I refer to the letter 'The Lord is my shepherd' is my favourite hymn .

I believe there are many genuinely concerned non-Muslim parents regarding the issue of national schools turning into Islamic schools.

Without any malice and prejudice, and with respect for every religion, let us analyse the real circumstances here. Yes, it was true that during the British colonial period many of those Muslim students, who attended Catholic schools were singing and praying the daily prayers along with the Christian students. But circumstance then were different. Christianity was never promulgated as the national religion, and Christian ideology was not put into prominence in the nation. Thus there was no fear of losing one’s innocent children to the mere foreign belief.

Now the circumstance have changed. Race has turned into a very domineering factor in the country. Let’s face the fact that Islam in Malaysia is synonymous with the Malay race. Thus there could be a very strong influential factor for tender minds to turn oneself into a ‘Malay’ and be commonly accepted by embracing Islam. This has happened many times in reality. I have seen it happen over the years during my school days, where young underage teenagers without the knowledge or consent from their parents, embraced Islam silently.

It is a nightmare to every parent to suddenly realise that their tender loved ones have turned away from their own culture and belief. Then gradually turning away from their own parents, just because many things of their parents are considered as haram now. Of course, to the young mind, this is nothing wrong as Islam s the widely-practiced belief and culture in the country. Yet they still need to learn that their own belief and culture as it is equally important to a person.

The writer of the above letter needs to understand that parents of non-Muslim children are not alienating Muslims’ culture and beliefs and many have been very tolerant. But it is the parents’ responsibility to protect their child's tender minds from easily losing their own culture and beliefs.

Islam and Malay culture are intensively broadcast through the media everyday so it is no longer necessary to drown the non-Muslim young minds at school in it. It is their prerogative to learn to balance the differences between Islam and their own beliefs.

Needless to say that Islam has a very strict law that I would say in Malaysia, embracing Islam is a mouse trap. Forgive me for saying that, but it is the fact that once one has proclaimed Islam, either one believes in Islam or simply one is terpaksa due to love and marriage. It is almost impossible to renounce the newly-acquired belief. This is the major issue of individual right that could not be debated in Malaysia.

This is a very sensitive issue on the equal rights in our country. Thus it should be understood that it is a great fear and a nightmare to the non-Muslim parents when it comes to national schools turning into Islamic schools.

We have to accept the fact that non-Muslims are treading in a fragile world when it comes to this issue of Islam in Malaysia. They may not only lose their children, but as Asians, they could lose their future 'life assurance' too. I have a great compassion for such parents.