MCCBCHST and Muslims

Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) has a new suggestion for the Law Reform Act 1976. Vice president, Jagir Singh suggested that if a spouse converts to Islam, a declaration has to be made by that spouse within seven days.

One has to wonder what happens on the eighth day if the spouse does not make a declaration. I have witnessed many cases in my life with regards to conversions. Mothers who converted, were beaten by their own children, parents threatening suicide, spouses running away with children to name a few incidents.

If someone declares his or her faith to a member of their family, things are not always within expectations. This suggestion by Jagir is merely to prevent people from becoming Muslims. MCCBCHST has many times spoken, and can be very insidious with their remarks towards the Muslim majority.

There can be no sane reason for an act that can cause chaos between family members. The declaration of faith should be made, no doubt, but by the people involved in the scene. It should not be dictated by outsiders, family members can find a suitable time to share their feelings. This could pose a seroius problem if done under duress of legal actions. 

It is as though MCCBCHST likes to pick a fight with Muslims and/or Islamic Authorities. Previously they vented their anger at the Private Member’s Bill to amend Act 355. Not only that, but they also chose to call the Bill an attempt to introduce hudud. Whereas we Muslims know for sure that punishments regarding hudud are under the jurisdiction of the Federal Courts and not the Syariah Courts.

If they do not know, they could have asked, but if they know and they choose to ignore the fact and maintain falsehood then what can we say? One can only make an effort to explain, but it is up to the listener and/or reader to accept or reject an explanation. One can’t force people to understand.

You can’t force a kindergarten student to understand algebra, or vector calculus for that matter. But you can introduce a child to colours, counting and so forth. We shall assume that MCCBCHST does not understand Islam rather than accusing of being intentionally seditious. Not understanding and not making an effort to understand are two different things. The former could be forgiven but not the latter.

Early last year, an effort to distribute translated copies of the Quran for free caught the attention of MCCBCHST. Instead of trying to understand Islam, Muslims and the Malays MCCBCHST chose to pick a fight and pressure the NGOs involved to stop their efforts. They even went as far as to incite people against accepting the translated copies. Thank God the NGOs involved did not bow down to pressure.

Their argument was, “MCCBCHST is of the view that the intended distribution of the translated copies of the Quran to Non-Muslims is obnoxious as a similar right is not given to Non-Muslims.” Their presence seems to be to incite and provoke the populace against Islam. 

The Federal Constitution clearly mentions Islam as the Religion of the Federation, though other religions can be practiced. Practiced yes, but in peace and harmony. MCCBCHST is  going against the Federal Constitution on multiple accounts apart from inciting the minority to move against the majority.

Instead of promoting and propagating harmony, some people choose to incite hatred and create an air of unease. This action has to have an objective, it would not have been done if it was merely to incite. There has to be a bigger cause, why would they question everything that is in the Syariah Criminal Enactment?

Can’t we all live in peace, after all in a democracy it is the voice of the majority that rules over the minority. Some people are yet to understand the meaning of democracy in its true sense. They want the minority to rule over the majority. Something that is very undemocratic.

Hopefully MCCBCHST will come to their senses and stop making such comments and/or suggestions in the future.

Rehan Ahmad Bin Jamaluddin Ahmad
Research Fellow, Institut Kajian Strategik Islam Malaysia (IKSIM)