Speech by DAP Penang chairman and Member of Parliament for Tanjong Chow Kon Yeow at a ceramah on “Prospects and Challenges for Year 2006” organised by DAP Penang at the Cheah Association Hall on Sunday, 1 January 2006.
Malaysians must send strong message to Prime Minister that Parliament must provide a remedy to non-Muslims affected by the implementation of syariah laws.
The DAP is determined to speak up on the impact of Islamic State and Islamisation policies on the country and citizens even though we have been told “to leave the country if we do not like Malaysia being an Islamic State”.
The Moorthy’s case has once again brought forth the threat on the legal protection and Constitutional rights of non-Muslims in the country.
We are deeply concerned that there could be no remedy for non-Muslims affected directly or indirectly by syariah laws or Islamic policies.
I have brought up this problem in Parliament several times after the Sharmala’s case and called for Parliament to provide a constitutional remedy.
Two Ministers in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Radzi Sheikh Ahmad (the de facto Law Minister) and Dato Dr Abdullah bin Md. Zin (Islamic affairs) promised that the Government would conduct a study.
However, I was disappointed that such study has not yet been initiated (according to a reply to my question in Parliament on 28 September 2005).
This issue must be addressed urgently by Prime Minister Pak Lah for it is a threat to national unity, religious and racial harmony in this country.
Therefore it is important for us, who are gathered here at this DAP Ceramah, to raise our hands to send a strong message to Pak Lah that we want a remedy to restore and uphold our constitutional rights.
CHOW KON YEOW
