Home Minister Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad was confronted by a different sort of women activist groups yesterday - mothers concerned over the rising incidence of apostasy among Muslims.

The matronly five-member delegation, calling itself the Women's Working Team of the Organisation of the Defenders of Islam (Pembela) coalition, submitted to Radzi a memorandum on the matter that had been endorsed by seventy-six Muslim groups.

Pembela or 'defenders', was formed by more than 50 Islamic NGOs and associations on July 16 to counter what they perceive as efforts to call for a review of the Islamisation process.

Radzi received the memorandum in his additional capacity as Umno secretary-general.

"We, the Muslim women of Muslim NGOs under the umbrella group (Pembela), are deeply disturbed by the recent trend, development and contentious issues relating to apostasy and conversion in the country," said their spokesperson Zainuriah Abdul Rahman.

"As mothers of future generations, we are very concerned about the rising incidence of apostasy and the impact over the faith and moral behavior of our children who are already constantly exposed to Western secular-capitalist temptations," she later told malaysiakini.

"We strongly urge the authorities to take heed of the religious and socio-legal repercussions if this disturbing trend is left unchecked," added Zainuriah, who is the media coordinator of the Pembela member Muslim Professionals Forum (MPF).

The grave looks of concern were etched over the faces of Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (Abim) representative Dr Hazlinda Abdullah and Jamaah Islah Malaysia's (JIM) Faridah Maludin as they ensured this reporter noted the statements accurately.

Other MPF members Farah Pang Abdullah and Siti Jamilah Sheikh Abdullah warned that things have to be handled carefully in view of Premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's order Tuesday against public discussions over the proposed Inter-Faith Council and Article 11 coalition-organised forums.

The Article 11 coalition, named after the Federal Constitution provision on freedom of religion, comprises 13 groups with a declared mission of upholding constitutional rights of all citizens over what they see as creeping Islamisation in public policies.

In their memorandum, the women urged the government to act and reiterated the proposals that had been drawn up last Sunday following a 10,000-strong gathering to discuss 'The Syariah and Current Issues' that centred on the topic of apostasy from Islam.

Resolutions

The forum resolved that:

- The authorities must ensure that the current system and status of Islam as provided by the Federal Constitution be maintained and accepted by all persons;

- The Federal Constitution and other laws be strengthened to stop attempts to use the courts to weaken the position of Islam;

- The authorities should continue to strengthen the Islamic institutions in the country and all Muslims should act in unison to uphold Islam;

- Every threat to Islam signifies a threat to the dignity and position and the Malay Rulers who are the heads of Islam in every state and to the integrity of the Islamic institutions;

- Efforts to overhaul and erode the position of Islam in the Constitution and national laws should be stopped while the laws on Islam should be upheld and strengthened to prevent such efforts;

- The mass media should be ethical, professional and firm in not taking sides in issues involving Islam and not advocate the view of Malaysia as not being an Islamic state and Islamic practices as a merely matter of private morality. The media is also urged to give space for the Islamic religious authorities to express their perspectives and not sideline the voice of mainstream Islam;

- Religious rights and freedoms should be understood in the framework of Islam, not according to individual inclinations;

- All state and federal legislative assemblies should pass enactments that prevent the propagation to Muslims of religions other than Islam, and these should be implemented immediately;

- Since Islam falls within the jurisdication of the Malay Rulers and the state religious councils, laws pertaining to Islamic matters should be made uniform, clear, and effectively implemented throughout the country.

- The government should reject efforts of the West and non-governmental organisations to co-opt and use local NGOs, members of the academia, and individuals to influence laws and policies connected to Islam;