PETALING JAYA: The National Patriots Association (Patriot) has rejected a Muslim group's petition to declare Malaysia an Islamic state, saying that the Federal Constitution must remain as the founding fathers intended. President Brig-Jen (Rtd) Datuk Mohamed Arshad Raji said any suggestion to amend the Constitution should be for making it more democratic and not more autocratic. Mohamed Arshad said Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma), which had launched its petition to reject a secular government, should define what it meant by "Islamic state". Mohamed Arshad said in many ways Malaysia had already adopted Islamic principles in the system of governance and administration as the nation recognised Islam as the official religion. "Patriot is also of the view that under the current democratic constitution, our country has a better chance to develop into a united and successful nation than under a constitution based on theocracy," he added.

Source: thestar January 03, 2019 02:03 UTC