courts or the Civil Courts? When your boys had their contracts and disputes arose did they run to the syariah courts or the civil courts? When they had land deals did they use syariah laws or did they use the National Land Code? When they drafted their contracts for their mega deals did they use syariah law? I can go on.... What evidence do you have to say that Malaysia is not secular Mr Minister? Mind you Mr Minister I am not ridiculing any religion here. I am merely stating the fact that Malaysia is and always be secular and stop being such a bully!!!

We can all live together in peace and harmony. No need to perpetuate this "they" and "us" mentality. TOGETHER we can be a very successful nation. It is important to learn how to live TOGETHER. As the Education Minister stress on the need for unity and harmonious living. U can make that change Mr Minister. Please for the sake of the nation BE THAT CHANGE.

Visvanathan Murugiah

The status quo cannot be maintained much longer. The strata of the unresolved issues we have swept under the carpet all these decades (ironically in the name of peace and unity) is already crumbling right under our feet. If the nation is to be saved at all, its fate will ultimately lie in the hands of that huge Sandiwara audience. To paraphrase President Roosevelt, there is a mysterious cycle in human events. To some generations much is given. Of other generations much is expected. This generation of Malaysians has a rendezvous with destiny.

David Soong Tshon Li

Not fit to be Minister of Education - no more vote for the Barisan Nasional

In this age and time, civilised people believe in diplomatic debates over important issues. If minister thinks that by GIVING AMARAN people will be afraid, he is dilusional. The Chinese and Indians may be small in number, but don't underestimate us. A small hole can bring down a big ship...! We will fight to uphold the constitution, that Malaysia is a secular country..!!!

Srimurugan a/l Alagan

I remember when I was 2nd year in uni.

An officer in students' affairs (who was later promoted to another department) said , if you want to continue to have your activities running in this uni, you join us. Otherwise, there is no room for you and we will take back your permit and organize your activity for you. We have hundreds of people ready to take over your committee and activities. It's your choice.

We joined them and we compromised something which later helped winning the uni election for them, we thought if we don't tell our successor about this, we will have future generations who would work together genuinely and when they are strong enough, they will have bargaining power and lead the change.

However, it would seem that when we left uni without informing the young generations, they thought the administration are their strongest ally and the administration influenced the students' decisions that day onward. Who blamed them? We will leave uni after 4 years there (some 3 years) but the administration personnel stayed there, and probably throughout their whole career.

Now, I think the same fate fall on MCA, are they going to stand up? Or are they hoping that in time, there will be some liberal leaders in UMNO to correct the now "political correct" statement?

Tan Chun Ming

I see a bad moon arising.
I see trouble on the way.
I see earthquakes and lightnin'.
I see bad times today.

Don't go around tonight,
Well, it's bound to take your life,
There's a bad moon on the rise.

I hear hurricanes ablowing.
I know the end is coming soon.
I fear rivers over flowing.
I hear the voice of rage and ruin.

Hope you got your things together.
Hope you are quite prepared to die.
Looks like we're in for nasty weather.
One eye is taken for an eye.

- Creedence Clearwater Revival

Dipendra Harshad Rai

Hold an EGM to discuss this issue and we as lawyers should be the first to defend the Constitution.

Lim Sey Wee

What makes this brouhaha even more ridiculous is that both the Ministers concerned are the offspring of two of our former premiers both of whom were clear that the Malaysian system remained secular.

The annexure to the MBBCHST press statement shows the text of the Alliance memorandum, which Tun Razak must have a hand in, whilst Haris on his blog has shown a news clipping of Tun Hussein Onn's affirmation of this.

Quoting the Star of February 1983:

"Tunku said :

‘The country has a multi-racial population with various beliefs. Malaysia must continue as a secular State with Islam as the official religion’.

...

‘Former Prime Minister Tun Hussein Onn has supported Tunku Abdul Rahman’s view that Malaysia should not be turned into an islamic state…”The nation can still be functional as a secular state with Islam as the offical religion,” he said’

So how lah .. did the father or the son get it right?

Shanmuga Kanesalingam

Before we run away with the wrong ideas, our role as lawyers is to help the judiciary as the final bastion in the defence of the liberty of all citizens.

I believe the Minister, as an ordinary Member of Parliament, has taken an oath to uphold and defend the constitution. As a Minister, he is so sworn.

So I cannot, for the life of me, understand such unconstitutional outbursts and such warnings. Mind you, many Malaysian MPs are keeping quiet about this intemperate conduct. That is what alarms me. They should be the ones defending the Constitution. Parliament, of which they are members, is a creature of the Constitution. If they do not uphold and defend the Constitution, then they makan gaji buta.

Maybe, as David Soong put it, paraphrasing President Roosevelt, "there is a mysterious cycle in human events. To some generations, much is given. Of other generations, much is expected. This generation of Malaysians has a rendezvous with destiny."

It may well be that this generation has a tryst with destiny.

Stephen Tan Ban Cheng

This is yet another attempt to rewrite history and distort facts....Malaysia is not an Islamic country, Malaysia is a multi racial country and is a secular country. Perhaps government should invest some money for history lessons for big head ministers. Please don't give AMARAN's! It is unbecoming of an Education Minister...!

Srimurugan a/l Alagan

History tells us that almost all past leaders of UMNO have acted in a controversial manner to gain votes. That's the price we have to pay for having race-based political parties. First, it was the keris..now this. It's about time we vote for a change.

Raymond Yap Soon Hock

Whether or not these politicians (MCA or UMNO) are playing the Islamic card (or Secular card) out of fear of losing support or to gain political mileage, there is still an urgent need for dialogue, as opinions still largely differ about the issue (even among lawyers), so much so, its like we have been learning from different historical / law books on the Malaysian Legal System all this long.

Justin Johari Azman

Agree with Lim Sey Wee. If Members of Parliament are not prepared to defend the constitution, then the burden is on us to carry it through. If it is not us, than who?

Damian Yeo Shen Li

A piece of dung, by any other name, will still smell as foul

Bok Chuang Chee

We are in a Islamic Country! and not a Secular one!? Yes! Ban all 4D, 5D, 6D, 6/42, Super or whatever gambling, Casino, all liquor, beer that caused me lost so much money!

I will be the one that support these implementation though I am now a 'regular contributor' to these things! and I am not a Muslim. Serious!

Fong Fook Chuen