The recent case involving the body of the late mountain climber M Moorthy clearly demonstrates that religious equality in our country does not exist.

This is not the first time such a case has surfaced. An earlier case in Kinarut, Sabah reared an even uglier head. The remains of a man who was buried according to Christian rites in a Christian cemetery was exhumed by the syariah authorities. Not only did the syariah authorities hurt the feelings of the deceased's family, it also desecrated the burial ground of another religion.

Some might argue that since the Malay Muslims are the original inhabitants, then Islam has a far more superior position than other faiths. But then what about the case of the Orang Asli church that was demolished in Johor? The Orang Asli are the indigenous inhabitants of Malaya, yet they do not have the freedom to build a place of worship.

And also do not forget that a majority of the indigenous population of Sabah and Sarawak are mostly Christians. Here in Sabah, there are indigenous Kadazandusuns who also practise other faiths.

For example, a good number of Kadazandusuns in Kuala Penyu are Buddhists while in Kota Kinabalu there are a number of Kadazandusun Sikh families. And also do not forget the animist Kadazandusuns.