Speech by M.Kula Segaran at the launching of "Year of the Rabbit - Change" campaign at Jelapang Market, Ipoh on Monday, 24^th January 2011:

Islamic State is not and will not be the Paktan Rakyat's policy and agenda

In the Galas by election, MCA had campaigned on the Islamic State's agenda of PAS. It is obvious that MCA now believes that this is the killer weapon that it can use against the DAP and Pakatan Rakyat.

There is no doubt that Islamic State issue will be the main issue MCA will want to exploit in the coming general election.But MCA's campaign whether in the Tenang by election or coming general election that "A vote for Rocket is a vote for Islamic State" or "A vote for PR is a vote for Islamic State" is not true and is a lie.

Islamic State is not and will not be the PR's policy and agenda. DAP's stand on the Islamic State is very clear. Our stand and principle is that Malaysia is a secular nation, with Islam as the national religion.

Malaysia is not an Islamic state and Malaysia must remain a secular democratic nation. We will not compromise our stand and principle. PR has been formed to bring about political change and save Malaysia. Islamic State is not and will not be the PR's policy and agenda.

Islamic State is therefore a false issue in Tenang and coming general election. Voters must vote for PR to bring about political change in the nation. Today, together with YB Fong Po Kuan, Chong Chee King, DAP members and supporters, we are all gathered here to launch the "Year of the Rabbit - Change" programme.

Besides spreading the political message of change, the two activities of this campaign are to register new voters and to provide checking of voting status for existing voters.

In November last year, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Dato Nazri revealed that 11,381,193 citizens were registered as voters. 4,304,620 who were above 21 years old and eligible have not registered as voters. Thus nearly 30 per cent qualified citizens have yet to sign up as voters.

The new voters will definitely be able to determine the outcome of many state and federal constituencies. Hence, it is imperative that those who want to see and bring political change in the next general election must quickly sigh up as voters.

Just as it is our duty to save Malaysia through political change, we also want to save the Earth by encouraging the public to minimize the use of plastic bags.

Hence, as part of our public awareness exercise, we are also giving out free recycle bags to those who come forward to register as new voters or to check their details in the electoral rolls.

* M. Kula Segaran, DAP National Vice Chairman & MP for Ipoh Barat