Kemaman by-election: Not possible for Malaysia to become secular country, says Umno sec-gen

CHUKAI: It is not possible that Malaysia will become a secular country that separates the national and state administrations from Islam, says Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki.

The Umno secretary-general said claims by PAS leaders that the administration of the unity government was heading towards making this country a secular one were just lies.

He said that the unity government was formed with the presence of Umno MPs who would, of course, oppose any such move if the matter was to be raised in Parliament, as claimed.

"Malaysia can only become a secular country if two-thirds of the MPs agree to amend Article 3 of the Federal Constitution, which places Islam as the official religion of the country.

"Umno members will not be so dumb (as to support the amendment), similarly Muslims in Parti Keadlian Rakyat (PKR) will also not be so stupid.

"The same goes to the eight MPs from Parti Amanah Negara, who will defend Islam. We still have faith, we still have Islam in us," he said while speaking in Kampung Chabang, Kerteh near here, on Wednesday (Nov 22) night in conjunction with the Kemaman by-election.

Article 3 of the Federal Constitution stipulates that Islam is the official religion of the Federation, but other religions may be practised peacefully in any part of the Federation.

Asyraf said this country also has the Malay rulers who have authority as the head of the Islamic religion in their respective states and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for the states of Melaka, Penang, Sabah, Sarawak and the Federal Territories.

"If the PAS tries to deceive the people that this country wants to become secular, we still have the Malay Rulers. So it is not possible for this country to become a secular country," he said.

The Kemaman by-election is a straight fight between Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Gen (R) Tan Sri Raja Mohamed Affandi Raja Mohamed Noor and Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar representing PAS.

The Election Commission (EC) has set Nov 28 for early voting and Dec 2 for polling day. - Bernama