Asia Sentinel

Home

Society

Doing the Impossible: Quitting Islam in Malaysia

Written by Imran Imtiaz Shah Yacob

Friday, 27 April 2007

A Malay woman’s long battle to legally convert to Christianity highlights Malaysia’s religious and ethnic divide.

malaysia_muslim

Twelve years ago, when she was 26 years old, a Kuala Lumpur woman named Azlina Jailani came to a momentous decision. She converted to Christianity and changed her name to Lina Joy.

Joy, now 42, today is at the epicenter of one of the most difficult issues in Malaysian society, one that authorities are approaching with something akin to alarm. What she would like do is marry her non-Muslim boyfriend, a cook, and get on with her life. That appears to be impossible because, under Malaysian law, Joy is still a Muslim, regardless of her beliefs.

Joy has been carrying her long fight to change her religion up through Malaysia’s judicial system, starting with the High Court in Kuala Lumpur in 1999. The case is before the Federal Court, Malaysia’s highest tribunal and a decision is expected soon. She is hardly the only Malay who would like to bail out of the traditional religious straitjacket, but in the face of the country’s convoluted religious mores, she is one of the very few with the moxie to fight for what she views as her religious rights.

Every Malaysian citizen over the age of 12 must carry an identification card, called a MyKad, which states the bearer’s religion. In 1999, Joy, a sales assistant, succeeded in getting officials to change her name on the card. Although she said she had been baptized in 1998, she was not able to have the word Islam removed from the card. Her fight to do that is what got her to Federal Court.

It is not possible to be an ethnic Malay in Malaysia without being a Muslim. Apostasy or conversion is a punishable offence in most states in Malaysia, either with a fine, a jail sentence or both. Muslims, most of them ethnic Malays, make up 60 percent of Malaysia’s population and dominate public institutions in an uneasy balance that has remained touchy since anti-Chinese race riots in 1969 that are presumed to have killed hundreds on either side of the ethnic divide. Some 25 percent of Malaysians are ethnic Chinese, followed by Indians with about 11 percent. Indigenous peoples and non-citizens make up the rest.

Despite the fact that one clause of the country’s original federal constitution guarantees freedom of religion, another, added later, states that “State law and in respect of the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Labuan, federal law, may control or restrict the propagation of any religious doctrine or belief among persons professing the religion of Islam”. Generally, the government has sought to stay out of the issue and has referred questions over apostasy or conversion to the country’s shariah, or Islamic courts. Not surprisingly, the shariah courts have ruled unanimously that ethnic Malays must remain Muslims.

As much as anywhere in the world, unique religious strains are playing themselves out in Malaysia. While the country has been on a breakneck path to modernization for the past 25 years, its urban citizens of all ethnic groups have become more secular, with young Malays adopting miniskirts, jeans and all the accoutrements that go with modern lifestyles. Religious and government leaders have watched that with concern

Accordingly – and especially with the departure of former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, an authoritarian figure who largely kept ethnic concerns isolated ‑ official Islam is stiffening its resistance. The shariah courts have refused to budge on any issues involving a change of religion. One woman, Kamariah Ali, who joined a sect and publicly renounced Islam in 1999, was ordered jailed in 2005 on charges of “insulting Islam.”
Then, last year, a ethnic Indian mountaineering hero and Army corporal named Manyan Moorthy died of cancer and was buried in a Muslim cemetery with Muslim rites despite the fact that his wife insisted he had never converted. The civil High Court ruled that it could not overrule the shariah court that had declared him a Muslim.

“The apparent conflict of laws has arisen due to the dual court system in the country. Some have termed the shariah and civil courts parallel systems, each dealing with mutually exclusive matters of the law,” said Tricia Yeoh, Senior Research Analyst of the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (ASLI) a prominent local think tank. “Article 11 of the Federal Constitution clearly states that every person has the right to profess and practice his religion. However, any matter pertaining to Islam comes under the jurisdiction of the shariah court. The point of contention comes when it is unclear which court has jurisdiction. In a series of recent cases, we have seen this ambiguity come into play”.

Religious tensions have occasionally flared. Last November, Muslims gathered outside a Catholic church in Ipoh after text messages circulated claiming that the church was preparing to baptize a group of Malays, including a celebrated yachtsman, Azhar Mansor, who had sailed around the world single-handedly in 1999 without an engine. Azhar, who no longer lives in Malaysia, is widely believed to be a quietly practicing Christian although he has publicly denied it. Although the messages proved to be false, authorities were forced to move in to forestall violence. Unverified accusations of mass conversions into Christianity by Malays have been swirling in the press and on-line, further stoking the fire.

In an attempt to defuse the tension, the Chief Justice of Malaya, Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim, has promised that the nation’s highest court will soon deliver its judgment on Joy’s case.

“It is the next change. It will be sooner than you think," Ahmad Fairuz said. Observers believe the case, which has been under appeal for more than two years, has been stalled over worries of social unrest.

Given the delicate racial balance, the Malaysian government is taking no chances with what they regard as a potential time bomb. The 40-year-old ethnic riots remain fresh in Malaysian minds, along with a 1950 custody case in Singapore that sparked the worst ethnic unrest in that city's history. In that case, the High Court in December 1950 awarded custody of Maria Hertogh, then 13, to her biological Dutch-Catholic parents after she had been raised as a Muslim following the family’s separation during World War II. Ensuing riots claimed 18 lives and injured as many as 173 people with huge losses in property.

The attorney general’s chambers announced recently that it was considering establishing a commission to study sensitive cases like Joy’s, said the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Nazri Abdul Aziz. The commission, if it comes to into existence, is expected to include religious leaders of all faiths. The government wants a system in which disputes such as conversion, especially when it involves children, can be addressed in an extra-legal manner. Nazri was quoted in Parliament defending the delay in Joy’s case because “it is very sensitive and we have to consider the consequences. Even if it is made in the right decree, the acceptance may be difficult,”

An unofficial coalition of activists, lawyers, non-governmental organizations and scholars, who call themselves Article 11 after the freedom-of-religion clause in the federal constitution, has been campaigning for religious freedom for all Malaysians, but stopped after experiencing a backlash from Muslim-Malay protesters, compelling the government to step in. Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi told Article 11 to cease discussions on faith. “If the discussions are not kept in check or contained,” he said, “they are bound to raise tension in our multi-religious society. Religious issues are even more sensitive than ethnic issues.”

The most recent incident was the alleged forced separation of a Muslim woman, Siti Fatimah, from her husband, Suresh Veerapan, who contends that Siti is no longer a Muslim and is a practicing Hindu born to Muslim parents, whose name is actually Revathi Masoosai. Islamic officials charged Siti Fatimah with committing apostasy and ordered for her sent to a “rehabilitation” center for almost 100 days. Her detention was extended another 80 days last week. In an interview with the television network Al Jazeera, Siti Fatimah’s mother said she would raise the couple’s 15-month-old grand daughter as a Muslim.

Tricia Yeoh believes that the only way forward is to tackle the issues head on. “Any positive change will depend very much on the political position taken by the government,” she says. “Because every decision is closely tied to its effect on the government's electorate, any relief to the current state of growing religious intolerance is centered upon our leaders' political will. Without any serious intention towards tackling the problems, it is difficult to imagine that any solutions will be provided in the near future.”

Certainly that is true. As far as is known, only one person has ever been allowed to leave Islam in Malaysia. An 89-year old woman named Nyonya Tahir who converted to Buddhism in 1936 had her decision accepted – 69 years later ‑ in 2006, after she had died.

Set as favorite

Bookmark

Email This

Comments (43) Add Comment

Subscribe to this comment's feed

No Religion In Politics
written by Religion Free, April 27, 2007

What's the common traits of US, UK, FR, CA, AU, JP, SG... developed country have in common? No religion in politics, school. This Malaysia is doing exactly the opposite (and so do the Saudi, United Emirates, Afghan, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan...) What do you get? Stupid policy create stupid country. But can we change it? I doubt it. The only way is revolution. lots of people die and a dictator raise to the top and if he is a really smart guy, he'll model his constitution as the developed country and the next generation will have hope. The closest example is Singapore.

...
written by Ranto, April 27, 2007

It defies logic to call someone Muslim if they have renounced that faith. The Court is creating an illogical fiction because the reality makes a mokery of such a judgement as well as a mockery of the country. If the Court has true faith in God they would leave the judgment to Him and not make themselves seem unduly defensive and insecure in their own faith.

a wise decision, Lowly rated comment [Show]

To En Zaid
written by luke, April 28, 2007

You write 'other people cannot practice their religions freely'... this would imply that Malays cannot enjoy such a freedom, right? ... dont get me wrong, I am not putting one religion against the other here (I am agnostic and respect anyone's beliefs) : my point is ... what is so great about a religion that forces itself upon people? something like what Bush said to the world after 2001 : "you are either WITH or AGAINST us"... I find all this very sad!

Get the facts, Lowly rated comment [Show]

To Mr \'Get the facts\'
written by luke, April 28, 2007

... so what you are saying it that treatment of apostasy towards Islam in M'sia is mere retaliation against S'pore? It sounds like Monthy Python ...

Irony
written by Ina, April 28, 2007

Its ironic that a government claims there is freedom to practice whatever religion one chooses and yet forces some individuals to practice some particular religion. It's a most troubling situation when one's "choice of belief" is governed by fear of repacautions and not truly by one's will. The development of Malaysia is only being hindered as it continues to mix matters of religion and state.

Truth
written by wjx, April 30, 2007

I am a Malaysian.Democracy is just a cover page lie here.
Sometimes, non Muslim who have relationships with Muslims will get harrased by religions officers (my friend, non Muslim had his university's grades lowered because he has a Malay, a must be Muslim, girlfriend)
For the person who says Singapore favours mandarin speakers, may I ask what is wrong with that? Malays are free to learn Mandarin.
I cant even get the course I want in a local University with my results but I must thank Singapore to let me study the course I wanted. The reason is because I am a non-Malay. What a joke!
In addition, there are Mendaki scholarships for Malays in Singapore, which practically makes their education free if they can make it in their studies. That is called meritocracy and chinese in Singapore do not have access to that scholarship. They need to compete on other scholarships which Malays can compete in too.
You want something, you work for it. Not just sit there and expect the government to adjust policies to your favour. Globalization is going to eat up Malaysia.
I can easily write about all the discriminatory policies and incidents in Malaysia for another ten pages at least.

...
written by a guest, May 16, 2007

it is jus so damn silly how tose people jus force people to stay a muslim just because they were born muslim! and u know wat is even more silly?
to fight over people's dead body so as to be buried in a muslim cemetry!
i mean jus how desperate is that?

..., Lowly rated comment [Show]

...
written by a guest, May 30, 2007

Kickdefella, so you claims that Islam is supreme, the only Truth. I dont want to argue about religion's supremacy, just a question to ask: Even a person have no faith, no trust, not agree with the way Islam works, will he still considered as Islam follower? Receive the deeds for believing in Islam? If not, then why enforce people as Muslim even they dont want to be? Its only a matter of power with larger population. Islam has been a potential problem of the world, not nominal muslim, but the people manipulating Islam population

...
written by Niiqui, May 30, 2007

As always, the malays and muslims in Malaysia are hypocrites. so thats why they are forcing someone to be as hypocritical as they are.

Lina Joy, if you are ever reading this, leave Malaysia! migrate to another country on the grounds you can't practice your faith because you are forced to be a muslim.. am very sure the french and danish government would accept your refugee application.

All the best!

...
written by hamzah, June 01, 2007

zaid says "for your information, malaysia is an islamic country and every rule and regulation has to comply with the syariah laws."

the last time I checked, Malaysia is still a secular country governs by the Federal Constitution. Please show me where does it states that Malaysia is an islamic state?

...
written by hamzah, June 01, 2007

kickdefella - we will NEVER force to to believe and become Muslim.

question - why force Lina Joy to remain a muslim? she was born into a muslim family and automatically made a muslim as a baby without having a say and now as an adult, she finds peace in christianity, why not let her go with HER CHOICE?

...
written by Ray, June 02, 2007

This is a classic example on why we should have separation of church/mosque and state. This is a total joke that Lina joy has to go throuhg the court system all these years. Everyone should be free to believe or not to believe. This only confirms to me what I believe about Islam all along, which is definitely not positive. I'm sl glad I left the country years ago. I can't have loyalty to a nation who can't respect even the most basic right of a human being, that is the right to one's own conscience. fight for Article 11 and syariah must be done away with.

..., Lowly rated comment [Show]

Free Lina!
written by V, June 03, 2007

This is bulls**t. I say let her decide! She doesnt even believe in islam and she's certainly not practising it! 'We're a Democracy-we have article 11 in the constitution' -a joke malaysia likes to tell the world.
speaking of dictatorships this whole case sounds like a religious dictatorship anyway.

...
written by hamzah, June 04, 2007

saya : one is bounded by muslim law, that is, once you're a muslim, you must forever be a muslim.

dear saya, I believe Muslim Indonesians will strongly disagree with your statement. do you know that I can leave Islam anytime I want in Indonesia simply by declaring through my lawyer?

...
written by azlan, June 05, 2007

www.faithfreedom.org. Check this out!

-1

...
written by daron, June 06, 2007

I'm a Chinese falling in love with a Muslim girl. Just because of we're grown up in Malaysia, my family strongly against us being together. I don't wanna disappoint my family nor hurt the girl, therefore we're planning to migrate to another country... and hopefully my family will understand this...

Religion is Private & Personal: An Absolute Exercise of Own\'s Free Will
written by Secular is Best, June 07, 2007

Get a life, we are in the 21st Century, not BCE or 600CE! The right to or not to have a religion is solely and exclusively an exercise of own's personal right: God given or otherwise!

No one entity: persons and institutions alike has the right to decide another's religion or the lack of it.

In Malaysia, some smart aleck decides for you that you a certain ethnic group must have that certain religion and cannot change or face persecution! Than there is this Rukun Negara that stipulates that you must believe in god, which implies you must have a religion before you can be a Malaysian (Kepercayaan kepada Tuhan), so you athiest out there, Malaysia has no place for you.

Come on, people, think, use your brain. Just because you were born in a manger, does it make you a cow or a bull?

No one chooses to be born, but everyone must be given the right to choose to have or not to have a religion, that is the very essence of religion: There indeed is no compulsion in religion; it is a freewill choice.

A religion imposed upon is best a religion acquiced with compliance and at worst, tyranny!

I say, let the people go, and let the people grow, for Religious Freedom is the acid test of all Freedoms!

...
written by rplahiri, June 18, 2007

how the young boys and girls think about azan calls in shrill loud sound though number of mikes specially to those non muslims and unwilling to hear muslims ?

Freedom????, Lowly rated comment [Show]

Unfair!
written by Angel, August 27, 2007

Malaysia is a muslim country?Since when?And who recognize it?For our information Malaysia is not a Muslim country.The real Muslim country is Indonesia!Look what they have.And again look at malaysian attitude.Malay girls wearing TUDUNG sit in the corner with a guy and doing a WRONG (MAKSIAT) thing. Is that you guys said Malaysia is a Muslim country?Look at Arab Saudi who actually the real Muslim country.Malaysia just like to follow and copy right from other country cause Malaysia dont have their own attitude.Shame on you guys. If Malaysia will be like this this country wont go anywhere.Whats the problem if Muslim want to convert to Xtian if they didnt belive in their religion.Not even in Quran or Bible saying that Muslim or islam is the only religion in this world.People have right to choose their own religion.Its our decision not goverment to decide! STUPID GOVERMENT!

FREEDOM!!
written by RIP, August 27, 2007

i've read most of these comments and a question has arrised, does anyone care about how we "Malaysians" feel especially the "non-muslims"?? people... when i heard lina joy's verdict i was so upset.. because i'm a Christian guy and my girl is a Muslim and she wanted to convert so that we could get married and settle down but all our hopes were flushed down the toilet when the "great" law of the country ruled againts Lina Joy.... today my girl and i are finding alternatives for us to live happily.... is there a way for that to happen in this country??? everywhere you go you hear advertisments stating that Malaysia is a multi-racial country and that everyone who's a malaysian has equal rights but is that really true??? why must one be forced to believe in a religion that he/she refuses?? why cant they uphold what they promote ie: Freedom & Multi-racial & equal rights??? WHY !??! WE did not choose to be a part of this LAW... must all the couples who are not of the same religion have to suffer like this must we all leave this country to be happy???

...
written by Maxho, September 05, 2007

The apostacy law and the denial of religious freedom towards Muslims from birth is, of course, a formidable alienation of the individuals. But it is not as stupid as it seems. Islam couldn't care less about individuals and their rights; Islam doesn't recognize the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as it defines human rights by the Quran and the Sunnah. And Islam is an ideology of conquest and domination which explains why the number game is so important for them to the point of requisiting a dead body, because if the dead body is Muslim, then the children have to be raised Muslims and that's furthering Islam's presence.

In short, Islam fights for its right to exist and grow when it is in a minority position with the goal of reaching 51% of the total population. At this pint it will claim the land to be Muslim land and therefore, by the will of the people, start changing the secular laws to Islamic ones. And these Islamic ones have the power not only to make a reversal to secularism impossible, but to gradually reduce the numbers of non-muslims, by shariah court encroachments, anti-blasphemy, discriminations, making it illegal to marry a muslim without converting to Islam or censorship.

It is simply a war for world domination and the eradication of ALL other cultures.

The Apostacy Law (Absurd Freedom), Lowly rated comment [Show]

This is all
written by A joke..., October 10, 2007

Kinda like slavery, ain't it?
Imagine this situation- A worker who wanted to quit is forced back into work or to be put in jail...

and unless you're gonna beat Lina Joy's legs with sticks, she will not bow down to pray.

I know of many Islamic countries who allows their citizen to revoke their faith, just because faith, is faith.
Faith is not on a piece of paper. Faith is in your heart.

Thats the problem with most(not all) malaysian malays, they think that by fasting from 6am-7pm they can achieve some sort of religous high, but at the same time telling all chinese and indians to go back to china/india in the rudest manner, taking bribes in broad daylight, scold you for no apparent reason just because they are fasting ,etc. And they think that all those will be reimbursed by their fasting.

In the other article regarding Lina Joy, there was a comment -
Allahu Akhbar. Kalau tak suka boleh balik China dan India. Pergi !
(God is Great. If you(chinese and indians) don't like it, go back to China, India, GO!)

so i can see tat your God is trully great.

this is the
written by same joke, October 10, 2007

by the way, Pemuda, this is an article about Islam->other religion, not about the weaknesses of Malays.

Think a head...the irony is....., Lowly rated comment [Show]

THEREFORE IF THE SON MAKES YOU FREE, YOU SHALL BE FREE INDEED (John 8: 36)
written by win, November 16, 2007

The love of GOD abides in the heart.No one can steal that from anyone who has invited Jesus to live in his or her heart.Let us surrender our all to HIM who is faithfull. God is faithfull. If anyone keeps HIS WORD, he shall never taste death(John 8:52)
In Christ Jesus have faith my brothers and sisters. For we must each carry our cross. What better sacrifice can we offer to the One who died for us and has overcome death?. All things is under His feet.
All things work for good to all who love HIM. Let us fight the Good fight in faith and in spirit with prayers and fastings for those who are being persecuted for Jesus.
Jesus said we will be hated because we are not of the world. Remember they hated HIM first. So if we confess we are of HIM, then let us not only be hearears but also doers. We must carry our cross all times especially in times of persecution, let us lift HIM up and we shall be lifted in HIM.
Let us all ask in faith that HE gives us HIS GRACE and HIS STRENGHT to endure this trial. In Jesus Name Amen.

TRUTH, FREEDOM, ANSWERS, !!!???
written by S RIVER, November 23, 2007

Please go to
http://www.answering-islam.org/Testimonies/index.html

Must
written by SEE, November 24, 2007

Dont be toooooo shallow S RIVER
Putting questionable link looks too bad. I m not using this platform calling u to Islam.
People looking the truth now days, not the fake one...living in this world fast moving, u need also be fast otherwise u left behind... internet connects the world......u need to be more relevant. I invite u to watch below... MUST SEE. Cheers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlOSQXzecv8&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63OkUcim8M0&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gtb6qWWpRE&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDkW2Y35mKQ&feature=related

Hello win.... please watch this too...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-nse5PZ3vo&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dK00xTkMGO0&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PN-EfgU7PW4&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=christians converts to islam&search=Search

convert? go ahead!!! but keep it for yourself
written by saito hajime, May 03, 2008

in malaysia i think other religeon can be practice freely, if not, why there is so many temple and church in malaysia. why there is a public holiday to celebrate other religeons big day in malaysia? compare to other christian oriented country where muslim girl cannot get a proper education just because she wearing a tudung in . for me it show that malaysia is tolerate about religeon. there are so many muslim who convert to other religeon in malaysia but they live just find. if they want to convert why they must announce to the world that they want to convert? same goes to the converter who convert to islam, they live as usual except if they announce their convertion to their family, where is more important, practice your religeon or change your muslim status on the ID card? if a person die and according to the id card he/she is a muslim but the person wearing a cross neckless the investigation will execute to find the real religeon for that person. but according to muslim perception if that person wearing a cross neckless that person is not a muslim. it is all about maintaining racial harmony in malaysia. if that person want to convert, just convert keep it for your trust person.

Migrate!
written by arihyoshi, June 13, 2008

The basic human right is violated in Malaysia.....

...
written by Mikey, October 07, 2008

If these are not force, I don't know what is smilies/shocked.gif

Bukhari9,83,17
Narrated 'Abdullah:
Allah's Apostle said, "The blood of a Muslim who confesses that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that I am His Apostle, cannot be shed except in three cases: In Qisas for murder, a married person who commits illegal sexual intercourse and the one who reverts from Islam (apostate) and leaves the Muslims."

(Sahih Bukhari 4.260)
Narrated Ikrima:
Ali burnt some people [hypocrites] and this news reached Ibn 'Abbas, who said, "Had I been in his place I would not have burnt them, as the Prophet said, 'Don't punish (anybody) with Allah's Punishment.' No doubt, I would have killed them, for the Prophet said, 'If somebody (a Muslim) discards his religion, kill him.' "

And then, he comes the confusion: smilies/cry.gif

In Surah 73:10 God tells Mohammad to be patient with his opponents, "Be patient with what they say, and part from them courteously". While in Surah 2:191 God orders him to kill his opponents, "kill them wherever you find them, and drive them out from wherever they drove you out." In Surah 2:256 God tells Mohammad not to impose Islam by force, "There is no compulsion in religion", Then again in verse 193 He tells his messenger to kill whoever rejects Islam, "Fight them until there is no persecution and the religion is God's". In Surah 29:46 God tells Mohammad to speak nicely to people of the Book (Christians and Jews), "Argue with people of the book, other than evil doers, only by means of what are better! and say, we believe in what has been sent down to us and sent down to you. Our God is the same as your God, and we are surrendered to Him." But in Surah 9:29 Allah tells him to fight the people of the Book, "Fight those who do not believe in God and the last day... and fight People of the Book, who do not accept the religion of truth (Islam) until they pay tribute by hand, being inferior".

respect, Lowly rated comment [Show]

phentermine
written by Phentermine, May 01, 2009

http://www.phenterminestar.com http://www.adipex-rx.com

...
written by elizebeth, July 18, 2009

why should there be a restriction?
if a religion is binding people to it with law, you have them trapped with you but you wont have their freely given worship. Isnt worship the base of each religion?

retaliation
written by a suporter of freedom speach and religion, November 09, 2010

i write this on behalf of the younger generation......give us our freedom to choose........if u dont......we will fight for it.....one day when the older generation of narrow-minded religious fanatics die...we will have it....we wait patiently.........and to "nonesyee".....who wrote think ahead...the irony is.........your inmature writings filled with grammatical mistakes show what an idiot you are.....may god wipe out ppl like you who support the use of death penalty against another human in the name of your so called beautiful peace loving religion...... smilies/tongue.gif

u guys suck
written by teenaged malaysian, November 09, 2010

i thought malaysia was a free country?.......the goverment and the syariah courts are making a mockery of themselves......young muslims don't care what the big ppl in islam say anymore.....guess what.....we are going to oust u guys when we get bigger for forcing us to follow what u want us to do against ur will....we think u guys suck smilies/angry.gif

.....in your face sucker.... smilies/tongue.gif

Some thoughts
written by MTMT, April 22, 2011

I noticed that the usual response to this controversy is: "once you're a Muslim, you're forever a Muslim. There's no leaving Islam".

This surely can't be right. This is artificially imputing a theological concept onto persons who don't even subscribe to such a worldview. It defeats the whole purpose of what religion is about (or faith rather).
I'm not posting this to denigrate anybody's religion. Its just that I believe everyone should be entitled to practice whatever faith he believes in. And the line of reasoning is so illogical that I have to get it off my chest.

The root of the problem though, is the politicising of religion and ethnicity in Malaysia. A very unhealthy way to run a country. Surely there's a better system than this. Other countries have done it. There're no perfect countries. But certainly there is a better way forward than what is happening now, and I hope Malaysia will grow out of this stage to a more equitable society.

...
written by So What, September 03, 2011

Why you need to change your religion if you want to submit to GOD? I think GOD does not has a named religion. People created the name of religion.

In Malaysia changing your Islam affiliation is against the law and messy. I think GOD is fair and knows one situation. Don't you believe that GOD is great? So what? If He wish He' can make the law change anytime He like. What stop Him? Don't GOD see our problem? Why your pray left unanswered? GOD answer all pray. Repeat GOD hear and answer all prayer accordingly and fairly.

So what if you are a Christian and goes to church every weekend but your heart is at the Church of SATAN? Or you are a Moslem but your heart is in a church? Don't you think GOD don't knows all? In this world and in Malaysia I see religion as all about politics of superiority and less about glorifying GOD holiness.