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Ministry bans Islamic state debate in media PDF Print E-mail
Thursday, 19 July 2007 05:59pm

Ministry bans Islamic state debate in media©Malaysiakini (Used by permission)
by Ng Ling Fong & Soon Li Tsin

The Internal Security Ministry has confirmed that they have given a directive to all mainstream media not to publish any news on the issue of Malaysia being an Islamic state.

Internal Security Ministry’s Publications Control and Al-Quran Texts Unit senior officer Che Din Yusof told malaysiakini that they are afraid that allowing such discussions would cause “tension”.

“Yes we have given the directive to all mainstream newspapers. Islam is a sensitive issue. They cannot publish any news on whether the country is secular or Islam.

“Stop harping on this. The debate would never end,” he asserted when contacted today.

However, he said newpapers can still publish statements from Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his deputy Najib Abdul Razak on the country being an Islamic state.

On Tuesday, Najib said Malaysia is an Islamic state and not a secular one while carefully assuring members of minority faiths that their rights will be protected.

He said the mainly-Muslim Malaysia has never been a secular nation as the government has always been driven by the fundamentals of Islam.

“Islam is the official religion and we are an Islamic state," Najib told reporters after he opened an international conference on the role of Islamic states.

“But as an Islamic state, it does not mean that we don't respect the non-Muslims. The Muslims and the non-Muslims have their own rights,” he was quoted saying.

No negative reactions

His comments have since drawn protests from the Opposition, civil society groups and MCA.

Che Din pointed out that while the two top leaders of the country can make such statements, any reactions from political parties and the public will not be allowed to be published.

“Reaction from political parties and the public cannot be published especially the negative reactions,” he said.

Several journalists and editors were contacted and they confirmed that they will adhere to the instruction.

Some of the editors also noted that they have already retracted some commentary on this issue from their newspapers.

Deputy Internal Security Minister Fu Ah Kiow could not be reached for further comments and clarification.

Dismal ignorance

Responding to Najib statement, MCA yesterday said that historical facts and documents showed that Malaysia was a secular state.

MCA Secretary General Ong Ka Chuan yesterday issued a statement stating that documents prepared by the British authorities before granting independence to Malaysia in 1957 clearly stipulated that “the members of the Alliance delegation...had no intention of creating a Muslim theocracy and that Malaya would be a secular state”.

“This was the consensus and social contract agreed upon by our forefathers,” he said.

Today PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim also lambasted Najib over his remark, calling it as "exposing his (Najib’s) dismal ignorance" of what an Islamic state was all about.

He said Najib's statement was calculated for political mileage.

Comments (7)Add Comment
LIVING TWO NURSERY RHYMES
written by Stephen Tan Ban Cheng, Thursday, July 19 2007 10:02 pm

Baa Baa Black Sheep, have you any wool?
Yes Sir, Yes Sir, three bags full
One for the Master, one for the Dame,
And one for the little boy who lives down the lane.

So the curtains of debate have come down. Yes, at last, we shall enjoy the obedience of conformity. No more can we ask:

Twinkle, twinkle, little Star
How I wonder what you are
Up above the sky so high
Like a diamond in the sky.

Stephen Tan Ban Cheng

QUESTION
written by Tan Chun Ming, Friday, July 20 2007 08:40 am

My question is, why raise the issue in the 1st place?

Tan Chun Ming

Pretending to be stupid is not as easy as being on
written by Dara Waheda Mohd Rufin, Friday, July 20 2007 09:33 am

I recommend Najib to read “ The Making of the Malayan Constitution ” by Joseph M. Fernando before he makes any selfish remark that Malaysia is an Islamic state when she is secular.

It was the Alliance leaders who gave their assurance that they “had no intention of creating a Muslim theocracy and that Malaya would be a secular state”. And now UMNO under Pak Lah and Najib raising all kinds of ideas to Islamise the party and the country? They made a statement and banned discussion in public by reason of fear it would create tension as Islam is a sensitive issue. Sensitive to who? Sensitive to Muslim that i would categories them as "Muslim alang-kepalang" or "Muslim ikut-ikutan", "Muslim angguk-angguk geleng-geleng tunduk-tunduk ikut telunjuk" their ignorant leaders.

I agree to what Chun Ming said, why raise the issue in the first place? Why “baling batu sembunyi tangan”?

My question: Are they leaders of an Islamic state? Though I’m not a religious person but I think to be a good example of a Muslim leader must start from home. If you claimed to be a Muslim leader why aren’t your wife covering her head or at least wearing a veil? How can you be a good Muslim leader when you even failed to lead your own family?

Pretending to be stupid is not as easy as being one (stupid) …

Dara Waheda Mohd Rufin

Only one version....
written by Visvanathan Murugiah, Friday, July 20 2007 12:07 pm

So typical! Only one version/statements that are allowed. Only Big Brother's version is the truth and therefore should be reported. All "others" must toe the line or be prepared to be incarcerated. Funny how a statement no matter how stupid and devoid of merit repeated enough times tend to be taken as the "truth" by certain quarters.This "truth" then becomes the gospel truth in the end. Sad day for Malaysia. 50 years of independence, a milestone in our history and what do we show to mark this historic moment... That there is only one "truth" i.e the official stand.smilies/sad.gif

Visvanathan Murugiah

Don't say
written by Ding Chu Teck, Friday, July 20 2007 12:09 pm

If a national leader is not sure of what he's saying, then don't say it!

Ding Chu Teck

"Don't Ask Her That" - By Shaggy
written by Annou Xavier, Friday, July 20 2007 03:06 pm

Uh! Yah Hear Mi, I An I Mek Yuh Know Seh
Certain Tings Yuh Just Don't Waan Know
Let It Go! Let It Go! You Don't Wanna Know
Let It Go!

Go 'head Do What You Came To Do
Wanna Know All The Things That I Used To Do
When I Keep It On The Real You Get An Attitude
You Want The Truth, You Can't Handle The Truth
Go 'head Do What You Came To Do
You Want To Follow My Past Well It's Up To You
When I Keep It On The Real Don't Get An Attitude
You Want The Truth, You Can't Handle The Truth

You Listen To Me Go A You Really Don't Wanna Hear
Your Stirrin The Feelings That You Know You Can't Really Bare
So What If The Answer You Can Prevent Your Biggest Fear
(now Ask Yourself Are You Really Prepared? Uh!)

Go 'head Do What You Came To Do
Wanna Know All The Things That I Used To Do
When I Keep It On The Real You Get An Attitude
You Want The Truth, You Can't Handle The Truth
(that's True)

Go 'head Do What You Came To Do
You Want To Follow My Past Well It's Up To You
When I Keep It On The Real Don't Get An Attitude
You Want The Truth, You Can't Handle The Truth

The above song by Shaggy (Mr. Bombastic) is dedicated to the Honourable DPM.

Annou Xavier

That is why Islamic Constitutional Law is at infac
written by Ahmad Musthafi Bin Mohamad, Friday, July 20 2007 05:20 pm

With the attitude of the government to prohibit open discussion on Islamic State issues....it seems that history is repeating itself...most of Islamic constitutional law scholars writings were published after they died and for so long that this is the stance of the so called "Islamic State Government" the development of Islamic constitutional law is being retarded by the very own actions. Muslims will always be in the culture by angguk2 and geleng2 and just follow what their leaders says. We are celebrating 50th independence but we are afraid to face the reality that we are living in a secular state. Why are we afraid to face it smilies/grin.gif

Ahmad Musthafi Bin Mohamad


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