I welcome the initiative by a joint committee headed by Ministers in the Prime Minister’s Department Nancy Shukri and Jamil Khir Baharom formed in April this year to help resolve the tussles in interfaith marriage issue because only through moderate administration under the Barisan Nasional (BN), can we resolve sensitive religious issues once and for all.

We have many child custody issues because of one parent’s conversion and through the committee’s mechanism, such issues can be resolved.

It is a wise move and an example of BN’s people first ideology for the joint committee to have a mechanism which helps the husband and wife to resolve child custody issue due to conversion.

The BN federal government always practices a moderate administration and is sincere in resolving sensitive religious issues with a moderate policy; on the other hand, the state government under PAS has done the opposite as it has forcefully pushed for hudud implementation without the consent of the Kelantan population, by disregarding the aspiration of the people, PAS has Islamised all state affairs, policy and building design.

The Islamisation in Kelantan exposes the conservativeness in PAS, its persistence to set up a theocratic nation and implement hudud will severely impact the freedom of religion of the non-Muslims, the impact will be beyond imagination should Pakatan Rakyat forms the federal government once day.

The people must remember the negative impact of PAS’ hudud law and ensure that our next generation continues to enjoy the freedom of religion, they must firmly reject hudud and support the moderate BN government.

TAN TEIK CHENG is Penang MCA state liaison committee deputy chairperson.