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Merry Christmas!   Media Statement by Kerk Kim Hock (Petaling Jaya, Wednesday): The war torn Middle East and conflicts elsewhere in the world serve as a grim reminder of the importance of  peace and goodwill  which the angelic hosts proclaimed at the birth of Jesus.   As a cosmopolitan society, Malaysia is rich in its plurality of religion and diversity of cultures and ethnic groups. It is a unique country that celebrates the festivities of the major civilizations like Hari Raya, Christmas, Thaipusam, Lunar Chinese New Year and Deepavali. Even the government is now promoting the goodwill of these festive celebrations among its multi racial population.  Indeed , goodwill which can promote peace in  a multi racial nation like Malaysia must always prevail.   Our founding fathers in their wisdom had correctly formulated a sound social contract in establishing Malaysia as a secular democratic nation with Islam as the official religion of the Federation with freedom to the other religions to practice in peace and harmony in any part of the Federation under Article 3 of the Federal Constitution.   All Malaysians must therefore cherish and safeguard this Merdeka legacy which has successfully withstood the test of time for 46 years and the challenges thereof. No party or quarter should attempt to mortgage this precious legacy for  any short-term political mileage.  Bapa Malaysia Tunku Abdul Rahman, the nation’s first Prime Minister, on his 80th birthday, reiterated that Malaysia is not an Islamic State – a view reinforced by Tun Hussein Onn, the third Prime Minister and buttressed by the historical documents of the Reid Commission and the Cobbold Commission.   The DAP wishes all Christians in Malaysia a Merry and Blessed Christmas. (24/12/2003) * Kerk Kim Hock,  DAP Secretary General and MP for Kota Melaka