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DAP tells Abu Ya :  Don’t try to twist and incite religious sentiment ! Commnet by Chow Kon Yeow (Penang, Friday): I refer to Abu Ya’s letter, “DAP disguising its ‘No to Islamic State’ Campaign?” posted in Malaysiakini on Thursday, 28 August 2003.  Abu Ya has questioned why not a single poster has been put up to tell the Malay-Muslim community about DAP’s unwavering stand on the Islamic State. He also asked, “Is DAP trying to hide the truth from the Malays...?”   Abu Ya concluded that the ‘No to Islamic State’ campaign is a one-sided or racially-flavoured campaign.   The “No to 929” and “No to Islamic State” campaigns conducted by DAP are to call on all Malaysians, regardless of race, religion or political beliefs to preserve the democratic, secular and multi-religious Constitution with Islam as the official religion and not allow this country to be transformed into an Islamic State for the sake of our future generations. It is not anti-Islam or any religion but to promote a greater inter-religious understanding in Malaysia.   It is therefore untrue that DAP is trying to hide the truth from the Malays.   The current poster campaign depicting Tunku’s picture and his call “Not to turn Malaysia into an Islamic State” is relevant for all Malaysians, whether Muslims or non-Muslims.   We wanted all Malaysians to join the DAP to defend secular Malaysia and not abandon a democratic, secular and multi-religious Malaysia in favour of an Islamic State.   The DAP has never tried to hide its unwavering stand on the Islamic State issue. In fact, Muslims are quite aware that DAP has withdrawn from BA because of the Islamic State issue.   We must say that the colourful posters, though limited in numbers, have been posted in strategic locations and main roads for all to see and we welcome all Malaysians, both Muslims and non-Muslims to ponder together a fundamental question in our nation-building process: “Should Malaysia be an Islamic State?”   Abu Ya may have missed out the many colourful posters pasted along busy Jelutong Road in front of Medan Tuanku, Kampung Makam along busy Datuk Kramat Road and Tanjong Tokong Road.   We welcome Abu Ya to engage us on this issue but any comments made should be able to stand the test of scrutiny.   (29/8/2003) * Chow Kon Yeow , DAP Penang Chairman and Member of Parliament for Tanjong