DAP took a swipe at Gerakan leader Dr Lim Keng Yaik for claiming that the party's 'No to 929' campaign was intended to create tensions between Muslims and non-Muslims in the country.

Party national chairperson Lim Kit Siang said that politicians here must remember that the nation was founded as a secular state with Islam as official religion.

The 'No to 929' campaign refers to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's declaration that Malaysia is an Islamic state on Sept 29 last year.

"Keng Yaik should be ashamed of himself and should withdraw and apologise for such irresponsible and unethical politicking," said Lim in a statement yesterday.

The Barisan Nasional leader had slammed DAP's campaign during the Penang Gerakan delegates conference last Sunday.

Meanwhile, Lim said the country's founding fathers did not support the creation of an Islamic state, although Islam was the country's official religion.

"Tunku Abdul Rahman (the first prime minister) said the nation was set up as a secular state and this was enshrined in the Constitution in 1957," he said.

"Gerakan and MCA leaders like Keng Yaik and (MCA president) Dr Ling Liong Sik also suffer from the mudah lupa (easy to forget) syndrome," he added.

Remain faithful

The veteran politician also called on his peers to remain faithful to the stand taken by Malaysia's first three Prime Ministers by rejecting the formation of an Islamic state.

Yesterday, Lim launched the second phase of the 'No to 911, No to 929, Yes to 1957' People's Awareness Campaign in Ipoh, Perak.

Last month, the DAP chief was arrested in Ipoh for distributing 'No to 929' leaflets which allegedly contained seditious statements.

He was released on police bail three hours later and this was revoked yesterday.