The US report ranking Malaysia low in terms of religious freedom could be referring to the fact that the Malays are born Muslims but they are not allowed to apostasise or to change religion. What has been an acceptable way of life here may be viewed as religious intolerance in the West. It is none of their business and, being a non-Muslim, it is not my business too.

On the other hand, the report could be referring to the many instances where local authorities have made life difficult for other religious groups. Offhand, I can think of a case involving the Roman Catholic Church, that have applied, for many years, the right to build a church in Shah Alam. Despite appeals made to various state leaders, including the Sultan of Selangor, they are still not allowed to build a church.

At a recent dinner in Batu Gajah, DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang highlighted the fact that Putrajaya, the new national capital, has a large and beautiful multi-million ringgit mosque but no temple, church or any other religious building. I wonder whether plans for other religious buildings will ever be approved, even if no financial assistance from the government is expected or required. Judging from the Shah Alam experience, can one be optimistic?

Closer to home, at the recent DAP dinner, a church committee member told me that their Roman Catholic Church in Batu Gajah now owes more than RM80,000 in quit rents for occupying state land for the past eight years. What used to be free, as stated in the title, was changed by the district officer. According to the law, the DO has every right to do so under the National Land Code, but is this fair?

I was told that Bukit Mertajam's St Anne's church, which does not pay quite rent, was an exceptional case because former Penang Chief Minister, the late Wong Pow Nee, made it possible. I hope Pak Lah, being a pious person, can be magnanimous enough to do something for the church in Batu Gajah. As our national leader, it is your business to prove that there is religious tolerance in Malaysia.