(Petaling Jaya, Monday): Despite his puzzling and confusing explanation that Malaysia is neither a secular state nor a theocratic state but a parliamentary democracy, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s latest statements show that he has clearly defined Malaysia as an Islamic state. By stating in an interview with The Edge September issue that the syariah courts can be fair to non-Muslims and that non-Muslims can get justice from syariah courts is a dangerous indication that the jursidiction of syariah courts extends to non-Muslim.  

Abdullah even said that the adminstration of the syariah courts shall be improved to prove that it is not against non-Muslims. For the Prime Minister to declare that syariah courts can be fair to non-Muslim and is not against non-Muslims is a statement of intent to compel non-Muslims to seek justice in syariah courts. 

This goes against the fundamental constitutional principle that non-Muslims are not subject to syariah courts but only to civil courts. For Abdullah to extend the syariah courts’ jurisdiction to cover non-Muslims is both wrong and a dangerous extension that is illegal and contrary to our 1957 social contract that gave rise to Merdeka and our Federal Constitution. 

MCA has issued a statement expressing disagreement with Abdullah. However such statement again only appears in the Chinese press but not in the non-Chinese press. This proves that both Gerakan and MCA are playing “double-faced” politics in saying a different thing to the Chinese community but showing their true version in the Malay community of quiet submission and complete obedience to UMNO.  

MCA President Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting should prove that MCA is fighting for the rights of all Malaysians and not for UMNO’s interests by demanding that the Prime Minister state clearly that Malaysia is a secular state where non-Muslims are not subject to the jurisdiction of syariah courts in accordance with the Federal Constitution. Failure to do so would show that Ong does not comply with his own statements that the Federal Constitution is the guiding principle in the resolution of all disputes.