The classification of Malaysia as a secular nation by the first three prime ministers was based on their personal opinions, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Parliamentary secretary of the Prime Minister's Department Mashitah Ibrahim said this in response to a supplementary question from Karpal Singh (DAP-Bukit Gelugor).

The opposition leader wanted to know the present administration's stand on Malaysia's religious classification.

"It is a well-known fact that Tunku (Abdul Rahman), Tun Abdul Razak and Tun Hussein Onn did not categorise Malaysia as an Islamic nation.

"Does the present government consider Malaysia an Islamic country or a secular one? I want an answer from the parliamentary secretary," said Karpal.

Mashitah replied that this was not an issue since it was stated more than 20 times in the Federal Constitution that Islam was the official religion of the country.

"The opinions of the former prime ministers that Malaysia was a secular nation were purely personal," she said.

'Sensitive issue'

Following this, Karpal came under fire from backbenchers Badruddin Amiruldin (BN-Jerai) and Mohamed Aziz (BN-Sri Gading) for raising a 'sensitive' issue and 'straying' from the original discussion.

Their rebuke was met by jeers and shouts of ' bahaya ' (dangerous) from the opposition MPs.

The issue arose when the phrasing of Badruddin's question on the implementation of Islam Hadhari in ministries and government agencies came under scrutiny.

In his question, the backbencher had referred to Malaysia as an Islamic nation.

The Islam Hadhari, or civilisational Islam, concept was mooted by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and focused on cultural and moral integrity of society.

Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad had in 2001 declared Malaysia an Islamic state drawing flak from the opposition, mostly DAP.