The Malaysian Indians Progressive Association (Mipas) and all Malaysians were shocked with the Court of Appeal’s decision in kindergarten teacher M Indira Gandhi’s case. No one expected such an outcome in a trial and it’s such a sad New Year’s gift for Indira Gandhi.

Mipas urges all the Malaysian public, NGOs and political parties that we must be prepared to put our differences of the past to one side and let’s concentrate all our energies on a common agenda how to save and solve Indira Gandhi’s matter that the validity of conversion of her three children by their Muslim father Muhammad Ridzuan Abdullah could only be determined by the Syariah Court.

It has become a joke by the civil court advising the non-Muslim to ask for her civil rights in a Syariah Court. Mipas urges all non-Muslim religious bodies, Christians, Buddhists, Sikhs and others to join force to voice out against these conversions because it’s a national issue.

Mipas strongly disagrees with judges of one race handling Indira Gandhi’s case. Why can’t the court have various religious groups represented or judges of various races?

Mipas would like to suggest to implement a non-Muslim department under the Prime Minister’s department similar to Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) so that any conversion issues can be handle and amicable by the department and the non-Muslims wouldn’t need to attend the Syariah Courts any more. Mipas urges to find a win-win formula to this complex issue.

S BARATHIDASAN is secretary-general, Malaysian Indians Progressive Association (Mipas).