The non-Muslim community views gravely the Government’s move in requiring students to state whether they were Muslims or non-Muslims on the answers papers in the recent school examination, according to a statement by the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Sikhism (MCCBCHS).
Calling the practice a clear "characterisation of an Islamic state" and a form of discrimination, it urged the Government to do away with such practices that create unhealthy feelings.
The statement, which was presented in a meeting last November between MCCBCHS representatives and Deputy Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Abdullah Badawi, also recommended that the Education Ministry provide religious education to non-Muslim students as it helps with character building.
Another contentious issue raised during the hour-long meeting related to those who had embraced Islam, either through marriage or other circumstances, and now want to come out of the faith. MCCBCHS said these people faced difficulty in getting their names changed in their identity cards.
"Such obstacles imposed by the Government agencies concerned have created major problems to the subjects concerned. Even though the Government assures citizens of religious liberty, this is certainly a violation of basic human rights," the statement said and further urged Dato’ Seri Badawi’s help to resolve the problem.
MCCBCHS informed the Deputy Prime Minister, who is also Home Affairs Minister, of the visa woes faced by foreign missionaries, religious professionals and students. Their statement lamented the dissolution last July of the Jawatankuasa Pas Lawatan Ikhtisas that was set up to help process applications for professional passes for these people. The system had been effective and efficient but it was dissolved without any notice.
The statement concluded with MCCBCHS’s commitment to nation building and national integration efforts initiated by the Government. |
