An opposition leader today urged the Islamic Development and Religious Affairs Department (Jakim) to remove two articles concerning the Islamic state from its website as they are 'offensive and insensitive' to non-Muslims.

DAP national chairperson Lim Kit Siang said in the first article entitled,'Malaysia Negara Islam' (Malaysia an Islamic Country), Jakim divided countries into three categories which are Islamic countries, infidel countries who fight against Islam and infidel countries who are not fighting against Islam.

The article claimed Malaysia's status as an Islamic country cannot be denied, therefore it is better to accept reality, said Lim at a press conference held at the DAP headquarters in Petaling Jaya.

According to Lim the article also stated that "Malaysia is an Islamic state which is mentioned by many ulama (clerics).

"It is our duty now to restore and strengthen it, without wasting time questioning it because Malaysia is genuinely an Islamic state and this is proved by its history, laws, development and the practice of Islam among Muslims," it read.

Community contract

Meanwhile, the second 'offensive' article on the Jakim website is entitled 'Konsep Negara Islam' (An Islamic State Concept) written by Dr Abdul Halim El Muhammady of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

In this article, Lim said the writer admitted that there was no mention of an Islamic state in the Quran when he wrote: "The Quran has not directly mentioned about the formation of an Islamic state and that was a new term which was first introduced by Muhammad Rida in his book 'Caliphate and the Great Inmate'".

Lim said the author noted that one must be a Muslim in order to qualify as a head of an Islamic state and this is because only a Muslim can implement the Syariah ( Islamic laws).

On citizenship in an Islamic state, the writer said it must be based on two principals namely religious belief and community contract or known in Arabic as 'Aqd al-Dimmah'.

The contract is to allow non-Muslims to be a permanent resident of an Islamic country.

According to Lim the writer also advocated amendments to all Federal laws, the Federal Constitution and state laws which obstruct the full implementation of Islam and the establishment of an Islamic state in Malaysia.

"For 44 years, it has never been disputed that a democratic, secular and multi-religious Malaysia is the fundamental constitutional principle and nation-building cornerstone.

"And while Parliament is being asked to approve RM294.3 million for Jakim's budget next year, it was to carry out functions to develop and advance Islamic affairs in Malaysia, which is completely different from pursuing the final objective of establishing an Islamic state.

In view of this, the two articles which are not only 'insensitive and offensive' to non-Muslims but contradictory to the Constitution, Rukunegara, Vision 2020 and the Malaysian Malaysia concept should be immediately removed, stressed Lim.

Retraction welcomed

In a related development Lim welcomed the official withdrawal of the Information Ministry booklet 'Malaysia Sebuah Negara Islam' (Malaysia an Islamic State).

Lim said the 25-page booklet authored by Wan Zahidi Wan The, a member of the National Fatwa Council, made disturbing and insensitive references to non-Muslims, calling them kafir (infidels),zimmi (non-Muslims living in an Islamic state) and even touched on the imposition of kharaj (land tax on non-Muslims).

Yesterday, Deputy Information Minister Mohd Khalid Yunus announced the retraction saying the booklet "caused harm" when DAP member of parliament Kerk Kim Hock questioned the government's motive for publishing it.