DAP parliamentarians exacted revenge of sorts on their Barisan Nasional counterparts with their version of the Merdeka declaration - shouts of 'Merdeka, Secular Malaysia!' in the Dewan Rakyat today.

It all started during the second reading of Supplementary Supply Bill 2007, tabled by Deputy Finance Minister II Dr Awang Adek Hussin.

Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang, who rose to debate it, began with a shout of "Merdeka, Secular Malaysia!", repeated seven times and echoed by other DAP MPs.

When it was over, Lim questioned the patriotism of BN MPs.

"They (BN MPs) did not shout 'Merdeka' after us. They did not even rise from their seats. Does that mean that they are not loyal to the country?" asked Lim.

Last week, opposition MPs were labelled 'traitors' for not having participated in a similar declaration of Merdeka conducted by BN MPs.

Lim said the DAP declaration was done to prove that they, too, are patriotic.

"We are even ready to go the prison to defend our country, unlike some corrupt and selfish BN politicians," he said.

"What happened that day (Wednesday) was just a fuss about Merdeka celebrations. Why did you (BN parliamentarians) do that?"

He accused them of having widened the gap among various quarters instead of bringing everyone together for the 50th Independence celebrations.

"Merdeka celebrations are supposed to bring everybody, regardless of race, religion and beliefs together, and you have failed to do so," he charged.

"Is Merdeka a national celebration or a Barisan Nasional celebration? Or more specifically, is it an Umno celebration?"

Burden on public

Stressing that all political parties have contributed towards Independence, Lim said: "Although DAP did not exist in 1957, we have been around since 1966 and we have equally contributed to the country's development."

He further stressed that the public must be able to enjoy the 'feel good' factor during the golden anniversary of independence.

"We should be feel better, just as Prime Minister's (Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) 'feel good' factor gave him a landslide victory in the 2004 general election," he said.

Instead, the public are experiencing the worst case of the 'feel bad' factor where they are burdened with so many issues, he pointed out.

Citing the Port Klang Free Zone as an example, Lim said: "When the project was initiated, the government claimed that it would be feasible and self-funding. However, now the project needs a RM4.6 billion bailout from the government. Why must the public carry the burden of a failed project?

"Instead of taking the culprits - who are the real 'traitors' - to court, we look for avenues to charge (rapper) Wee Meng Chee , who was just expressing his feelings in the form of a song (set to the background of the national anthem)."

Not only that, Lim said, various restrictions have been placed on the mainstream media which "is not allowed to cover so many pressing issues such as the recent announcement that Malaysia is an Islamic state".

"What does all this mean? That we're seeing an era of repression after (the 2004) election?" he asked.