The fact that the Deputy Speaker of the lower Dewan Rakyat in Parliament has to seek an explanation from a minister over whether or not Malaysia is a secular state is perplexing, to say the least. We’ve been independent since 1957 (and we’ve been Malaysia since 1963); shouldn’t we know by now?
Regardless, Deputy Speaker of the lower house of Parliament Datuk Ronald Kiandee will be waiting for a clarification from Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Dr Jamil Khir Baharom on the matter.
Kiandee decided on this course of action after Sibu MP Oscar Ling of the DAP moved to cite Dr Jamil Khir to te Rights and Privileges Committee for misleading the House.
In a written reply on Monday, Dr Jamil Khir told Ling that Malaysia was not a secular state, as historically the country was established on the foundation of an Islamic Malay Sultanate government.
Ling said the minister’s statement was wrong and misleading, says a report by The Star Online.
“In the formation of Malaysia, it was understood that Singapore, Sarawak and Sabah were not formed through an Islamic Malay sultanate,” he said when he raised Standing Order 36 (12) to cite Dr Jamil Khir for disciplinary action.
Ling said that in the 20-point agreement, drawn up by North Borneo when proposing terms for the formation of Malaysia, there was no objection to Islam being the national religion, but there should not be a state religion in North Borneo.
In an immediate response, Dr Jamil Khir said in a text message: “The matter will be answered as soon as possible, according to Parliamentary procedures.”
