Is Malaysia an Islamic or Secular State?

The debates are still on-going but there appears to be no seriousness in Malaysia to end the polemics once and for all. Ending the polemics might not be possible but if there is a forum to explain to the men-in-the-street of whether Malaysia is an Islamic or secular state, then, I think, the issue would continue to be sensasionalised. The national-level forum should involve high-ranking government officials, academics, community leaders and those approriate individuals. The discussion should stick to fact than emotion by looking at the Federal Constitution--the highest law in Malaysia and the basis in which Malaysia was born. So far, the PM and DPM have failed to give satisfactory response on the issue. The MCA representative, so far, did a better job by furnishing various documents to support the secularist argument. But I, in particular, am touched by the analysis by Dr. Chandra Muzaffar of JUST who neither stated Malaysia being an Islamic state nor a secular one. He simply stated that Malaysia is a country that practices parliamentary democracy. I like Dr. Chandra's moderate and conciliatory approach than that of DPM and other UMNO politicians. The PM could have done a better job had he defended his view convincingly and invited Malaysian to a healthy debate on the issue. In the final analysis, to answer the question posted, my view is that MALAYSIA IS NOT AN ISLAMIC STATE, NOR IS IT A FULL SECULAR STATE. IT IS A SEMI-SECULAR STATE THAT PRACTICES PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACY. By SEMI-SECULAR it is meant that though the element of being a secular country exists in the Malaysian Constitution, one must not forget the fact that there're also religious elements being practised in the administration particularly those related to the religion of Islam. But those elements do not make Malaysia an Islamic state. It is just that it has been practised as part of the Malaysian heritage. We should preserve and defend the constitution as it is and ensure that it is not misinterpreted to serve the veiled interests of certain people.