Press Statement by Karpal Singh in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, 22^nd April 2008: 

Pakatan Rakyat not about Islamic State

Although PAS is focusing on the Pakatan Rakyat agenda of establishing a welfare state and reinstating democracy and good governance, it is adamant in not discarding its agenda to set up an Islamic state. This announcement by PAS Member of Parliament for Selangor, Dr Dzulkifly Ahmad, certainly does not advance the cause of the Pakatan Rakyat. It is incongruous for PAS to insist on having on its agenda, Islamic state and at the same time work with the other two parties in the Pakatan Rakyat, PKR DAP. PAS cannot run with the hares and hunt with hounds.

Statements in the nature of those made by PAS leaders do not advance the interests of the Pakatan Rakyat.

I would advise PAS to perhaps seek the opinion of Tun Salleh Abas who was at one time a PAS assemblyman and executive councillor in Terengganu on the issue of Islamic state. Tun Salleh Abas in 1988 delivered the judgment of a strong 5-man bench of the Supreme Court declaring that Malaysia was not an Islamic state, but a secular state having secular laws. Not to be forgotten are the public statements by Tunku Abdul Rahman and Tun Hussein Onn that Malaysia was a secular state. In fact, the Federal Constitution itself has a secular state as one of its basic structures.

PAS should give an assurance that its leaders, including Kelantan Menteri Besar, Nik Aziz Nik Mat and PAS president, Hadi Awang, will not publicly clamour in turning Malaysia into an Islamic state. It is fruitless for PAS to publicly declare that it is the backbone of the Pakatan Rakyat with the aim of establishing an Islamic state. PAS cannot on its own secure a two-third majority to amend the Federal Constitution to provide for an Islamic state.

PAS should be practical and work towards ensuring that the Pakatan Rakyat will make more gains in the next general elections. It should not act in any manner prejudicial to the Pakatan Rakyat. It should not scuttle attempts to strengthen the Pakatan Rakyat. It is best that PAS leaders cease from publicly insisting that Malaysia should be turned into an Islamic state.

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* Karpal Singh, DAP National Chairman & MP for Bukit Gelugor