Amidst the brouhaha about the controversial guidebook in ethnic relations in Dewan Rakyat, another debate has reignited the controversy whether Malaysia is an Islamic or secular state.

Taking centre stage in the Islamic or secular state debate is Karpal Singh, the MP for Bukit Gelugor.

This issue is likely to come up again and again in the Dewan Rakyat and it would be advisable for MPs to keep a file on the subject matter.

But Karpal Singh has no need for such a file. He has the matter close to his chest.

On 13 July 2006, Karpal Singh asked parliamentary secretary in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Dr Masitah Ibrahim what she thought of the insistence by the country’s first three prime ministers that Malaysia is a secular state.

Dr Masitah coolly replied: “The opinions of the former prime ministers that Malaysia was a secular state were purely their personal views.”

“Since Islam is mentioned over 20 times in our Federal Constitution, this shows that Malaysia is an Islamic state,” she concluded sheepishly.

Dr Masitah as well as her boss Datuk Dr Abdullah Md Zain (Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of Islamic affairs) was unable to defend the indefensible.

How could they, when Malaysia is not an Islamic state. (more…)