KOTA KINABALU: The government must act fast and resolutely against those who undermined the Federal Constitution, regardless of who they are, said the Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS).
“It’s time for the government to take the bull by the horns and show the people of Malaysia the right path forward in preserving what our founding fathers had envisioned for us during the formation of our beloved country, that Malaysia is a secular state and it shall remain so.
“Anything less would only reflect poorly on the present government as the custodian of the nation and its people,” said FCAS president Tan Sri TC Goh.
He said this in support for the statement of Minister of Special Tasks, Datuk Seri Panglima Teo Chee Kang that the Federation of Malaysia would not have been formed if there was a condition to make Malaysia an Islamic state.
Teo was reported to have said this while refuting the recent statement of Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Senator Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki that the Barisan Nasional (BN) government was not shirking its responsibility to make Malaysia an Islamic state.
Teo, who is also the LDP president, also urged federal officers and leaders to be cautious in making statements and take into consideration the feelings of non-Muslims in the country, particularly the minority groups in Sabah and Sarawak.
In a statement issued yesterday, Goh reminded that during the meeting held in 1956 with members of the Alliance (the coalition of Umno, MCA and MIC), Rulers and the High Commissioners, it was minuted that the first prime minister of Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman, assured members that “the whole Constitution was framed on the basis that the Federation would be a secular State”.
“Hence, we in FCAS deem any talk by any individual or group to change such a status-quo, without going through the proper channel of amending the Federal Constitution, as a treacherous act and should be dealt with seriously and resolutely,” he said.
Goh then expressed both regret and concern that there clearly had been a growing trend of religious extremism and racial discrimination in the country over the last few years, including the most recent incidents of segregation for Muslim and non-Muslim students in a primary school in Selangor, the protest against the organising of the Oktoberfest in Selangor, the Muslim-only self-service launderette in Johor, and followed by the disparaging remarks of controversial preacher Zamihan Mat Zin against the Chinese by calling them ‘unhygienic’ and accused them of ‘not washing up after defecating and urinating’.
He attributed such a worrying trend largely to the government’s failure to act fast and resolutely against those who were responsible.
“We in FCAS are nonetheless thankful that the Malay Rulers had not wasted any time to speak out against such incidents.
“We, therefore, sincerely hope that the government could take a cue from and be guided by the media statement issued by the Malay Rulers recently that any policy should take into account the minority groups in Malaysia,” he said.
Goh also opined that government should immediately review and revise the existing school textbooks to ensure that the ‘fundamental principles’ of the Constitution and correct historical facts of the nation are adequately taught to the schoolchildren.
“This is necessary, so that they would not have misconception of the country when they grow up to become part of the society, and a leader, especially,” he said.
Besides this, he also suggested that the government make good use of such government agencies like the National Civics Bureau (BTN) to conduct a refresher course for politicians and government officers who showed signs of deviation from the fundamental principles of the Constitution.