DAP national publicity secretary Ronnie Liu today hit out at the recent overzealous implementation of municipal guidelines, pointing to a number of proposals imposed by politicians and local officials "to show how 'Islamically-correct' they were".

Among these were recent proposals by the Selangor government to ban the selling of condoms over the counter, ban beer advertisements in coffeeshops and restaurants, and ban the sale of pork in open-air markets. Another decision has been to reduce the number of pubs and other entertainment outlets.

In Johor Baru, those who want dog licences have to get the consent of Muslim neighbours. In Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur and Penang, the municipal parks bylaws ban couples from holding hands.

In Pahang, Liu said, a proposal to ban pig farming by 2005 is currently being considered by the state government.

He further touched on the issue of non-Muslim students in certain colleges and secondary schools being asked to participate in morning prayers in Penang, while in Malacca, non-Muslim students have been asked to wear headscarves.

According to Liu, the outcry from the non-Muslim community over the implementation of these measures have for the time being resulted in the withdrawal of enforcement..

Negative repercussions

Meanwhile, Liu also criticised PAS' Islamic blueprint proposal to place syariah laws over and above the Federal Constitution, and which will reserve the prime minister's post for Muslims only.

In addition to challenging fundamental liberties and democratic rights, the implementation of an Islamic state will also result in other negative repercussions for the nation's image, he said.

"After 911, the gap of general misunderstanding and suspicion of Islam and Islamic states has widened to an even greater level," he noted.

"The United States has since put up very stringent measures for visa applications, especially against those coming from Malaysia and Islamic states. Canada has doubled the cost on visas for Malaysians."

While the issue of the country's Islamic identity remains unresolved and outside the ambit of parliament, Liu said that books and pamphlets are being produced and seminars organised to speed up the process creating Malaysia's Islamic identity. Delegations have been sent to the Middle East to study the Islamic state system.

In countering PAS' proposal that it will implement an Islamic state if it comes into power, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had announced in Sept 29, 2001 that Malaysia was already an Islamic state.

In protest, DAP made the decision to break its coalition with PAS under the Barisan Alternatif, and followed suit with a 'No to 929' campaign against the setting up of an Islamic state.

At that point of time, said Liu, the party had sensed an Islamic state declaration would launch the nation into a frenzy of Islamisation, threatening its multi-religious character.

"And we believe that such declaration, although made without the consent of the parliament, will inevitably spark off a race between Umno and PAS, each trying to outdo the other as the real authority of Islam," he added..

"Whatever Mahathir may have claimed, he should know that Malaysia is in reality a multiracial, multicultural and multi-religious society...this pluralistic nature is enshrined and protected in the 1957 Merdeka Constitution."