The DAP is pleading with Umno and PAS to seriously think about taking on a more moderate stance in matters concerning Islam so as to dispel the notion that Malaysia is a terrorist hotbed.

Referring to the New Year's Eve messages of major Indonesia-based Muslim groups Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama, DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang said Malaysia should consider a more moderate stand on Islam.

"If such voices of moderation (Indonesian groups) can be the mainstream opinion in a country which is home to the majority of the world's Muslims, it should be the guiding voice and principle for Malaysia which is a more pluralistic nation," he said in a statement today.

Lim quoted Muhammadiyah chairperson Ahmad Syafii Maarif as saying that there was no need to push on for syariah, but to "take the substance of Islamic values and implement them in Indonesia, not the symbols".

Ahmad also said that if Muslims pressed on with religious formalities such as syariah or the establishment of an Islamic state, "they would collide with other religious communities in the pluralistic nation".

Disappointed with PAS, Umno

Lim also quoted Nahdlatul Ulama chairperson Hasyim Muzadi as saying that it was unrealistic to struggle for syariah to be enforced in Indonesia.

"What we need is to develop universal values for people's prosperity," said Hasyim, adding that Muslims and followers of other faiths should "promote religious values that were compatible with national interests".

Muhammadiyah has 30 million adherents while Nahdlatul Ulama has 40 million in a country where 88 percent of the 230 million population are Muslims.

Expressing his disappointment over negative responses by PAS to both the groups, Lim said PAS and Umno should give deep and serious considerations to the calls.

He said both parties should take effective measures to assure citizens and the world that Malaysia will uphold the constitutional principle of a democratic, secular and multi-religious country.

As assurances, he said, PAS must withdraw the Syariah Criminal Enactments in Terengganu and Kelantan, and Umno must withdraw the Islamic state declaration made by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad at Gerakan's national delegates conference on Sept 29, 2001.

Singpore's White Paper

Lim also noted that the Singapore government had announced plans to release a White Paper on Jemaah Islamiah (JI) on Friday, Jan 10, to explain to Singaporeans the most serious security issue confronting them.

A parliamentary debate on the subject has been scheduled for Jan 20.

Lim said there will be five main parts to the Singapore White Paper:

  • various terrorist groups in Southeast Asia and their links;

  • the JI and its ties with other radical militant groups;

  • development of the JI in Singapore;

  • recommendations of the Internal Security Act; and

  • how Singapore may protect itself from the terrorism threat.

    • "In the past 18 months, the DAP had made numerous calls for a government White Paper to take Malaysians into its confidence about the threat of terrorism in the country," he said.

    "A White Paper is urgently needed to address the queries and doubts over the government's handling of the terrorist threat here, including whether there had been a major intelligence failure on the terrorist activities, sleeper cells and networks of al-Qaeda-linked JI in the past decade."

    Lim added that the DAP will request an appointment with Inspector-General of Police Norian Mai to seek an explanation on these issues.