YOURSAY | Separate religion from politics and govt

[superadmin]

David Dass: This is a good essay by Bukit Bendera MP Syerleena Abdul Rashid. When moderates say secular, they do not mean irreligious.

Malaysians generally follow some religion or the other. Most Malaysians are religious. When we say secular, we say separate religion from politics and government. Why do we say that?

First, even if all Malaysians followed one faith, there would invariably be differences in interpretation and opinion of religious tenets. Even clerics disagree. Secondly, the country will move from being a democracy to a theocracy. That is where power and authority shifted to the clerics. We see that in Iran.

Thirdly Malaysia is a diverse country where more than 40 percent of the people are not Muslims. We are all held together by a Constitution that guarantees equality, non-discrimination and freedom of worship. To move from the Constitution to the syariah requires the abrogation of our Constitution.

That will not be possible - in law and from a practical point of view. Be as religious as you want. This should mean being good, compassionate, charitable, just and fair to all. But do not seek to impose one set of religious views on all.

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