I am saddened, shocked and surprised that Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak has stated that the action by nine non-Muslim cabinet ministers in submitting a memorandum to the prime minister calling for a review of laws that affect the religious rights of non-Muslims was "improper" and "not nice".

Najib further stated that he hoped everyone would let the prime minister make a 'correct and just decision' after considering all views and without any pressure. I sincerely hope for our nation's sake that the operative words there are "correct and just".

It must be 'correct and just' for non-Muslim husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, children and relatives who may be surprised at one's burial to be told of a religious conversion no one knew about. And then to be dragged into a tussle for a dead body, put into deep anxiety and public ridicule after a total group of strangers suddenly appeared on the scene to one's family member for alien burial rites.

But it is also fortunate that this issue has also brought forth the kind of comments from various politicians, political scribes and political warlords, as this could be the barometer for the non-Muslims to decide where their future is and where their future vote would be placed to safeguard their rights.

A classic example is the comment made by a member of Umno Youth stating that the culture of sending memorandums to the prime minister by ministers should not become a practice as such an action only belittled the ministers and the cabinet, embarrassed the government and showed disrespect to the prime minister.

But what is actually wrong in elected representatives addressing an issue that is fundamental and close to heart of more than half of the Malaysian population since these representatives representing those very demographics? To deny them this is to practice sheer hypocrisy and to deny minorities their fundamental rights at the home front.

This is why I was really pleased with the reaction of International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz, a respected farsighted politician of caliber and reputation, who stated that the action by the non-Muslim ministers represented the views and thinking of non-Muslims regarding the issue.

She stated that if there is inconsistency or misinterpretation and so on, and if the procedure is not clear-cut, it should be corrected so the public will not be confused and there is no incorrect interpretation of what is fair comment.

If this fails, then the only other option for non-Muslim Malaysians - when confronted with this kind of problem - is to bring it to the United Nations and to file petitions at the International Court of Justice and let the world court be the stage to deliberate on what I see is a fundamental right enshrined in the United Nation's Charter.