Malaysia’s secularism based on Constitution, Alliance Memorandum, says MCA

MCA: Malaysia Remains a Secular State with Islam as the Official Religion

PETALING JAYA – In response to recent debates surrounding Malaysia’s legal and constitutional nature, MCA has reaffirmed that Malaysia is a secular state with Islam as its official religion. The party claims that the country’s secularism is clearly outlined in the Federal Constitution and the Alliance Memorandum of 1956.

MCA, as a member of the Alliance Coalition, played a crucial role in shaping the Alliance Memorandum presented to the Reid Constitutional Commission in 1956. The memorandum explicitly stated that “the religion of Malaya shall be Islam… and shall not imply that the state is not a secular state”.

The party also emphasized that the Federal Constitution protects Islam and the position of Malay Rulers as heads of Islam in their respective states. According to Article 4 of the Federal Constitution, it establishes the Constitution as the supreme law of the land.

“MCA unequivocally asserts that Malaysia is a democratic and secular state, with Islam as the official religion. This position has remained unchanged for the past seven decades,” the party stated.

Explaining further, MCA clarified that a secular state is one where the source of law is secular. In Malaysia, religious authorities derive their authority from secular laws enacted by the Malaysian Parliament. Islam is enshrined in Article 3 of the Federal Constitution, which forms the foundation of our nation and is itself a secular document.

MCA made a clear distinction between Malaysia and a theocratic state like Saudi Arabia, where religious laws and scriptures are the primary source of legislation. Malaysia, on the other hand, relies on the Constitution, Parliament, and the Court.

The party pointed out that secularism can take different forms, and it is not uncommon for secular nations like the United Kingdom to integrate religion into their systems. MCA compared this to Malaysia’s approach, which includes the presence of a state church led by the monarchy.

MCA’s statement comes in response to instances where political leaders conflate Malaysia’s secularism with the concept of “complete separation of state and religion.” The party urges leaders to exercise greater responsibility when discussing Malaysia’s legal and constitutional nature to avoid any misinterpretation that could cause confusion and undermine international confidence in the country.