Letter to editor
BEING a religion which brought about a great civilisation in history, Islam which is being revered by mankind is poised to surpass Christianity in 2070 to become the world’s largest faith.
Nevertheless, religion has become sensitive issue the world over in recent times, especially when people get converted into another religion.
In all religions of the world – as in Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity or the Bahai faith, to name a few – one can leave his/her religion at will for another religion but not in the case of Islam.
In Malaysia, one has to go through a tedious court process if they were to leave Islam as in the case of Muslim converts who suddenly find their newfound religion incompatible to them during the later part of their lives.
Everybody has the right to follow any religion if they wish to but what happened yesterday (Aug 18) at a Klang mosque where Prime Minister (PMX) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim led the conversion process of an individual to Islam somehow left behind a bad taste.
Being a leader of a multi-ethnical and multi-religious nation, PMX should have left it to the mosque authorities or other more suited personnel like an ulama, mullah or any other learned Muslims to do the honour.
The question raised by Malaysians is why did PMX get involved in the procedure? Was he not advised correctly by his advisers on the pros and cons of his action on the Malaysian public given religion is a sensitive matter in this country?
To my understanding, this is the first time, I know of a sitting PM getting involved in conversion proceedings.
PMX should know that he is the PM for all Malaysians, hence he can ill-afford non-Muslim Malaysians to perceive him in a negative light as his current political survival hinges on them.
Very bluntly, the Malay Muslims have deserted him (and even UMNO) as per the outcome of last week’s (Aug 12) six state elections.
PMX must be wise enough to separate politics from religion. When religion is mixed up with politics, the outcome is a potent poison to create chaos and disorder.
Surely, PMX does not want Malaysians to interpret his noble action as a subtle message that Malaysians should embrace Islam to be part of the majority population or any other form of interpretations.
I hope PMX will lay out his reasons for doing so to appease Malaysians who have been taken by surprised with his action. – Aug 19, 2023
Tamil Maran (K.T. Maran)
Seremban
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
