One of the important questions every voter should be asking before voting in the coming general election is when will Malaysia become truly an Islamic state? Dr Mahathir Mohamad, when he was in power, declared Malaysia was already being indeed an Islamic state. MIC, MCA and Gerakan kept quiet, meaning they have accepted Umno’s idea of an Islamic state for a multi-religious Malaysia.

However, our constitution clearly states that Malaysia is a country where Islam is the official religion while all other religions are free to be practiced, which means it is not an Islamic state. In actual fact, Malaysia is a Muslim majority country, just like Indonesia and or for that matter just like Turkey.

The present PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his deputy Najib Razak have also reconfirmed that Malaysia is indeed an Islamic state and have been implementing the Islam Hadhari concept stage by stage. Again MIC, MCA, and Gerakan also have been keeping quiet; again meaning they have accepted the Islamic state declaration by present PM, the leader of the Umno-led BN.

How will Islam Hadhari affect non-Muslim rights in this country? With recent developments such as even 100-year old temples being demolished, incidents of bodies due for non-Muslim funerals being taken away by the Islamic authorities for Muslim burials, young children being converted by a parent converting to Islam without the consent of mother etc, Malaysian voters need to think carefully before voting. On all these issues, MIC, MCA and Gerakan have been very silent.

Can we, Malaysians trust the MIC, MCA and Gerakan to object if Umno wants to amend the constitution to make Malaysia truly an Islamic state after the general elections? This possibility of the constitution being amended to make Malaysia a true Islamic state cannot be dismissed without serious consideration.

We, voters have to ensure BN is not given a blank cheque to do what they want by voting 80 to 90 opposition members of parliament to the 222-member Parliament. If that happens, BN cannot amend the constitution but can still run the government effectively.

When Umno decides to amend the constitution to make Malaysia true Islamic state, all BN MPs will vote blindly for the amendment as usual and it will be passed if they have a two-thirds majority.

Reducing BN’s majority should be the major objective of everyone in the coming general election.

We should also demand for a Non-Muslims Affairs Department to be set up to ensure rights of all non-Muslims to practice their respective religions without fear or hindrance as provided for in the original 1957 unamended federal constitution.