The Islamic state once again proved to be a sensitive issue when it ignited a verbal salvo in the Dewan Rakyat today with one Barisan Nasional member of Parliament going to the extent of using the four-letter word.

The commotion broke out when an opposition MP criticised the Chinese-based parties in Barisan Nasional for their "submission" to Umno over the Islamic state.

DAP MP for Bukit Mertajam Chong Eng said MCA, Gerakan and the Sarawak United Peoples' Party (SUPP) failed to retaliate when Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced recently that Malaysia was an Islamic state.

But these parties were totally against PAS' intention of setting up an Islamic state should the party come into power, she added when debating the Supplementary Supply Bill for 2002.

After the premier's announcement, Chong Eng said the three BN parties declared their support and even told their supporters that BN's version of an Islamic state was a 'secular' one.

The opposition MP also called on Mahathir to submit a written statement on BN's definition of an Islamic state just as the premier had asked PAS to state their version of an Islamic state.

'Chaotic and violent'

Chong Eng also took the Chinese-based parties to task over their anti-Islamic state campaign for the recently concluded Sarawak elections.

"In the recent Sarawak elections, MCA, Gerakan and SUPP were so against the Islamic state as if an Islamic state was the worst kind of Satan in Malaysia," she said.

"They told the non-Muslim people there that an Islamic state would be chaotic and violent. There would be murders and theft. They also said there would be no place for non-Muslims in an Islamic state," she added.

Her remarks infuriated several BN MPs who began shouting at her for "smearing the image of Islam".

This prompted several opposition MPs to join the fracas in support of Chong Eng, resulting in a heated shouting match which lasted for about five minutes.

Deputy speaker Lim Si Cheng had a hard time trying to calm the MPs. However things pacified when DAP MP for Batu Gajah Fong Po Kuan invoked a point of order to request the House to act against 'furious MPs'.

Following this, Chong Eng continued with her Islamic state argument saying that the federal constitution states that this country is a secular state.

"What is needed is not an Islamic state but an inclusive religious policy that does not marginalise non-Muslims," she said.

"Non-Muslims have the right to voice out their feelings and concerns because Islam is the official religion of this country and an Islamic state system would affect all of us," added Chong Eng.

Sensitive issue

Later, at the Parliament lobby, BN MP for Sri Gading Mohamed Aziz told malaysiakini that he was disappointed with Chong Eng for raising a sensitive issue.

He said non-Muslims had the right to raise such issues in their own community but not when Muslims were present.

"We have to be sensitive to people of other races and religions. We have to be responsible when raising such issues.

"Tolerance and harmony among the races are our best assets and we should do all we can to preserve it," said Mohamed who was one of those involved in the shouting match.

However, PAS president Fadzil Noor defended Chong Eng saying that she had the right to raise the issue as an MP and non-Muslim.

"We should not be so rigid until others have no space to voice their concerns. BN's manner of handling this is uncalled for," he told malaysiakini .

"There are many things being said against Islam outside Parliament but why don't the Umno MPs react to that?"queried the opposition leader.