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Keng Yaik should explain how the Gerakan leadership could unilaterally alter the Vision 2020 into an Islamic State Vision 2020 by  giving fulsome support to the “929 Declaration” that Malaysia is an Islamic State Media Conference  -  when launching the DAP’s 46th National Day Celebrations and the  “Defend Secular Malaysia” campaign in Pulau Tikus by Lim Kit Siang (Penang,  Saturday): The Gerakan 2003  National Delegates Conference last week declared its commitment towards materializing Vision 2020 and Bangsa Malaysia as the main thrust of its nation-building efforts.  Gerakan President Datuk Seri Dr. Lim Keng Yaik should explain how the Gerakan leadership could unliterally alter the Vision 2020 into an Islamic State Vision 2020 by  giving fulsome support to the “929 Declaration” by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad that Malaysia was an Islamic State at the Gerakan national delegates conference two years ago on Sept. 29, 2001.  In his speech, “The Way Forward – Vision 2020” in February 1991, which was the genesis of the Vision 2020, Mahathir outlined the nine strategic challenges if Malaysia is to become a fully developed nation and Bangsa Malaysia in 2020. There was no mention whatsoever of an Islamic State.  The first strategic challenge is establishing a united Malaysian nation with a sense of common and shared destiny, with a nation at peace with itself, territorially and ethnically integrated, living in harmony and full and fair partnership, made up of one “Bangsa Malaysia” with political loyalty and dedication to the nation.  Reference to religion is to be found in the fourth strategic challenge – “to establish a fully moral and ethical society, whose citizens are strong in religious and spiritual values and imbued with the highest of ethical standards” – not a single reference to “Islamic State”.  This is in keeping with the 1970 Rukunegara which upholds as its first principle “Belief in God” for religious diversity, fully in accord the “social contract” laid  down in the fundamental constitutional principles and nation-building cornerstone in  the 1957 Merdeka Constitution and the 1963 Malaysia Agreement  that Malaysia is a democratic, secular and multi-religious nation with Islam as the official religion but not an Islamic state.  It is most shocking that both Rukunegara and Vision 2020 have now been given a totally different meaning as to provide the rationale and justification  for the unilateral, undemocratic and unconstitutional “929 Declaration” that Malaysia is an Islamic State.  I hope Keng Yaik can explain how 11 years after its proclamation, the 30-year Vision 2020 suddenly became an Islamic State Vision 2020 at the Gerakan National Delegates Conference on Sept. 29, 2001! (30/8/2003) * Lim Kit Siang, DAP National Chairman