The Perlis government’s amendment to its enactment in allowing the unilateral conversion of a non-Muslim child by a newly-converted Muslim parent without the consent of the non-Muslim spouse is clearly against the federal government’s proposed Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act which was tabled just recently, on Dec 21, 2016 aiming to put an end to the unilateral conversion of minors.

What is the rush?

What’s more ridiculous is the Perlis MB’s justification that they were just harmonising the English and BM terms of ‘parent’ to ‘ibu atau bapa’. If you are a leader with equal concern towards your people, you would have chosen to correct the ‘parent’ to ‘parents’ and not otherwise.

This not only shows disrespect towards the federal government’s initiative to be fair and just to all its citizens regardless of race and religion but most importantly, showcases their insensitivity towards minorities, especially the feelings of a non-Muslim parent.

Will the same law be applied to Muslim parents who plan to convert out from Islam? Definitely not, and the entire country would have ended up in an uproar if such case were to occur. Where the word ‘Islam’ is used, there is total protection and absolute power, what about protection over our religion and feelings, will you not acknowledge our value despite championing 1Malaysia in all your campaigns?

We worry over and fight against injustices that takes place in other countries, but the turmoil of our own minority is not a priority for us to look into. Much has been said in the case of M Indira Gandhi and again, Perlis is willing to allow another non-Muslim parent to suffer the same consequences, how thoughtless can that be?

I don’t belong to any of the jurisdiction bodies to debate on this from the legal point of view, I write as a parent. My child belongs to both me and my wife, any decision that befalls my child should be of my wife’s concern as well; this is civilisation. Perlis’s act of rushing into such an amendment will earn a negative reaction from all non-Muslims in Malaysia towards them and the failure of the federal government in controlling the state legal affairs.

And you tell me, “...don’t worry, hudud will not affect the non-Muslims”. Here I am, witnessing how even before hudud, the minorities are being roped out from their rights when Islam enters their family constitution.

If a state can work on an amendment while the federal government is still undecided and are debating on rectifying a bill in the hope of being equal to all, what will happen when federal government decides to grant hudud only in certain states? Wouldn’t it spread by ‘language harmonisation’ and start affecting us? If it does, how do we even debate about issues that are for you of utmost sensitivity and should not be discussed by non-Muslims at all?

When our temples are violated for no apparent reasons, those convicted are ruled as mentally unfit and are able to walk out free, if the case were vice-versa, the non-Muslim who is convicted would have been detained in a mental hospital. Such is our plight here. And you tell us, “don’t worry”.

We are not worried over the law, we are worried over the enforcers who will be responsible in executing the law; we have seen too much of favouritism.

What guarantee do we have that our rights will not be violated by inconsiderate leaders like this? What guarantee do we have that we will not end up like the Orang Asli in Gua Musang, pathetically fighting over our rights on our very own child and religion?

Law/policymakers must consult with as many non-Muslim professionals/advocates before amending/tabling any bill that involves us. Religion is sacred to all and not just the majority, above all, parenthood and the power that comes with it is equal to both spouses not just the one who has embraced Islam.

We are already left far behind in other privileges and opportunities in terms of economic and social development, government employment, etc; inclusivity is still very far from sight and now this?

And you tell us “...don’t worry.”

S GOPINATH is president of the Malaysian Indian Network of Entrepreneurs Association (1MINE).