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.