I refer to the letters Religious freedom: We deserve the government we vote by P Dev Anand Pillai, Interfaith group must take bolder steps by Disgusted and Please cure this grave legal defect by Dr Jacob George.

On this issue involving the late M Moorthy, sadly and frighteningly for non-Muslims, the so-called progressive or liberal Islamic NGOs such as Sisters in Islam have come out and criticised the current structure of the legal system.

Any right thinking person - Muslim and non-Muslim alike - can see that the status quo is grossly hurtful and unjust towards the non-Muslims. Yet none of the Muslim organisations or prominent Muslim individuals have come forward to publicly support the non-Muslims' right to religious freedom even though one of the fundamental tenets of Islam is that there be no compulsion in religion.

Where are the non-Muslim politicians of the BN? And dare I make it my New Year wish that PAS would champion for the non-Muslims on this issue?

The most dangerous thing that could happen to Malaysia right now is to have the people - especially the racial and religious minorities - lose faith in the system. It would be disastrous if the minorities come to the conclusion that they can only fend for themselves as individual citizens and choose to detach themselves completely from the political and legal systems.

If there ever was a time calling for true courage and leadership which would unite all Malaysians, this is it.