(Penang,Friday): It was reported today that 10 non-Muslim Cabinet Ministers have submitted a joint memorandum to appeal Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to review the Constitution and Islamic laws affecting non-Muslims religions rights.

The submission of memorandum by non- Muslim Cabinet Ministers is unusual and unprecedented. The Moorthy’s controversy and the public discussion on amendments to the Federal Constitution have put much pressure on component parties of the ruling Barisan Nasional.

The DAP welcome the action taken by 10 non-Muslims Cabinet Ministers and hope that the Prime Minister would react positively to voices of non-Muslims in the country.

However we want to remind the 10 non-Muslims Ministers and their political parties that they have a constitutional duty to promote fundamental rights and liberties of Malaysians guaranteed by our Constitution.

They should not betray the mandate of the people because of short-term political gains.

It is not too late for them to reconsider their support the declaration that “Malaysia is an Islamic State”.

Their support for the declaration have encouraged the bureaucracy to push for greater Islamisation policies in the country, even to the extent of the silence rewriting of our Constitution.