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PETALING JAYA: DAP Supreme Lim Kit Siang has compared Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s attack on secularism to resorting to the use of the religious card in an attempt to shore up his position in light of recent events that have threatened his position in government.
The party veteran said that Muhyiddin, in his political speech at the PPBM annual general meeting last week, had promised to fight against secularism and liberalism, saying that the alliance of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government with Umno and PAS it was “the will of God.”
“What he said should be viewed with great concern by all Malaysians who abide by the Merdeka Constitution of 1957, the Malaysia Accord of 1963 and the Rukun Negara of 1970, which addresses secularism and freedom of religion in the country.
“The status of Islam as Malaysia’s official religion has never been in dispute either, but Malaysia is a secular state,” he said in a statement today.
He cited Article 3 of the Federal Constitution which reads: “Islam is the religion of the Federation; but other religions can be practiced in peace and harmony in any part of the Federation ”.
Iskander Puteri’s MP said that the historical reasons behind the inclusion of this clause before independence in 1957 were a form of guarantee that Malaysia will continue to be a secular state.
“In light of this constitutional and historical background, Malaysians have a right to know whether the PPBM is now following the PAS in refusing to recognize the secular principles of the Malaysian Constitution.
“It is very regrettable that, for his own political survival and to avoid becoming prime minister in the shortest term, Muhyiddin is trying to compromise the founding principles of the nation,” he said.
Yesterday, Selangau MP Baru Bian asked Muhyiddin to retract his statement against secularism and liberalism, as it was considered extremely insensitive to Sarawak’s aspirations.
Parti Sarawak leader Bersatu also called on all right-thinking Sarawak leaders to take a position on this issue and be heard, to safeguard the Federal Constitution and secularity.
