DAP leaders prepared to meet MCA and Gerakan leaders to explain to them why they had gone against the 1957 Merdeka Constitution and “social contract” in supporing Mahathir’s “929 declaration” that Malaysia is an Islamic state and why they should withdraw such support


Media Conference Statement 2
by Lim Kit Siang

(Petaling Jaya,  Thursday) The New Straits Times carried an article on Tuesday entitled “Hobson’s choice for DAP leaders over proposed polls pact with Pas” by Patrick Sennyah which said that “the present political tide” shows that “the BN looks set to thrash the Opposition in the next general election, let alone lose its two-thirds majority of Parliament”.  

It said:

“Judging by recent events, it would be no surprise if voters opt for the moderate Islamic State advocated by Umno rather than the more extreme form of Islamic state proposed by Pas.”  

The purpose of the DAP’s “No to 911,No to 929, Yes to 1957” campaign is to create awareness among the people of Malaysia that the critical issue to be decided in the next general election is not to choose between UMNO’s Islamic State or PAS’ Islamic State, but to defend and preserve the 1957 Merdeka Constitution and “social contract” agreed by our forefathers from the major communities and reaffirmed by the people of Sabah and Sarawak in 1963 on the formation of Malaysia that Malaysia is a democratic, secular, multi-religious, tolerant and progressive nation with Islam as the official religion but not as an Islamic state.  

In the next general election, voters must speak up loud and clear that they do not want PAS’ Islamic State or UMNO’s Islamic State, but want to preserve the democratic, secular, multi-religious, tolerant and progressive Malaysia which had been the fundamental constitutional principle and nation-buiding cornerstone for 44 years since Independence.  

Last Friday, PAS President Datuk Fadzil Noor outlined seven principles for the  PAS’ model of an Islamic State.  

DAP is prepared to meet and explain to PAS leaders our objections to the PAS’ model of an Islamic state for being incompatible with  parliamentary democracy and power-sharing in a plural society, human rights and individual freedoms, women’s rights and social tolerance; just as DAP leaders are prepared to meet with the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad and UMNO leaders to explain why the “929 declaration” that Malaysia is an Islamic state is a tectonic shift from the fundamental nation-building  principles agreed in the 1957 Merdeka Constitution and “social contract”.  

In fact, DAP leaders are also prepared to meet with MCA and Gerakan leaderships to explain to them why they have gone against the 1957 Merdeka Constitution and “social contract” in supporting Mahathir’s “929 Declaration” that Malaysia is an Islamic state and why they should withdraw their support for a stand which has no constitutional basis nor national mandate.  

The DAP Central Executive Committee at its next meeting in a fortnight’s time will consider the proposal to officially write to all political parties, whether Barisan Nasional or Barisan Alternative, for a meeting with their leaderships on the importance of upholding and preserving the 1957 Merdeka Constitution and “social contract” as a prerequisite for Malaysia’s success in the  21st century to face the challenges of  globalisation, liberalization and the information and communications technology.  

(6/6/2002)


*Lim Kit Siang - DAP National Chairman