MSN News (http://news.in.msn.com/international/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4421651)
Muslims should reach out to non-Muslims in Malaysia, 24 September 2010
Kuala Lumpur, Sept 24 (PTI) Muslims in multi-cultural Malaysia should reach out to non-Muslims through regular dialogues to understand the areas of their concern, a senior ethnic Chinese Malaysian has said.
Malaysian Chinese Association official Loh Seng Kok said Muslims, especially those in places of higher authority and enforcement, should take up such a role.
Malaysia is a Muslim majority country with an ethnic Chinese population which is mostly Christian and Buddhist and a eight per cent ethnic Indian population, mostly Hindus.
Loh said this following Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak''s recent move in attending a gathering with religious leaders and members of the Committee to Promote Religious Understanding and Harmony.
The Prime Minister had said the setting up of the committee was timely as it served as a mechanism or platform to discuss racial and religious issues "heart-to-heart" in the spirit of muhibbah and behind closed doors.
Loh said while respecting the rights of Muslims in the country, the committee should be tasked to sit and work alongside the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism to resolve any matter impacting religious freedom and practices of non-Muslims.
Such areas of concern included guidelines on the building of non-Muslim places of worship; shortage of burial grounds, terminology usage which should not alter one''s spiritual scriptures and normative lifestyles, as well as jurisdictional disputes which erupt due to conversion.
Loh said the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia was formed to develop the Islamic faith among Muslims, and MCA believed that similar work should be allowed and encouraged to be carried out by non-Muslim bodies for non-Muslims, local media reports said.
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