Dialogues to promote religious harmony and tolernce

Statement
by Dr Tan Seng Giaw, DAP National Vice-Chairman and MP for Kepong
on 14.6.2002
in Kuala Lumpur

We call on the Prime Minister to use the same spirit as seeing the Pope to promote religious harmony and tolerance in Malaysia

On 29 September, 2001, Dr Mahathir announced at the Gerakan assembly that this country was an Islamic State. Then, he met various organizations including religious ones to explain his intention to thwart the PAS¡¯s proposal to set up an Islamic State in Malaysia.

On the 7 inst., during his visit to Switzerland, he met Pope John Paul II at the latter¡¯s private library in the Vatican, for half an hour. They agreed on issues such as stopping the violence in Palestine.

The meeting of leaders from various religions to nurture understanding is correct. Dr Mahathir also talked to Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Sodano: removal of causes of terrorism, religious freedom and the Palestine conflict not so much a religious war.

Our Prime Minister meeting the Pope was a good thing. This should be above party politics. In the interest of religious harmony, we hope that the Prime Minister will not use the photographs of his talking to the Pope in the next general elections.

THE CONSTITUTION

911 affects the world. To avoid this type of incident, we must adopt moderate, prudent, wise and tolerant approaches.

We hope that Dr Mahathir uses the spirit with which he met the Pope to promote understanding and universal harmony for Malaysians. If he can organize dialogues among leaders of all major religions in the country, then, this is one of the ways to bring about understanding and harmony.

The Prime Minister will find that announcing this country as an Islamic State not only contravenes the Federal Constitution, but also unsuitable for rebutting PAS¡¯s proposal to set up an Islamic State. It causes controversy legally, and heated arguments among clerics and scholars.

We propose that after his visit to the Vatican, Dr Mahathir establish a new dimension, promoting dialogues among leaders of various religions to dispel confusion and misunderstanding.