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Statement by Dr Tan Seng Giaw, DAP National Vice-Chairman and MP for Kepong on the Royal Address on 11.3.2002.

For the first time in the history of the Malaysian Parliament, the royal address mentions the Government policy on Negara Islam that connotes the meaning of an Islamic State whereas the English translation is an Islamic country. The Federal Constitution does not permit the administration based on only one religion in our multi-religious country.

Today, in his royal address, His Majesty The Yang di-Pertuan Agong presents an outline of this year's Government policy. He touches on issues like globalization, liberalization, RM7.3 billion stimulation package, foreign investment, commodity export, diversification of agriculture, tourism, ports, roads, information and communications technology, Education Development Programme, National Biotechnology Programme, housing, eradication of corruption and Malaysia a Negara Islam.

We hope that we can succeed in all the programmes. However, we have to review the success and failure of all the sectors and find ways to overcome the weaknesses.

His Majesty mentions Malaysia as a Negara Islam in Bahasa Malaysia and an Islamic country in the English translation.

SEMANTIC

The Bahasa Malaysia text says: Beta ingin menegaskan penjelasan bahawa Malaysia adalah sebuah negara Islam sama sekali tidak menjejaskan kehidupan rakyat berbilang kaum dan kebebasan beragama di negara ini, sebagaimana yang diperuntukkan dalam Perlembagaan Persekutuan. Sebaliknya, seluruh rakyat merasa selamat dan aman dari sebarang penindasan yang bertopengkan agama sama ada sesama Islam mahupun di kalangan rakyat berlainan agama.

The English language version reads: We wish to stress that Malaysia as an Islamic country does not in any way hinder the lives of the multiracial society and religious freedom in this country, as provided for in the Federal Constitution. On the contrary, the people at large feel safe and free from any oppression in the name of religion be it among Muslims or those of differing faiths.

Clearly, the words Negara Islam has been translated as Islamic Country that connotes a country with Muslims as the majority. Negara Islam is also read as Islamic State that is a state based on Islam. This ambiguity and ambivalence obfuscate the issue.

Even before the Portuguese conquest of Melaka, there was Islam in Malaya. Hence Article 3 (1) of the 1957 Federal Constitution provides that Islam is the official religion. Article 11 guarantees freedom of religion. The Constitution does not provide for an Islamic State.

An Islamic country that connotes a country with Muslims as the majority reflects the spirit of the Constitution. On the other hand, the term Negara Islam taken as Islamic State is against the constitutional spirit.

The ambiguity and ambivalence in the semantic can be abused. As the Government wants to counter those who aspire to an Islamic State like PAS, it can use Negara Islam to explain to Muslims. It can then offer Islamic Country to the Non-Muslims.

MULTIRELIGIOUS

The quintessence of the Federal Constitution des not permit an administration based on only one religion. It stresses freedom of religion.

The final solution of an Islamic State is a state based on the Koran and the Sunnah. If the Government uses the term Negara Islam among those conversant with the Koran, then they may have a definite perception of what it means. On the other hand, if the Government refers to an Islamic Country, Non-Muslims perceive the obfuscation.

We maintain that Malaysia is a multi-religious country and that the Federal Constitution does not allow a state based on a single religion.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw