A loose coalition of 13 Islamic non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are urging Malaysian Muslims to observe introspection in the wake of a proposed interfaith commission sought by human rights advocates.

The proposal for the interfaith body has sparked off debate about the application of Islamic law, a taboo subject as far as pluralistic Malaysia is concerned.

In an interview with malaysiakini , Allied Coordinating Committee of Islamic NGOs (Accin) former chairperson Mustapha Ma said it was time for self-examination following the interfaith commission proposal.

"The issue of apostasy appears to be at the core of this initiative, so our coalition partners are taking stock of the situation in order to identify weaknesses in the community support system, particularly for Muslim reverts," he said when met in Kuala Lumpur recently.

He preferred the term revert over convert based on his belief that all human beings are born Muslims in a state of pureness.

"We're asking others to let us deal with this issue ourselves as it is an intra-faith matter that only Muslims can handle. It is time for us to do some introspection and see where we have failed as a Muslim community."

The proposed interfaith commission initiative , coordinated by the Bar Council human rights sub-committee, has split up its membership following the syariah sub-committee's stand against it.

Interfaith dialogues

Mustapha also noted that there was no shortage of interfaith dialogues, especially with Christians.

"For example, some Accin members have been continuously engaged in interfaith dialogues with churches and religious bodies such as attending talks and comparative religion classes over the last decade.

"We feel that it's important to learn about other religions in order to promote a better understanding of interfaith issues.

"But that does not mean we have to change our religious rules according to what non-Muslims want or how they see it," said Mustapha, a seventh-generation Muslim Chinese.

To him, Islam is a perfect religion which does not compel others to believe in it.

"You embrace on your own volition fully conscious and aware of your actions. This is why Accin members are opposed to the force of an interfaith commission as it would touch on Islamic law."

Accin leadership rotates among member organisations annually based on the Muslim calendar.

He said once an article of faith (kalimah syahadah) is uttered voluntarily, a person is a Muslim.

"To later question Islamic law is akin to questioning God who revealed the al-Qur'an. It is not up to us to question God as He has told us that He has perfected the religion for us."

Drug abuse

On the possibility of problems in the administration of Islamic law, Mustapha said if that was the case, then it should be left to the Muslims to improve on without external meddling.

"As Muslims, we believe that Islam is the perfect religion. But as human beings, the human institutions may not be so.

"This is where we expect the same respect accorded to other religions to be reciprocated because Muslims don't go around questioning the administration of other religions."

He said instead of picking on Islamic law, there were many other common platforms to base interfaith dialogue on such as corruption, crime and other social ills.

"I, for one, would really like to see more interfaith movement in the fight against drug abuse and preventing youths from getting involved.

"Maybe it is because official data shows that a majority of Malay or Muslim youths are into it," he said, citing the small number of other religious groups involved in the country's prevention of drug abuse campaign.

He felt that such common grounds should be exploited by advocates of interfaith issues and efforts.

"Right now, it appears to be everybody's business is nobody's concern... and that totals up as indifference."

Mustapha is the honorary secretary of the International Federal of Non-Government Organisations (IFNGO). The secretariat shares premises with the National Association for the Prevention of Drug Abuse Malaysia (Pemadam).

He is also chairperson of the Malaysian Chinese Muslim Association (Macma), established in 1994, which is one of 13 partners in Accin.

"Late last year, Macma had a dialogue with Buddhists and Catholics in Kuching. We have also held occasional sessions with MCA and Gerakan on social and cultural issues."

Common denominator

He also strongly believes that social and family values could be a common denominator that could be used to realise Vision 2020 regardless of race or religion.

"For example, we polarise social ills by saying that gambling, alcoholism, adultery and other vices are only the problem of the Muslims. It should be a problem for all of us to be combated jointly.

"I don't think any religion will oppose a coming together based on these grounds," he said, reiterating the sincerity of Muslim NGOs in addressing social ills together.

Given this common platform, Mustapha said, there was no need for an interfaith commission if the objective was to promote religious understanding.

"The term tolerance as we've been using all this while is correct because it is based on understanding, although it could also be used in both the positive and negative sense.

"But why focus on the differences among religions, because then we'll have to start picking bones with everyone."