‘Treacherous’ to change Malaysia’s secular status, say Sabah Chinese groups

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 18 — Malaysia’s secular nature cannot be changed unless the constitution is amended, Sabah Chinese associations asserted.

Any attempt to bypass the constitution would be a “treacherous act”, Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) president Tan Sri TC Goh said, The Borneo Post reported.

“Hence, we in FCAS deem any talk by any individual or group to change such a status-quo, without going through the proper channel of amending the Federal Constitution, as a treacherous act and should be dealt with seriously and resolutely,” he was quoted as saying.

He cited a 1956 meeting between the then-Alliance coalition’s members Umno, MCA and MIC, the Malay rulers and the British High Commissioners where the meeting minutes showed Tunku Abdul Rahman — who would become the country’s first prime minister — giving the assurance that “the whole Constitution was framed on the basis that the Federation would be a secular State”.

The Borneo Post also reported FCAS urging the government to take action against anyone that has undermined the Federal Constitution.

“It’s time for the government to take the bull by the horns and show the people of Malaysia the right path forward in preserving what our founding fathers had envisioned for us during the formation of our beloved country, that Malaysia is a secular state and it shall remain so.

“Anything less would only reflect poorly on the present government as the custodian of the nation and its people,” Goh was quoted as saying.

He also expressed support for Sabah minister Datuk Seri Teo Chee Kang, who reportedly said Malaysia would not have been formed if it was required to be an Islamic state.

National newswire Bernama quoted deputy minister Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki as saying in Kota Baru, Kelantan last Friday that Barisan Nasional is not shirking its responsibility to make Malaysia an Islamic state, based on the BN-led government’s efforts to develop and uphold Islam as the religion of the federation.

Asyraf was reported as saying that the government was providing funds to empower Islam, noting that this year alone saw the Education Ministry receiving RM987 million in public funds for Islamic education and the Malaysian Islamic Development Department receiving RM559 million.

In The Borneo Post’s report today, Goh reportedly showed concern over an increasing trend of religious extremism and racial discrimination in Malaysia, including protests against Oktoberfest, a Muslim-only laundrette, Muslim preacher Zamihan Mat Zin’s controversial racial remarks; expressing gratitude that the Malay rulers had not wasted any time in speaking out against such incidents.

“We, therefore, sincerely hope that the government could take a cue from and be guided by the media statement issued by the Malay Rulers recently that any policy should take into account the minority groups in Malaysia,” he said, also urging for a review of school textbooks to ensure key constitutional principles and accurate facts on the country’s history are taught.

Goh added that the government could use the National Civics Bureau to give civil servants and politicians a refresher course if they deviate from the Federal Constitution’s fundamental principles.