Statement 
by Dr Tan Seng Giaw, DAP National Vice-Chairman and MP for Kepong 
on 21.6.2002 
in Kuala Lumpur

We urge the Prime Minister to formulate workable strategy, replacing the protection policy with that of merits and needs in all fields

Dr Mahathir has a penchant for shock treatment to achieve his objectives. As a medical doctor, he knows about this type of treatment. For example, at the Gerakan assembly on 29.9.2001, he announced that Malaysia was an Islamic State (sebuah negara Islam). Then, on 17 June, 2002, he stressed in Parliament that this country was a fundamentalist Islamic State. In his justification in English, he often spatchcocked Islamic country or nation (a country with Muslims as majority), without discriminating non-Muslims. Negara Islam can mean Islamic State or Islamic Country or Nation.

Any major religion has fundamentals that are mostly universal, exhorting people to do good. But, this term has been misconstrued as bad, conservative, extreme and terroristic. 

Our Federal Constitution does not provide for rule by religion. The declaration of Islamic State contravenes the spirit of the constitution. Indeed, Dr Mahathir¡¯s declaration is to counter PAS¡¯s Islamic State. Now, he has added fundamentalist to Islamic State, further to shock.

The Malay Dilemma

In the 70s last century, Dr Mahathir wrote the Malay Dilemma that was banned until he has become the Prime Minister since 1981. 

Yesterday, in his policy address at the Umno general assembly, he said that the Malays were far from safe.

°Obviously, at present, we are trying out some kind of an experiment by withdrawing some of the protection (such as introducing 10% Matriculation quota to poor non-Malay students). We want to see whether or not they (the Malays) will be able to withstand the competition,¡± he told a press conference.

The Umno president's statements contain political motives. He uses the shock tactics to cause a furore, followed by assuagement. For instance, he adds the term fundamentalist to his Islamic State declaration, saying that Muslim and non-Muslim countries have recognized this, the Federal Constitution will not be amended and the non-Muslims have not been discriminated. The mass media carry this view, overwhelming that of the Opposition.