The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism & Taoism (MCCBCHST) supports the urging by our former deputy prime minister Musa Hitam that hudud is not suitable for the country. We also support his further remarks that "As a former Umno stalwart I firmly believe that Umno, since its formation and until now, knows hudud is not appropriate for multi-ethnic and multi-religious Malaysia." ( The Star, March 22, 2015)

A look at history shows that hudud was never envisaged by the founding fathers of this nation. Hudud too never figured in any of the discussions leading to Independence in 1957.

History also records that all our former prime ministers did not support hudud.

The first three prime ministers clearly stated that Malaysia was a secular and not an Islamic country.

Our fourth prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had sent a warning letter to the Kelantan government in 1993 when they had passed the Syariah Criminal code Enactment 1993, stating that Enactment 1993 was unconstitutional.

Our fifth prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had promoted the liberal justice approach of Islam called Islam Hadhari.

Only recently doubt on this was created with the formation of a technical committee between PAS and Umno to look into implementation of hudud and syariah law.

Even supporters of hudud appear to be divided. A vast majority believe that the higher objectives of syariah is justice, equality and compassion and this should be priotised as the conditions at present are not suitable for hudud implementation.

Our country has progressed well since Independence and the present constitution has served us well and has been the focal and rallying point of all Malaysians.

Any amendment to fundamental and basic structure of the constitution may bring about grave consequences for the country and must be rejected.

Our leaders must stand firm and be guided by history in affirming the federal constitution.

JAGIR SINGH is president of the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism & Taoism (MCCBCHST).