The M Moorthy conversion case has brought out to the public eye some issues that has to be resolved if unity and harmony is to be strengthened in our country.

One issue is that of conversion. No fair minded and just person will disagree that the right of belief in a religion is the sole prerogative of the individual. He must be able to, if he wishes so, change his religion. Unfortunately this principle is not applied uniformly on everyone in this country.

Muslims who wish to convert (or reconvert) to other faiths find it impossible to do so. Because of this anomaly in the application of the principle of freedom of religious belief, there are many people left in limbo. Believe me, there are many Moorthys out there. They, along with their families, dread the day when they will leave this world.

While Moorthy's case was clouded by uncertainties as to whether he had actually converted, it should not be allowed to obscure a fact. Even if Moorthy was conscious before his death and had for the sake of clarity, made out a sworn statement in front of competent witnesses that he was no longer a Muslim and wished to be buried a Hindu, I am in no doubt that he would have been still buried a Muslim. As the law stands in Malaysia, and it has done so for 30-odd years, Islam is a one-way street.

The other issue is that of enforcement. When someone accepts a faith, does it not become obligatory for that person to obey his Lord? Religion is not just about belief but is equally about a way of life. Thousands of Muslim converts in this country have accepted Islam out of their own volition. They are contented with their chosen faith and practise the teachings faithfully. Without doubt, when they pass away, their non-Muslim relatives will not dispute the fact that they were Muslims and are to be buried as such.

But then we also have, I dare say, thousands of Muslim converts who have reverted to their earlier lifestyles and openly carry out non-Islamic practices. Why don't Muslim enforcers act as they are empowered to do when these converts drink in public, eat pork, co-habitat with unmarried partners and so on? I am certain that almost everyone in Malaysia personally know at least one such person.

Why don't the authorities haul these unfaithful believers to the syariah courts or make them undergo counselling? Why wait to fight over a dead body when they should have been struggling to save their souls much earlier?