Malaysiakini (http://www.malaysiakini.com)
(1) Gov't studying 'standard procedures' for apostasy, 12 August 2011
The federal government is studying the possibility of implementing standard procedures to deal with cases of apostasy in the country.
This is the position taken in an official report, issued in response to recommendations raised in the Malaysian Human Rights Commission's (Suhakam) 2010 report.
The report, from Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Aziz, who is also de facto law minister, said this matter is currently being studied by the Attorney-General's Chambers.
At present, only the Enakmen Pentadbiran Agama Islam 2003 of Negeri Sembilan outlines clear procedures for apostasy cases.
"Nevertheless, even without clear procedures, judges in syariah courts can use their discretion based on hukum syarak and the present laws to rule on cases regarding apostasy," the report says.
Citing the apostasy case of Lina Joy, the government states in the report that handling religious conversion by a Muslim must be based on methods and procedures set out in Islam.
"In this issue, the government is of the view that should there be a move to create clear procedures for religious conversion, it must refer to procedures available in syariah law and not based on human rights principles that are not based on hukum syarak."
Counselling before conversion
The report also pointed out that the federal government preferred to hold to syariah enactment, which requires Muslims who intend to leave Islam to first go for counselling and repent.
"The authorities have the power to order an individual who wants to convert to go through counselling for as long as thought to be necessary, based on the facts of the case.
"If the individual refuses to repent, the authorities can impose whatever action based on present laws that are in force in the states."
The report stresses that any move to create laws to govern apostasy cases must be studied in depth and also consider currently enforced laws and the interests and rights of each individual from the country's many races and religions.
"This is because laws related to religious conversion involve very sensitive issues that must be handled wisely."
(2)Apostasy issue and national security, 12 August 2011
by PK Koya
I refer to the letter by Ahmad Farouk Musa of the Islamic Renaissance Front, 'Raid by JAIS an uncivilised act', on the recent 'raid' by Jais at the Damansara Utama Methodist Church and the proposed laws to criminalise conversion of Muslims to other religions.
From a Quranic point of view, we have to agree 100 percent with Ahmad Farouk Musa about the freedom of religion. But in Malaysia we have to look at another side of this problem. For a Malay family to have an apostate in the family is like leper in the family, so painful, disgusting and shameful. It is all the more painful when they believe that someone is converting out of Islam not because of his conviction but only for ulterior worldly motives.
Since Muslims are not having level playing ground as far the media is concerned, this can aggravate the shame a Muslim feels. Even if few people leave Islam, the media can make it a big scar on Islam.
Family disruptions will lead to social disruption and other unforeseen consequences to both Muslims and Christians. I do not believe that Christians are interested in propagating Christianity among Malays. But there are such zealots among Christians too who believe they are giving eternal salvation at least one or two Muslims.
Even in India, where Hindus are the most tolerant unlike Muslims and Christians, we have seen such resistance to Christian missionaries converting Hindus to Christianity or Islam, and had to legislate restrictions on conversion.
So this is not a religious issue but a political expediency in the name of national security. So it is in the best interest of all parties to thread carefully on each other's territory.
(End)
