Kota Melaka MP Wong Nai Chee said MCA must not shirk from taking a clear stand in opposing creeping Islamisation in the country.

"Don't just oppose it in the cabinet, but make it clear to the citizens and the Chinese community that there is no such move towards that direction," said an agitated Wong at today's debate session of the MCA annual general meeting.

Wong pointed out the recent rise in support for Islamisation , and felt that Article 121(1A) of the Federal Constitution, which prevents civil courts from intervening in Syariah Court decisions, has eroded the rights of non-Muslims.

"For this reason, MCA must oppose any potential of Islamisation," he said.

Wong listed a number of reasons why MCA should take a more active role in stopping Islamisation.

  • When the Federal Constitution was drafted, upon advice by the Reid Commission, it was clearly stated that Malaysia is a secular state.

  • A High Court had ruled in 1998 that Malaysia is a secular state.

  • Christmas, Deepavali and other religious festivals are considered as part of the national holiday celebrations.

    • "Finally, if our country is not a secular state, we would not be following a secular constitution, but would refer to the al-Quran instead," he said.

    Breeding racism

    He cited the 2003 Shamala Sathiyaseelan v Dr Jeyaganesh C Mogarajah case where non-Muslims have no judiciary right under Article 121(1A).

    Shamala's husband, Jeyaganesh, who had converted to Islam, obtained a Syariah Court order to keep custody of their children. He went on to convert their children - aged two and four at the time - to Islam, and this conversion was later upheld by the High Court.

    "It is clear that non-Muslims have no judiciary right under Article 121(1A) and I urge the Chinese community to be vigilant of such 'cases' as it may happen to them as well," said Wong.

    The MCA parliamentarian also criticised the popularisation of the term 'Ketuanan Melayu' among the Malay community.

    He said the term is a cryptic reference to racial superiority. "The use of such terms is breeding racism," he said.

    He said that in the struggle towards a more egalitarian anti-racist society, "people should not fall in to the trap of polarisation."

    "We should promote equal rights, as the Constitution was intended for. We must not allow nor tolerate a 'one country, two system' mentality," he said.