What is a secular state?

Sim Kwang Yang

SIM KWANG YANG was DAP MP for Bandar Kuching in Sarawak 1982-1995. Since retiring in 1995, he has become a freelance writer in the Chinese-language press, and taught philosophy in a local college for three years.

He is now working with an NGO in Kuala Lumpur, the Omnicron Learning Circle, which is aimed at continuing learning for working adults and college students. Suggestions and feedback can reach him at: [email protected].

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The term has come into fashion in recent years, following the spectacular success of PAS at the polls in Kelantan and Terangganu. The demand for Malaysia to remain as a secular state as defined by the Federal Constitution is principally a reaction of non-Muslims in the country against the idea of setting up an Islamic state as proposed by PAS.

There is no doubt that the absolutist stand of PAS on their ideal of an Islamic state has remained the single most thorny issue that stands in the way of forming a broad based opposition alliance that could present itself as an alternative government. At the moment, all discussions on the subject seem to have reached an impasse.

To demand that PAS give up their ideal of implementing Islamic laws is impossible, because the idea of an Islamic state is the raison deter for their very existence. Ergo, the ideological rift between the opposition parties seem insoluble, and the much weakened BN looks set to storm into power for yet another term.

In this continuing debate however, it is a little unreasonable for non-Muslim citizens to demand that Malay leaders within the other opposition parties also denounce the idea of an Islamic state propounded by PAS. Given the communal nature of our electoral politics, and the tendency of our media to distort and demonise the opposition, it would be near anathema to their political survival if they openly declare their denunciation of a complete Islamic way of life for all Muslims. It would make them look less Malay and un-Islamic!

For non-Muslims to accuse Malay opposition leaders of opportunism and complicity in promoting the perceived horrors of an Islamic state when they fail to break with PAS outright is also a little less than prudent. They would be committing the very evil of which Umno is often accused, i.e. that of alienating what appears to be different, and marginalising it to the realm of a homogenised stereotyped menacing Other.