Karpal: Pakatan must discuss Islamic state issue
Susan LoonePublished: Dec 19, 2010 12:15 PM | Updated: Dec 20, 2010 12:01 AM
DAP national chairperson Karpal Singh said the issue of Islamic state should be urgently discussed by the Pakatan Rakyat as he does not want the BN to exploit the issue at the coming general election.
DAP national chairperson Karpal Singh said the issue of Islamic state should be urgently discussed by the Pakatan Rakyat as he does not want the BN to exploit the issue at the coming general election.
Karpal (left), who spoke during Pakatan’s second convention wrap up session, said the DAP can discuss the issue with PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, PAS spiritual leader and Kelantan menteri besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang.
The Bukit Gelugor MP was the only Pakatan leader who raised the controversial issue at the convention.
However, the veteran lawyer, who advised PAS not to repeatedly say that the constitution allows for an Islamic state, found his suggestions well received by the mostly Malay Muslim audience at the convention.
“I would like to advise PAS to defend the non-Malays’ right to freedom of religion just as PAS defends Islam as the official religion of the country under the constitution,” he said.
“Please give 'face' a bit to DAP,” said Karpal in jest, drawing laughter from the crowd.
During his speech, Karpal touched on various issues including Anwar’s suspension from Parliament recently and the conduct of the judge in the latter’s sodomy case.
The 1,800 crowd who were still glued to their seats at the end of the convention were very receptive towards Karpal’s speech, clapping enthusiastically at his jokes and capping his speech with a standing ovation.
‘Reject cruelty to other races’
Later, Pakatan leaders endorsed a document entitled ‘Change Now, Save Malaysia’ that outlined the many issues raised today, such as the crises, resolutions, 100-day programme, joint statement, declaration and Pakatan’s policies, as the coalition prepares itself for its Putrajaya bid.
The 20-paged document to be distributed widely in the days ahead, will communicate to voters the coalition’s plans on how it will rule the country if it takes over the federal government at the coming general election that is highly speculated to be held early next year.
Endorsed by Anwar (left), Hadi and DAP national advisor Lim Kit Siang, Pakatan delegates and members were told to internalise and spread the document far and wide immediately to ready the coalition for the challenges of the upcoming polls.
During his wrap up speech, Anwar noted that most of the discussions and debates during the convention focussed on the plight of the Malays and how BN and Umno had not kept their promise to uplift the status of the community.
However, he reminded the candidates that the strength of the Malays lies not in greed but in their culture, morals and integrity.
He said it was wrong for any community to defend cruelty, whether the act was done against its own race or to others.
“We should not be apologetic or be in a passive position, we should confront head-on, fight and demand that those who proclaim to champion the special position of Malays and Malay supremacists must first be rejected by the Malays,” he said.
“We do not have to show that we are more Malay than Umno; we are Malays because of our history and culture; we are great because of justice, our intelligence and our open attitude towards others,” he added.
PAS candidate for Tenang
Anwar then spoke at length about the recent Apco controversy that landed him a six-month suspension in Parliament.
He showed the agreement between the Israeli government, Apco and Malaysia, and challenged Prime Minister Najib Razak to answer allegations that 1Malaysia had emulated the 1Israel campaign.
As for the upcoming Tenang by-election, Anwar announced that Pakatan has agreed to send a PAS candidate to contest in the seat.
He also announced that Pakatan Menteri Besar Summit will hold another meeting in February next year, followed by an Economic Congress .
Meanwhile, Hadi said it was not right for anyone to love or defend their just their own community.
“It is not wrong for the Malays to love the Malays, the Chinese to love the Chnese and Indians to love the Indians...Islam after all ensures that communities maintain a good relationship with one another,” he said.
“It is wrong to be cruel even though if it is done due to a racial reason, and it is wrong to use your own race to act cruelly against another,” he added.
Karpal (left), who spoke during Pakatan’s second convention wrap up session, said the DAP can discuss the issue with PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, PAS spiritual leader and Kelantan menteri besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang.The Bukit Gelugor MP was the only Pakatan leader who raised the controversial issue at the convention.
However, the veteran lawyer, who advised PAS not to repeatedly say that the constitution allows for an Islamic state, found his suggestions well received by the mostly Malay Muslim audience at the convention.
“I would like to advise PAS to defend the non-Malays’ right to freedom of religion just as PAS defends Islam as the official religion of the country under the constitution,” he said.
“Please give 'face' a bit to DAP,” said Karpal in jest, drawing laughter from the crowd.
During his speech, Karpal touched on various issues including Anwar’s suspension from Parliament recently and the conduct of the judge in the latter’s sodomy case.
The 1,800 crowd who were still glued to their seats at the end of the convention were very receptive towards Karpal’s speech, clapping enthusiastically at his jokes and capping his speech with a standing ovation.
‘Reject cruelty to other races’
Later, Pakatan leaders endorsed a document entitled ‘Change Now, Save Malaysia’ that outlined the many issues raised today, such as the crises, resolutions, 100-day programme, joint statement, declaration and Pakatan’s policies, as the coalition prepares itself for its Putrajaya bid.
The 20-paged document to be distributed widely in the days ahead, will communicate to voters the coalition’s plans on how it will rule the country if it takes over the federal government at the coming general election that is highly speculated to be held early next year.
Endorsed by Anwar (left), Hadi and DAP national advisor Lim Kit Siang, Pakatan delegates and members were told to internalise and spread the document far and wide immediately to ready the coalition for the challenges of the upcoming polls.During his wrap up speech, Anwar noted that most of the discussions and debates during the convention focussed on the plight of the Malays and how BN and Umno had not kept their promise to uplift the status of the community.
However, he reminded the candidates that the strength of the Malays lies not in greed but in their culture, morals and integrity.
He said it was wrong for any community to defend cruelty, whether the act was done against its own race or to others.
“We should not be apologetic or be in a passive position, we should confront head-on, fight and demand that those who proclaim to champion the special position of Malays and Malay supremacists must first be rejected by the Malays,” he said.
“We do not have to show that we are more Malay than Umno; we are Malays because of our history and culture; we are great because of justice, our intelligence and our open attitude towards others,” he added.
PAS candidate for Tenang
Anwar then spoke at length about the recent Apco controversy that landed him a six-month suspension in Parliament.
He showed the agreement between the Israeli government, Apco and Malaysia, and challenged Prime Minister Najib Razak to answer allegations that 1Malaysia had emulated the 1Israel campaign.As for the upcoming Tenang by-election, Anwar announced that Pakatan has agreed to send a PAS candidate to contest in the seat.
He also announced that Pakatan Menteri Besar Summit will hold another meeting in February next year, followed by an Economic Congress .
Meanwhile, Hadi said it was not right for anyone to love or defend their just their own community.
“It is not wrong for the Malays to love the Malays, the Chinese to love the Chnese and Indians to love the Indians...Islam after all ensures that communities maintain a good relationship with one another,” he said.
“It is wrong to be cruel even though if it is done due to a racial reason, and it is wrong to use your own race to act cruelly against another,” he added.
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