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PM: Yes, we ARE an Islamic state |
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Monday, 27 August 2007 07:36pm |
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©Malaysiakini
(Used by permission)
by Yoges Palaniappan
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has today for the first time said that
Malaysia was an Islamic state and not a secular state.
Abdullah, in a parliamentary written reply, said that Malaysia was an Islamic
state ruled by Islamic principles, and at the same time, was also a country that
believed in Federal Constitution.
"Malaysia is an Islamic state, ruled based on Islam Hadhari which I have
introduced," he stressed.
This is a clear departure from his stand made earlier this month that Malaysia
was neither 'a secular nor a theocratic state' without saying the country was an
Islamic state.
Abdullah said this in response to Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang who asked if
the cabinet would reaffirm the Merdeka social contract and Malaysia Agreement
that Malaysia was a secular state with Islam as the official religion.
"Islamic principles that I mean can be seen from Islam Hadhari that I have
introduced. Under Islam Hadhari, the government stresses development based on
knowledge and physical building, as well as the building of human capital," said
the prime minister.
"Islam Hadhari is a guideline for the government to be fair and equitable to all
communities in the country," he said, adding that however Islam Hadhari does not
imply that Malaysia was a theocratic state.
Abdullah, who explained that the uniqueness of Islam Hadhari formula has been
proven in its success, said: "I would like to refute allegations that my way of
ruling the country is against the social contract signed before the
Independence."
The prime minister also stressed that the government allowed voices of all
communities to be heard. However, he said the government would not hesitate to
take action against those who abuse the freedom.
"We have to take into account the country’s stability and ethnic diversity. Any
statement that could threaten the stability will be punished."
Contradictory remarks
Abdullah also said that the debate on whether or not Malaysia was an Islamic
state has been dragged for a long period by opposition parties for their own
political interest.
"As the country’s 50th Independence celebration is just around the corner, we
can see the opposition party questioning the status of our country and Merdeka
social contract."
This latest remark by the premier is clearly contradictory to his previous stand
that Malaysia was neither a secular nor a theocratic state.
His response then had come just after his deputy Najib Abdul Razak had upset
minorities here by describing the country as Islamic.
Abdullah had said then that the country can be best described as a multiracial
nation that practices parliamentary democracy with freedom of religion for all.
“We are not a secular state. We are also not a theocratic state like Iran and
Pakistan ... but we are a government that is based on parliamentary democracy,”
he was quoted as saying in Penang on Aug 5.
At that time, he did not specifically said that Malaysia was an Islamic state.
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Circular No 297/2008
Alas, my friend the Judge told me right although it is a pity that he did not live to see the day that would have vindicated his assertion so many years ago when I was a mere lad.
But he may not be totally right since from what the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said, the Islamic State exists only in the Islam Hadhari sense where Islamic principles are observed along with the tenets of the Federal Constitution.
I guess some spirituality, not a mere semblance thereof, but some spirituality must attend the highest councils of the land lest we go off at a tangent. A strong sense of spirituality may well dampen or even eradicate corruption at all levels since we will be laying treasures up in Heaven rather than be tempted by the dross of this temporal world.
May God continue to bless our country.
Amen.
Stephen Tan Ban Cheng