Press Statement
by DAP Secretary General and MP for Kota Melaka, Kerk Kim Hock
in Kota Kinabalu
on Sunday, 6.10.2002
Gaya by election result should convey three important messages to the Barisan
Nasional government
At a press conference held on 4.10.2002, I had called on the Gaya voters to vote
on behalf of the Sabahans to send a clear message to the Barisan Nasional
government, that is, that Sabahans reject the BN's one party rule and want the
restoration of Sabah democracy.
Yesterday, I also called on the Gaya voters to use the by election as an
opportunity to send a second message to the BN government which has always
exploited the term " development ", that is, that Sabahans want development, but
they also want justice, freedom, equality and democracy.
Today I wish to call on the Gaya voters to vote the DAP on the polling day to
send a third message, that is, that Sabahans irregardless of race, religion and
culture, clearly and loudly say no to the 929 declaration.
On 29.9.2001, the Prime Minister Dato Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad, had declared
that Malaysia is an Islamic State, in total disregard of the 1957 Merdeka
Constitution, the Social Contract that created the nation as a democratic
secular, multi religious nation with Islam as the official religion and not as
an Islamic State.
The constitutional secular basis was reaffirmed by the peoples of Sabah and
Sarawak on the formation of Malaysia in 1963.
Since the 929 declaration, DAP has been embarking on a campaign to
consciencetise and mobilise Malaysians to defend and uphold the secular basis of
our nation. We have been alone in such a battle but this is a battle that we
must do and continue so as to prevent Malaysia from embarking on the road
towards a full-fledged Islamic State.
The Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Chong Kah Kiat said yesterday that Barisan
leaders were bold individuals and not mere yes men. Can he therefore explain why
Barisan Nasional leaders who have, prior to the 929 declaration, always called
on the people to reject the Islamic State have not protested against such a
declaration?
Saying no to the 929 declaration is not anti Malay or anti Islam but to preserve
and uphold the nation's constitutional secular basis. It is the responsibility
of every Malaysian indeed to ensure that a multi racial, multi religious and
multi cultural Malaysia remain a democratic secular nation.
The Gaya by election is therefor an opportunity for the voters to rise to the
occasion and vote the DAP to demonstrate to the Barisan Nasional government
their commitment to the nation's fundamental and constitutional secular basis.
The Gaya by election result on 12.10.2002 should therefore be an opportunity to
send the following three messages to the Barisan Nasional government: