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Media Statement (2)
by Lim Kit Siang  
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(Ipoh, Saturday): I am seeking a meeting with the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as I am very concerned at the disturbing  turn of developments in the controversy over Article 121(1A) following the M. Moorthy case.

A rampage has started against  the  unprecedented memorandum by nine of the ten non-Muslim ministers  to the Prime Minister, with the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz demanding that  the non-Muslim ministers should  withdraw the memorandum as it was a “threat” and challenge to Abdullah as Prime Minister.

He added that “their action seems to suggest a rift between non-Muslim and Muslim ministers”.

I want to make a call to all concerned, particularly Barisan Nasional leaders and parties, not to create a synthetic political crisis.  There is no conflict and tension between Muslims and non-Muslims or Malays and non-Malays, as the issue at stake is about the question of justice – the restoration of the pre-1988 position of the constitutional rights of the non-Muslim Malaysians.

Before the 1988 constitutional amendment on Article 121(1A), if  the question  was asked whether the rights and interests  of non-Muslims could be adversely affected by Syariah law and courts, the answer would be a definitive  and indisputable “no” by all quarters, whether Muslims and non-Muslims.  However,  after the 1988 Constitutional amendment of Article 121(1A), such an answer cannot be given.

This is the nub of the issue -  to restore to non-Muslim Malaysians their constitutional  right not to be adversely affected by Syariah law and courts by maintaining their right to remedy in the civil courts - a cardinal principle of the “social contract” on which this nation was founded in 1957.

The unprecedented  memorandum by the non-Muslim Ministers could be given two interpretations.

The worst interpretation is to regard the  memorandum by the non-Muslim Ministers as  a “threat” and challenge to the authority of Abdullah as Prime Minister.  Is this credible? Is there any possibility that the memorandum by the non-Muslim ministers, whether MCA, Gerakan, MIC, SUPP or the Sabah Barisan Nasional parties,  was conceived and intended as a challenge to the authority and premiership of Abdullah?

I think the political history and reality of Malaysia is such that such a notion  is completely unthinkable.  As a result, any attempt to read the memorandum as a “threat” and challenge to Abdullah’s authority when there is no basis whatsoever is the height of irresponsibility – especially if the result is to plunge the country into a synthetic political crisis.

This leaves the other interpretation – that the memorandum by the non-Muslim ministers was more an act of desperation or impotence, reflecting their lack of confidence that their views will be given proper weight and consideration in the Cabinet.

This is a test of the leadership and statesmanship of Abdullah as Prime Minister. However annoyed he may be with the memorandum by the non-Muslim ministers, he should know that it was never intended to be a “threat” or challenge to his authority and he should not allow the creation of a synthetic political crisis not only  with serious ethnic and religious implications, but which will completely distract the focus and attention on a just solution to the Article 121(1A) and Moorthy controversies.

Abdullah should demonstrate that the country has moved away from the past era where a synthetic political crisis could easily be manufactured as a prelude to a massive crackdown on  human rights crackdown like the Operation Lalang of 1987.

Malaysia will be celebrating our 50^th year nationhood in 2007. Let us prove that Malaysians  have room to  discuss sensitive issues affecting their  constitutional rights even those pertaining to religion  in a mature and  rational manner free from emotional outbursts.

    
(21/01/2006)