Screenshots: Merdeka... 50 years of Islamic State?

This is what the Tunku, our founding Prime Minister, said on the occasion of his 80th birthday as reported by the Star in February, 1983:

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

The Tunku was not alone. This is what Hussein Onn, our third Prime Minister, said on the same issue as reported by the Star.

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.

Flash forward. July 17, the Prime Minister-in-waiting Najib Abdul Razak said this as reported by the national news agency, Bernama:

"Islam is the official religion and we are an Islamic state. 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 (in this country)," he told reporters after officiating the "International Conference on the Role of Islamic States in a Globalised World" on behalf of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Can history be re-written by the politicians and power-that-be this recklessly?

Yet, according to history, Najib's father, the late prime minister Abdul Razak Hussein, was part of the 1956 delegation that went to London to secure our independence, and ultimately, a Federal Constitution. A secular Federal Constitution.

In the same context, lawyer-blogger Haris Ibrahim pointed out that the historical and constitutional position of Islam has been judicially examined in the case of Che Omar Che Soh, in which then Lord President Salleh Abbas said in his judgment, in 1988, that:

‘…we have to set aside our personal feelings because the law in this country is still what it is today, secular law, where morality not accepted by the law is not enjoying the status of law. Perhaps that argument should be addressed at other forums or at seminars and, perhaps, to politicians and Parliament. Until the law and the system is changed, we have no choice but to proceed as we are doing today.”

Malaysia Bar Council has since issued a statement to give the Abdullah-Najib Islamic State reprise a legal context:

The Federal Constitution was a carefully thought out, carefully negotiated document that evolved after much debate and discussion. Some historical context is necessary. In 1956, Tunku Abdul Rahman had headed a Merdeka Mission to London to negotiate for independence. The negotiations were conducted by 4 representatives of the Malay Rulers, 4 representatives of the then Alliance Government and representatives of the British Government. The Reid Commission was then appointed to draft a constitution for independent Malaya. The Reid Commission held 118 meetings in Malaya. It met a wide cross-section of people and organisations and received 131 memoranda.

One of the striking features of the Reid Commission report and the Federal Constitution is the inter-communal compromises. These compromises were essentially the result of proposals set out in a memorandum by the then Alliance party which had in turn been vigorously debated over many months by a core group from UMNO, MCA, and MIC under Tunku’s chairmanship. The Alliance Memorandum referred to the issue of religion as follows:

“The religion of Malaya shall be Islam. The observance of this principle shall not impose any disability on non-Muslim nationals professing and practising their own religion, and shall not imply that the State is not a secular State.” (Emphasis added)

Subsequent to the issuance of the Reid Report, further reviews were carried out by a Working Party that again consisted of representatives from the Malay rulers, the Alliance party and the British Government. The Alliance party set up its own sub-committee chaired by its then deputy president, Datuk Abdul Razak. Again the Alliance maintained its position that they had no intention of creating a Muslim theocracy and that Malaya would be a secular State. A white paper subsequently issued by the British Government in June 1957 confirmed this by stating “This will in no way affect the present position of the Federation as a secular State”.

Since then Tunku himself, respected Academics, and our own Supreme Court in 1988 have reiterated in one way or another that we are a secular State and not an Islamic State. Thus for more than 40 years (until 2001), no-one had suggested that Malaysia is an Islamic State.

Prove it, Abdullah & Najib told

Thus far, we have seen Haris, no less a courageous Malaysian Muslim, quote the holy book to challenge Najib -- and by extension should include Abdullah as Najib was reading the speech on the PM's behalf -- to show proof that this country is de jure and de facto an Islamic State.

‘Have you any knowledge with you? If so, bring it forth’
- Surah 6 verse 148 of the Holy Qur’an

And Haris added:

Please note that I have refrained from invoking the last part of the verse above. At this juncture, I shall assume you were merely mistaken.

I am obliged to say here that if you insist on continuing to make these assertions without bringing forth your proof, I shall invoke the curse of God as commanded in Surah 3 verse 61 of the Holy Qur’an.

We will see if the non-Muslims in the Barisan Nasional leadership dare to share their views in the open.

Or more importantly, to strike up courage to right the wrongs, first mooted by Dr Mahathir on September 29, 2001 and now rehashed by his successors, in no uncertain terms.

Comments

I'm no legal eagle. But wouldn't what Najib said highly seditious?

Or is this a case of the tail wagging the dog? Trying to deflect coffee-shop rumors elsewhere, perhaps?

Posted by: Yumcious | July 19, 2007 10:25 AM

Non muslim in BN like Samy, Ka Ting, Kayveas, KY & Gangs, will most probably say 'setuju' or something to sidestep the issue. Najib has said it out loud and clear, damn with the history.

Posted by: Quest | July 19, 2007 10:50 AM

The saddest part of the story is that this man who is obviously a fanatic is waiting impatiently to be the PM in a country with about 50% of the population is nonmalay and nonmuslim.Probably, the Imam PM who did not have the guts to say what the DPM read, as he was reading the PM's speech,was trying to fix the DPM.He fell for it.

That is not the point.These two fellows know nothing about history,the negotiations for our independence, the constitutional guarantees of all our peoples of different religions and ethinic origins, nation building,justice,values etc.

No I am wrong. They know all that very well but they care two hooks about it and all our MCA bretherens can do is to issue a press statement.Even at this stage when all nonmalay rights guarateed by the Constitution are being trampled by UMNO with utter contempt, they cannot walk out of the BN. coalition!

Shame on you fellows. Same thing goes for MIC too.

Let me bring this to an end with a quotation from Tun Mohamed Suffian's judgement."IN A MULTI-RACIAL AND MULTI-RELIGIOUS SOCIETY LIKE YOURS AND MINE, WHILE WE JUDGES CANNOT HELP BEING MALAY OR CHINESE OR INDIAN: OR BEING MUSLIM OR BUDDHIST OR HINDU OR WHATEVER, WE STRIVE NOT TO BE TOO IDENTIFIED WITH ANY PARTICILAR RACE OR RELIGION-SO THAT NOBODY READING OUR JUDGEMENT WITH OUR NAME DELETED COULD WITH CONFIDENCE IDENTIFY OUR RACE OR RELIGION,AND SO THAT THE VARIOUS COMMUNITIES,ESPECIALLY MONORITY COMMUNITIES ARE ASSURED THAT WE WILL NOT ALLOW THEIR RIGHTS TO BE TRAMPLED UNDERFOOT" Remember LINA?
What happened to men like that.
Mahathir made sure that men like that have no place or say in our society.

We are left with the types of Abdullah and Najib. I hope I do not have to elaborate.Malaysia is doomed.

KSN

Posted by: ksn | July 19, 2007 10:59 AM

The non muslims leaders in BN will not voice out anything on this because there are too much at stake if they dare to go out against UMNO tops. They will not risk it.

Posted by: azk | July 19, 2007 11:02 AM

How come there is no response from our PM Pak Lah with regard to Najib's statement that Malaysia is not a secular state?

Is Pak Lah out of country without our knowledge as was claimed by RPK?

http://malaysia-today.net/blog2006/corridors.php?itemid=4164

Posted by: sonicwall | July 19, 2007 11:18 AM

As I have stated in my own commentary, I hope that what's said today is not something we (as in all Malaysians) will have to live to regret one day.

For an interesting read on another nation that today suffers from their past politicians playing the Islamic card, read Farish Noor's latest post. The country in question - Pakistan.

Posted by: walski69 | July 19, 2007 11:26 AM

Najib should be detained without trial under ISA for trying to create racial and religious tension in the country and going against the constitution. I hope someone can lodge a report and have him locked up. Specify ISA so he won't have access to any lawyer.

Posted by: azk | July 19, 2007 12:37 PM

Posted by: azk | July 19, 2007 12:45 PM

I am confused.

"Najib told reporters after officiating the "International Conference on the Role of Islamic States in a Globalized World" on behalf of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi."

He was not reading PM speech as blogged. Sure we would like to hear what PM has to say. But to attribute what DPM say to the PM is I think misleading.

JEFF OOI says: You have to pay the platform and circumstance at the material time the statement was made -- it was meant as the event for the PM in the first place -- due regards. Hold this thought for the PM's hatchet man until Abdullah comes out to rebut it categorically, or to condone it.

Posted by: Zakk | July 19, 2007 12:52 PM

Najib is bluffing both the Muslims and non-Muslims. An Islamic State requires us to nullify the British-made Constitution and adopt Quran as the new Constitution.

Having a Islamic banks, religious schools, towering mosques, syariah courts, peeping religious officers etc. etc. do not make us an Islamic State.

Don't kid us lah... Malaysians are not stupid.

Posted by: nukethem | July 19, 2007 06:35 PM

Read in Malaysia-Today that our dearest PM silently flew to Australia.

Not available for comment maybe.

Maybe in days to come, we shall see another wave of enquiries for migration?

Racial composition not important here.

Posted by: aku anak malaysia | July 19, 2007 07:45 PM

I always believe common Muslims, Chinese, Indians and all other ethnicities in this country have every intentions and would give all possible efforts to live peacefully and harmony together. I still do.

But when clueless and ignorant high marky-marks people like DPM and the UMNO youth kept making retarded remarks like this, it only makes things harder for everyone.

Malaysia is not an Islamic state, never was and never will. And it seems like everyone except those few ultra Muslim nationalists are happy with that.

Posted by: alvin woon | July 20, 2007 12:22 AM

Folks

Two reasons why Najib made that statement.

Najib is not stupid. That is important. You don't rise up to be DPM by making such stupid statement.

Reasons:

a) He missed his adviser who is now being charged for being a party to the murder of the Mongolian woman. Whoever is advising him to include this statement is definitely a mole from his enemies.

b) It is meant as a distraction. To keep you away from you bloggers and readers from talking about the Altantuya's murder.

It is a old politician trick. To get your name off the media on an issue that is bad, create another controversy so that people can keep their minds off the murder issue.

I bet Najib was aware that some crucial evidence involving him is about to be revealed in the court.

Posted by: Frank&Honest | July 20, 2007 01:23 AM

That is double stupidity I say. First, people will not forget his hands in the [ DELETED ]. Second, he just proved he's an idiot by further destroying his & his father's name.

If you say one cannot be stupid to be a DPM, I say you're wrong. He was born into politics and pushed up the ranks (U Must Not Object). Try to contest for a high position within UMNO and you will be doomed to hell by all those satay-men. Fake democracy. Who dares to challenge KJ now?

If you look around, you can see so many stupid people in high positions in Malaysia; else how we can have expensive trips overseas to study toilet systems, multi million steel bird statue rusting away in forgotten park, monkeys in parliament and most commonly, foot-in-mouth disease like this.

Trying to rewrite the constitution and blatantly ignore history.

I am still wondering why he hasn't been locked up under ISA?

If ISA can apply to opposition leaders and normal man on the street, I want to see it on Najib now. He has raised sensitive issue that can pose threat to national security. Isn't every man is equal in face of law?

Posted by: azk | July 20, 2007 09:29 AM

First the father with race. Now the son with religion. First a police state. Now an islamic state. What gives?

For someone at the centre of the most sought after photograph in the history of the human race, najib should take out his wallet and reexamine his own credentials and background; he should think through what he's just done against intercommunal harmony.

These jokers of Umno are not the solution; they are the problem.

Just exactly what sort of credentials does he have to try and publicly revise history in one stroke by just wagging a tongue? Was he acting as DPM of a country composed down the middle between muslims and non-muslims, or as a muslim who speaks on behalf of the nation, including those of non-islamic faiths?

Now you can add his name to this country's illustrious list of race and interfaith relations defilers that include razak, mahathir, musa, anwar, hamid, etc.

Let me be polite - is there something wrong in the gene? An aberration of nature, perhaps, that causes them to spend so much time trying to insert their own agendas into the fabric of this multi-racial and multi-religous society whose ideals have been too easily paraded before the world as a shining example of mankind's march towards a more progressive humanity? They should all stop the hypocrisy.

As if what he has publicly said wasn't enough, now we have the Internal Security Ministry directing that the issue be nipped in the media. Hey, who started it in the first place? And the reason for the directive takes the cake - fear of tension. My foot. Are we having monkeys for operatives of national matters? You don't start a fire and then block the passage of the fire-engine. Face up to your own action. If even an arachnid can agree that with power comes responsibility, why can't the socalled princes of darkness of this country? The darkness of Africa compares nothing to their monoracial ultra 21st century despotism.

Malaysia started as a secular state. How, where and when did it make the transition to an islamic state? Were the rakyat consulted? Was the matter deliberated without the company of bunglers? Was interfaith communion enjoined in the holy patrimony of men of different miens but the common heart? Let's pin those questions on the walls of Merdeka Square come this August.

We are not talking about some bazaar transaction here; it's not buy-two, free-one; it's not tanpa cengkeram or was-was. Saying that the government is always being driven by the fundamentals of islam does not make Malaysia an islamic state. This umno government is not Malaysia. Half the population would disagree to it. One suspects that least half of the other half, a cohort increasing by the day, would rather see a more liberal set of practices attuned to the demands of a modern-day globalized planet to which they can identify themselves with and support with less loaded hearts. Do you find Planet Hollywoods and HardRock Cafes in the desert?

Religions are supposed to unite man to the Unseen One. How would He feel if the propagation of any one religion serves only to divide the hearts of all His creations? Look at the rakyat who have to vote, who grind through life every day, whose strength and patience are taxed everyday by these jokers fattened by the taxes people pay so that they can be abused. Doesn't anyone agree that what helps to bind peoples' hearts together in the universality of Faith, whatever its substance, should take precedence over political and personal self-serving expediency? After all, their ashes will soon enough bear ample testimony to what they have NOT done at all for this nation.

A true leader must display mental maturity, sustain holistic responsibility and project unifying harmony.

All that this bunch of jokers has been showing is that they are only working for the Malay Agenda. So how can they be leaders of all? How can they even talk about what Malaysia is?

Posted by: Neil | July 20, 2007 11:27 AM

Why is Najib not charged under ISA yet?

That's what ISA for. To lock up those who try to stir racial and religious unrest and deny them rights to lawyer.

Jail him.

Posted by: azk | July 20, 2007 05:06 PM

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Merdeka... 50 years of Islamic State?

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