PARLIAMENT Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia today ruled that Islam is the official religion of the country and thus Malaysia is not a secular country.

He said this in dismissing a proposal to refer Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom to the rights and privileges committee.

Oscar Ling (left) (DAP-Sibu) had moved a motion to refer Jamil Khir to the committee over the latter’s remarks that the country is not a secular country.

"A secular country must not be connected to religion or spirituality. This is the case for the US, India and Turkey. It is clearly stated that Islam is the official religion of the country," Pandikar said.

He however said that this was only his interpretation, and not his opinion as "an authority".

"What I am saying is merely for the purposes of this House," he added.

Pandikar also ruled that Jamil Khir had "no ill-intention" when he had made the statement thus the question of referring him to the committee did not arise.

Meanwhile M Kulasegaran (DAP-Ipoh Barat) requested that the debate on whether Malaysia is a secular of Islamic state be settled by the Federal Court through a special request by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, which can be made under Article 130 of the federal constitution.

Pandikar agreed and said that this option should be pursued by the representatives.