BarisaTurkey is a good example of a country with a predominantly Muslim population being a secular state. Malaysia should emulate Turkey so that essence in spirit can be injected into what is clearly provided for in the Federal Constitution, namely that Malaysia is a secular state with Islam as the religion of the Federation

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Media Statement 
by Karpal Singh
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(Kuala Lumpur, Thursday): On behalf of the DAP, I congratulate all Malaysians over the country celebrating the 50^th Anniversary of Merdeka tomorrow. All Malaysians should be proud of the achievements made by the country in the last 50 years after being freed from the yoke of British colonialism on 31^st August, 1957. On the other hand, it cannot be denied there is far more the country can achieve provided all Malaysians are given a proper place under the Malaysian sun. Poverty transcends all racial lines and considerations and, therefore, everyone should be accorded equality before the law and the equal protection of the law towards eradication of poverty among all races in the country. What has to be considered as the basic structure of our society is unity in diversity. As a multi-racial, multi-lingual and multi-religious society, each community must be careful not to tread upon each other’s sensitivities.  

Malaysia is a secular state. The Federal Constitution provides for that. Political statements by UMNO leaders including the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, and Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, that Malaysia is an Islamic state cannot, and should not, displace what is clearly set out in the Federal Constitution and the judicial pronouncement in 1988 by a 5-man bench of the Supreme Court that Malaysia is a secular state. Turkey is a good example of a country with a predominantly Muslim population being a secular state. Malaysia should emulate Turkey so that essence in spirit can be injected into what is clearly provided for in the Federal Constitution, namely that Malaysia is a secular state with Islam as the religion of the Federation.                           

(30/8/2007)