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You vote blindly, and you get this in return. This is a lesson to all Malaysian to use their votes wisely, and do not be happy with all the "election promises" and the "corruption, such as paving the road during election etc. We pay taxes, and this is their job, not a favor to us!

As for Malaysia being Islamic state, what else can the non-muslim do? You give this guy overwhelming majority, and he thought he speaks for you guys, and now you complain?

Since Malaysia is an Islamic state according to the PM, then what is the reason for non-muslim to vote for PAS which have the same objective? I urge the opposition to stand united in order to defeat BN. Opposition supporters should not waste their votes by voting BN or not voting, if the candidate in their area do not belongs to the party they support, instead just go for any opposition available!

It looks like voting for PAS now seems like a better option even for non-Muslims... At least we fix it squarely and we can live with it.

Yea so what? Does it matter if it is a christian state, hindu state, islamic state, sorry state, etc.

ENd of the day, we are moving back to the days of Estate under this clown's leadership.

AAB have drive the final nail into the coffin and with this acclaimation, it has certainly provide an easier path to make future decisions by all MALAYSIAN citizens. I would like to have a Government who provides freedom and protect the rights of its citizen, ruled based on nature's laws and adapting to the everchanging landscapes of the world for continuing survival of MALAYSIA without oppression of any kind to its people.

When the idea of abandoning the English Common Law was first mooted by a learned (supposedly) judge, I was curious as to what would replace Common (sense) Law. It then occured to me that Syariah Law would be the only available alternative. Hm....then I also realised that with Syariah Law, crooks like the Zakarias and Mat Rempits will be dicing with public execution, Saudi Arabia style. Doesn't seem that bad. I'm willing to give up pork for a better society anyway. (Conversation to Islam is probably the only way one can be protected under Syariah Law from snatch thieves)

But could UMNO do without these hooligans if their hands or necks are hacked off?

With the PM's latest position, it looks like everything is pointing towards the Islamnisation of Malaysia.

As a Malaysian Chinese working in the Mid East, I have to utmost respect for Islam as a religion and way of life - especially for the Arabs.

Our Malaysian Muslim brothers are probably trying emulate their Arab brethrens. But I dare say some are trying blindly.

More importantly, while Islam is a beautiful concept, will it also be suitable to the other 30% of Malaysians - who find other religions just as beautiful.

The day religion is forced down our throats, is the day I will burn my Malaysian Passport.

OMG, it seems PKFZ price tag is more than 4.6 billions.

Apparently 1 song and 22 lifes are not enough, now they need to top up Islamic state to cover it up.

ya since when has he said ( or do ) anything of substance ? Cowardly response nonetheless expected

This yoyo of a prime minister goes one up on George Bush. The latter only said "read my lips"! Badawi on the other hand WRITES to parliament so that there is no room for deniability and no question of not understanding how the Islamic religious authorities have to now conduct themselves.

Over the last several years since Islam Hadhari was introduced with no clear understandig of what it meant, Badawi let the religious authorities help him to carve a meaning to it. They sure did by going to town with it. Thus we have all the issues between Syariah Courts and Civil Courts, the Lina Joy case, Revathi, Shamala, Moorthi and many many more.

With this written statement that Malaysia is in fact an Islamic State, the religious authorities have now been basically unleashed on the people to write in stone as to what Islam Hadhari truely is. So hang on guys, enjoy your beers while you can!

Hi Jeff,

I am very disturbed by the way this issue has been handled by our political leaders and the media.

First, I assume PM's reply to Lim Kit Siang is in BM. If this is the case the word "Negara Islam is used" as quoted in Kit Siang's blog. Then, "Negara Islam " could means "Islamic or Muslim country" or "Islamic State". But I thought Pak Lah has expressly stated we are a "Negara Islam" that is not "Theoratic", so why would Malaysiakini wants to translate it as "Islamic State", i.e. a Theocratic Islam Country" and thus create unnecessary tension in our already very tension and fragile society?

Jeff, just like you I am eagerly waiting to have a look at the hansard and if it turns out malaysiakini has unilaterally translate "Negara Islam" as "Islamic state" then I think Malaysiakini is very, very irresponsible.

Personally, regardless of all the polemics over the term "Islamic" or " Secular", I think the answer is very clear, as our Federal Constitution stands, Malaysia can never be an Islamic State and neither are we a Secular State in theory and practice. Being a lawyer myself, I am fully aware of the case law and government reports that say we are a secular state, but I can't help thinking that NO SECULAR STATE would allow its constitution and government to declare a particular religion is the official religion and openly promote or assist a particular religion. At the same time, Malaysia is not a country based on Islamic law for a simple reason that our constitution is a piece of civil law document and not the holly Quaran.So, common sense tells me we are nether a secular state nor an islamic Theocratic state.

Hands on heart I think this is a fair and true statement correctly depicting the essence of our beloved couintry, Malaysia. Don't you think so, Jeff?

These dudes still can't decide after 50 years?

The appalling state of affairs in the country is an indication that the government has broken down.

As I am typing this, my heart wrenches and my throat lumping. Need I say more?

Why must the government treat the rakyat in such a way? Does the government has a sense of conscience?

Why is it so hard for the government to be fair and just? Is it rocket science? Is that difficult?

[ deleted ]

Seriously, our nation is being portrayed as firstly corrupted, and now doubtful. We are now really don't know what actually all Malaysians are thinking! Are all Malaysian really supporting this BN government? Or just a "minority" of us here actually object them? The answer can only be reveal when General Election come.

All bloggers should understand that, Internet medium isn't everything. We still need to go down to the earth and do the raw stuffs: sending poster to neighborhood, put on car stickers, distribute A4 poster around to houses, cars, stick on the wall like ah loong (yeah, Ah Loong got good business sense). We have enough reason to show that our BN government is incapable of running the government. They bring us to Ho-land (hey, Holand not bad. OK, they bring us to Pakistan).

I would like to see MORE of this,
http://naktak.blogspot.com/2007/08/nak-tak-posters.html

so that every Malaysian has the option to choose the poster and print and then distribute to their neighbor.

My merdeka spirits is fading away and together with it, it takes away the booking for PROTON PERSONA. (This what I can do as an individual.) I have been the owner of two NATIONAL cars to show support for my country but with this latest documented proclaimation by the highest leader in the country in Parliament, I fear for my liberty. I hope the next elected Government can rejuvenate my MERDEKA spirits.

patriotic1994,
Good thinking but bad idea. Do I need to remind you that if you distribute the leaflet, ISA will be waiting for you.

Let's look at the trajectory:

1. LKS said social contract on secular state; this has been mentioned categorically by three past PMs, one of whom notably the founder, and thus closest to the architects of the constitution, an event AAB was nowhere near.

2. AAB retorted that bringing up social contract could cause disruptions.

3. AAB then categorically stated that Malaysia is a 'negara Islam'.

4. In saying that Malaysia bukan 'negara sekular ataupun teokratik', he leaves no room for doubt that by 'negara Islam' he meant 'islamic state'.

5. AAB then jumps from 'islamic state' into 'Islam Hadhari' and then reinforces 4. by adding that embracing islam hadhari doesn't mean Malaysia is 'teokratik'.

6. He then meanders into democratic parliamentary rights and the freedom to practise own religion but leaves unanswered the original assertion by his past PMs on the term 'secular state' and also leaves unattended the issue of cross-religion transitions and interfaith dialogue.

7. he also unambiguously contradicted what he was quoted as saying about the 'state' of this nation.

The only conclusions all rakyat can now draw are these:

a. he has taken upon himself to challenge a sizable proportion of the rakyat by asserting that Malaysia is an islamic state;

b. based on the latest census, that proportion is not small; in fact, if one excludes the 2 million 'other bumiputras', a term which has suddenly appeared out of nowhere to become officialese, the malay, ergo muslim, population of this country is some 50%.

c. perhaps the urgency to change the understanding of what the state is that has been agreed by the coalition members is prompted by b.

d. the urgency could also be due for a political reason, namely to stabilise his popularity and that of his 'photogenic' sidekick in the forthcoming elections;

e. but in doing so, he's using the same nail that holds up his portrait to nail the coffin on the future of secularists and non-muslims.

The version of the religion that he is making official for this nation where half the population would take grave exception to being associated with is not that of modern Turkey, nor even that of today's Indonesia, and while it is not the wahhabism of the middle east, too often zealots in its implementation have made a simultaneous mockery of 'democratic parliamentary rights' of non-muslims while going about their self-arrogated tasks, which have also dismayed an increasing number of moderate muslims.

Shorne of extremisms, any religion can be considered beautiful in sublimity as well as ennobling of the common man whose lot seems from day to day to be consigned to one disappointment after another disaster, especially in this country. The muslim we know is not that guy implicated in the Jakarta bombing who when asked whether he thought about the muslim taxi drivers who were killed instead gave a chilling reply that he wished it hadn't been them but if XXXXX had put them there at that moment, He must have a reason. Who in his sane mind would associate that with someone who practises the religion, or any other? The muslim one has in mind is that old malay man in a white cap who was an ex-body builder, had multiple bypasses and now and then walks the wards in IJN advising other patients on post-operative recovery; beyond the probono concern, his entire visage exuded the kindness and warmth of humanity of someone moved by the Unseen One...

...as you would also find in the millions of Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs, Sai Baba's, Tuan Peh Kong's who walk our midst today. Even the atheists and agnostics would take exception to anything which diminishes the true 'democratic parliamentary rights' of all, an ideal that has become national understanding after fifty years, now about to be turned around because a pair of politicians or two just decided one fine day to do so.

Was it to win Middle East funding for the two projects? We're not the Unseen One, we'll never know. Some appear to have taken upon themselves to translate some votes into providential allowances..

...such as giving to bumi-company Wijaya a spanking new rm340 million contract warm after its role in the rm4.6 billion (and rising) PKFZ fiasco.

Politicians like Badawi and Najib and those special agencies are transients. They came, and one day they will also go. The question is not what they are but what they're doing.

Rather than re-affirm and enlarge the trust earned by their forefathers that Malaysia is a secular state, they have taken upon themselves without a clear mandate from all the rakyat , especially given the present census composition, that Malaysia is the other half. Favoring half means 100 percent unfair.

Why not work on the extremists in the half first and show what protecting democratic parliamentary and constitutional rights really means in this country? Chicken, or fowl?

Doing the right thing means not doing the wrong thing. If an attempt to whitewash a wrong thing done is made by saying it's to maintain peace and harmony, then that cannot be the right thing if the socalled peace and harmony is at the expense of one half. You can't favour one half over the other half and say it's alright now.

What if one day a new fellow comes along and uses this precedent to drive the knife in further, that time quoting destabilisation 'caused by extremist elements' as a reason?

If TRUE moderation is practised from day one, and the forefathers have tried to do that, that scenario will be nipped in its bud - before even that appears.

Now this action taken by the two transients will only create dangerous precedent and raises a sword of damocles over the heads of half the population. Based on the way the other half is also exhibiting some difficulties, perhaps on them too.

The whole matter stinks because it is made crooked.

But it timely - for it now gives the rakyat enough time when Merdeka day comes for them to remove their flags, fold them up, and put back in the storeroom. Two can play at the game.

However one senses that the next time the rakyat can take them out again and exhibit them with pride, those flags would already be moth-eaten by then.

Backwardization is the new word. Getting used to it?

What the hell is happening in bolehland?
http://www.suanie.net/2007/08/28/zouk-did-it-again/

Looks like [ DELETED ] is preparing msians for failed state living.

Folks

I hope the Opposition Parties and Bloggers don't bite the Islamic State nonsense from UMNO and PM. It is a media diversion tactic to bring public attention away from the real issues of scandals of PKFZ, EC-Libra, the Constitutional Crisis, the anger and frustration of the Malay Rulers in the direction of the where the country is heading, in terms of racial harmony and corruption and cronyism of this UMNO-led Govt, the hollowing of the Judiciary into an endless pit of incompetence; the Phantom Voters of UMNO in Kelantan and in the coming General Election; the Police IGP vs the Deputy Internal Security Minister; the monkey business of the Son In Law and the stupidity of the Information Minister and the big-mouth of the defacto Minister for Law

It is UMNO's dirty media tactics to keep off the mainstream media on other pressing issues of corruption, incompetence and cronyism of UMNO.

Media like Malaysiakini and the newsblogs should just let this Islamic State issue die off a natural death by NOT talking about.

There is NO way Malaysia can be an Islamic without changing the Constitution with 2/3 majority... It is all a media dirty tricks of UMNO and the PM and the Deputy PM.

Folks

The facts of the matter is that Malaysia is a Fascist State rather than an Islamic State.

We should discuss whether Malaysia is turning into a full blown Fascist State or that this UMNO-led Govt is turning this country into a Fascist Sate. That is what we,the citizens and the intellectual elites should be worried about.

spot on Frankie. we are a one party state, just like germany under nazi and soviet under stalin.
Just for the interest of everyone, there is no democracy in an islamic state because non-islamic politics will be disallowed.
Presently, an islamic state will be full of contradictions. One individual version of an islamic state is different from another, even amongst the theoligians.
Was there any elections in Iran for the position of ayatollah, the supremem leader?
Or was there any elections in taliban afghanistan or saudi arabia?
Therefore what the PM said is untrue. maybe the king should just sack the government for such a misleading statement.

BN,enough is enough....we will vote for opposition for the next GE,even if the opposition is PAS!

SUDDENLY,

it dawned on me.

PAS is more progressive and moderate compared to UMNO's divisive nature.