It is a double shock to Malaysians, firstly, that such a declaration was made at the Gerakan Delegates’ Conference, and secondly, the instantaneous and fulsome support given to Mahathir’s declaration by the Gerakan President, Datuk Seri Dr. Lim Keng Yaik and the MCA President, Datuk Seri Dr. Ling Liong Sik, who was also present at the function.
Only a week earlier, Keng Yaik had campaigned in the Sarawak state general elections calling on the Sarawak voters to reject the DAP in falsely alleging that the DAP supported an Islamic State. A week later, however, Keng Yaik could publicly declare support for UMNO’s Islamic State after its announcement by Mahathir at the Gerakan Conference. What type of Gerakan politics is this?
I would seriously urge both Gerakan and MCA to give serious and careful study and consideration before giving full endorsement to UMNO’s Islamic state objective as declared by Mahathir, for it undermines the secular basis of Malaysia and would have far-reaching consequences for the Malaysian nation-building process in the 21st century.
It is most shocking that Gerakan and MCA could overnight make such a drastic and fundamental change of heart as to compromise on the democratic and secular basis of the Malaysian Constitution and nation-building process, as to agree with UMNO that Malaysia is an Islamic State.
My first reaction, therefore, is to ask the MCA and Gerakan to fully consult all levels of their leadership and membership, as well as the Malaysian public, as to whether they have the mandate to compromise away the secular and democratic basis of the Malaysian Constitution and nation-building process and to accept that Malaysia is an Islamic State according to UMNO tenets.
(30/9/2001)