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Dare Keng Yaik to deny his party had withdrawn a "no to Islamic State " resolution on 29 Sept 2001 at its 30th national conference   Press  Statement by Ronnie Liu Tian Khiew (Petaling Jaya, Tuesday): Gerakan's President Lim Keng Yaik has recently claimed that Malaysia is an Islamic State since the day the nation gained her independence in 1957. Keng Yaik is obviously lying on the matter since his party has proposed a resolution on 29 Sept 2001 to oppose the setting up of an Islamic State in Malaysia. Logically, if Keng Yaik believes that Malaysia is already an Islamic State since 1957, there was no need for his party to propose such resolution to that effect in 2001. In fact, Keng Yaik could have beaten Dr Mahathir to become the first BN leader to declare Malaysia as an Islamic State if he really holds such belief. It was learned that Gerakan was forced to withdraw the "no to Islamic State" resolution after Dr Mahathir Mohamad has delivered his opening speech at the Gerakan's conference the very morning. This was when the PM made his infamous 929 pronouncement, declaring Malaysia an Islamic State. It was also learned that the proposed resolution was withdrawn even with amendment made by Dr Khor Tsu Koon. That explained why Malaysians could not find such resolution in the newspaper report the next day. Keng Yaik has not been fair to the DAP by labeling the "Defend Secular Malaysia" campaign as stirring up religious sentiment. He has also gone too far when he challenged the DAP national chairman Lim Kit Siang for a debate on the issue of Islamic State. He's now caught by the positive response from the former Opposition Leader and now one wonders how he could find a way out to save his skin.   (21/10/2003) *  Ronnie Liu Tian Khiew, DAP national publicity secretary and Selangor chairman