So, the PM has clarified what majority of Malaysians are already clear about. Only those few "goblok" politicians who have nothing better to do other than creating controversies are still unclear. I think that MCA in their rebuttal mentioned that ours is not a Islamic country, but did not say that we are secular per se. Of course now all the politicians will hail the briliance of our PM and those who erred will say quote "misunderstood" or "misquoted".
Lets wait for the next round of controversy to happen again.
By DERRICK VINESH
BUKIT MERTAJAM: Malaysia is not a secular state and neither is it a theocratic state, said Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Reiterating that Malaysia is a multiracial nation that observes freedom of religious practice, the Prime Minister said:
 |
|
Contributions remembered: Abdullah Ahmad Badawi presenting the Anugerah Wira Merdeka (Merdeka Hero Award) to Abdul Rahman Lazim, 73, during a function at the Tuanku Bainun Teachers Training College in Mengkuang, Bukit Mertajam, yesterday. With them are (from left) Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon and Penanti Assemblyman Datuk Abdul Jalil Abdul Majid.
|
“We are a government that is based on parliamentary democracy; a government that is responsible to the parliament and the people.
“It is a government that is made up of Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus and Christians, who work together and discuss together development policies for the nation.”
He said the Government gave due attention to all races, who enjoy religious freedom as provided for in the Constitution.
“Be it a surau, masjid, temple or church, when there is a need for it, the Government gives the necessary aid,” he told a mass gathering at the Tuanku Bainun Teachers Training College in Mengkuang here yesterday.
“Secular nations do not practise such freedom. To them, religious practice can only be done at home,” he said, responding to critics who claimed that the Government advocates secularism.
Abdullah said the country’s multiethnic and multireligious compositions had never been a problem to Malaysians.
“This diversity has enabled us to live in peace and harmony. Let us continue with our own unique Malaysian way,” he said.
The Prime Minister said the country had progressed with its unique formula for 50 years and was now successful.
“I do not see why such a government cannot progress in the years to come,” he said.
In a tribute to the country’s founding fathers, Abdullah said they had fought for the nation’s independence but their struggles were not yet over and must be continued through the present generation.
The current struggle was to eradicate poverty and prejudiced feelings that could derail the nation’s unity, he added.
The NST:source
The prime minister called for a stop to the polemic of whether Malaysia was an Islamic or secular country. He said Malaysia was not a secular or theocratic country but one which was based on parliamentary democracy. He said the government never marginalised any minority group or religion and that religious diversity in the country had never been a problem.
"This diversity is not a liability but is actually what makes us strong.
"We have always given attention to every group and our leadership is based on the consensus of all races."
The prime minister added this was what made Malaysia a unique country. Abdullah said the bigger ethnic group had never suppressed the smaller groups and this had contributed to the country’s continued peace and prosperity.
"We should all be thankful that our efforts to develop the country have never been derailed since we achieved independence.
"The government has always been able to carry through all development projects thanks to the people’s continued support for the Barisan Nasional since the time the coalition was known as the Alliance."
| 
Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email 
