GEORGE TOWN, JULY 4- A former senator today linked the tabling of the controversial religious conversion Bill to an alleged Umno agenda to punish non-Malays for rejecting Barisan Nasional in the 13th general election.
S Ramakrishnan (photo), an official of Selangor DAP, said in a press statement that Umno was becoming increasingly insensitive to the feelings of non-Malays, especially since the May 5 election.
However, he added, the party’s attempt to whip up chauvinistic sentiments was bound to backfire and would hasten its downfall.
The results of the recent election, according to him, could be taken as a sign that Umno’s end was near, for it showed that young and urban Malays were turning their backs on the party.
Ramakrishnan also said the bill to amend the Administration of Islamic Law (Federal Territories) Act, if passed, would scuttle Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s programme to shape the character of Malaysia’s plural society into one that would be deserving of the “Truly Asia” label.
“The Malaysia-is-Truly-Asia image that the country is trying hard to push is the diametric opposite of the increased radicalisation of Umno,” he said. “This is truly worrying.”
The bill, which was tabled last week, includes a clause that allows the mother or father or guardian of a minor to convert him or her to Islam without the consent of the other parent.
Many BN leaders outside Umno have expressed strong objections to the clause, arguing that it was fundamentally unjust as it denied the right of one parent over his or her children.
Ramakrishnan noted that the Federal Cabinet in 2009 had decided that the consent of both parents would be required in the conversion of minors. He asked why the government had now decided to go against that decision.
He also asked the promoters of the Bill to explain why they were going against the opinion of respected Islamic scholars on the question of religious conversion.
He quoted the following statement by Egyptian Grand Mufti Ali Gomaa:-
“The essential question before us is: Can a person who is Muslim choose a religion other than Islam? The answer is: ‘Yes, they can’ because the Qur’an says, ‘Unto you your religion, and unto me my religion,’ [Qur’an, 109:6] and ‘Whosoever will, let him believe, and whosoever will, let him disbelieve,’ [Qur’an, 18:29], and, ‘There is no compulsion in religion. The right direction is distinct from error’ [Qur’an, 2:256].”
