Badruddin Amiruldin has done it again. Last year, the Jerai MP riled up many when he threatened a repeat of the May 13 riots should the position of Islam and privileges of Muslims be questioned.

This time around, he said non-Muslims who do not fancy this country being an Islamic state, can leave the country.

His outburst in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday was triggered by comments from Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang (DAP - Ipoh Timor) pertaining to the status of Malaysia as a secular state, as per the federal constitution.

Lim had insisted that Malaysia was not an Islamic state and to which Badruddin had yelled "this is an Islamic state... if anyone doesn't like it, just get out of Malaysia".

Parti Keadilan Rakyat president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail today termed Badruddin's remarks as unbecoming of a BN backbencher, who is also the permanent Umno deputy chair.

"His actions has brought about tensions and skewed views towards Islam," said Wan Azizah (PKR-Permatang Pauh) in a statement.

Impose a ban

Meanwhile, in another matter, DAP leader Lim took exception to the term kafir used by Raja Ahmad Zainudin Raja Omar (BN - Larut) in Parliament last week for those countries in the Organisation of Islamic Conference with secular constitutions.

Lim wants Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to repudiate Ahmad Zainuddin for his "irresponsible and mischievous" statement.

He said such remarks would neither win friends for Malaysia overseas nor foster "multi-racial and multi-religious harmony" within the country.

"The term kafir , though it means non-Muslims and non-believers, is highly offensive and derogatory in the Malaysian context," he added in a statement today.

Lim said Umno has often accused PAS leaders of kafir-mengafir , but PAS leaders and MPs whether inside Palriament or outside had never used this term on non-Muslims.

This "seems to be the monopoly of certain Umno leaders and MPs", he added.

He said the first step to multi-racial and multi-religious harmony in Malaysia is for Umno leaders and MPs to show greater sensitivities and respect to non-Muslims.

He suggested that a ban be imposed on all Umno MPs from using the term kafir on non-Muslims, whether in Parliament or elsewhere.