Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Bernard Dompok has received rare support from the opposition for breaking ranks on the Islamic state issue.

Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang commented Dompok, a senior ruling politician from Sabah, for "his honesty, courage and conviction in speaking the truth that Malaysia is not an Islamic state".

Dompok ( left ) was surprisingly candid in an off-the-cuff speech yesterday while launching 'The Merdeka Statement' by the Centre for Public Policy Studies in Kuala Lumpur.

He argued that the nation's founders did not have in mind an Islamic state when the Federation of Malaysia was formed in 1963.

"I think my colleagues in the government will forgive me for saying that I will not agree that we are an Islamic state," added Dompok, who is leader of Sabah's United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation.

Dompok is the first minister to speak out on the controversial issue after a gag order was issued in wake of Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's 'Malaysia is an Islamic state' remark two weeks ago.

According to Lim, who is DAP leader, Dompok has made all Sabahans and Malaysians proud.

"Dompok must be commended for being the first minister from Sabah and Sarawak with the political principle, conviction and integrity to speak up to defend and uphold the fundamental principle of nation-building in the establishment of Malaysia," he said.

"The question is which next minister or deputy minister, whether at national or state level, Sabah or Sarawak, will now emulate Bernard to speak and defend the truth."

According to Lim ( left ), Malaysia is a secular state with Islam as the official religion and not an Islamic state.

"This was not only the crux of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 but also of the Merdeka social contract leading to the attainment of national independence 50 years ago."

No stranger to controversy

Dompok is no stranger to controversy. Five months ago, he unexpectedly quit as chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Integrity.

Officially, he said as a minister he was too busy to head such a committee.

However, it is believed that his resignation was due to sheer frustration of not getting support from those within the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.

His colleague in the Prime Minister's Department, Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz, had ticked him off for coming under the "control" of Lim, who is deputy chair of the committee.

In the past year, the committee has taken up a number of controversial issues including allegations of foreigners in Sabah being given identity cards to vote in elections and charges of corruption involving ex-Anti-Corruption Agency chief Zulkipli Mat Noor .

The select committee, which has 12 members - 10 from Barisan Nasional and two from the opposition - allows members of parliament to, among others, inquire into cases of corruption and abuse of power.

It will be holding its second series of public hearings - Johor Baru on Aug 8, Malacca on Aug 9, Ipoh on Aug 15 and Alor Setar on Aug 16.