Twenty-two Muslim NGOs, along with PAS Youth, today revived the call for an anti-apostasy law to address the issue of proselytisation to Muslims.

The NGOs made the call at a closed-door roundtable meeting to discuss the controversial raid of Damansara Utama Methodist Church by the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais) on April 4.

“We unanimously resolve to safeguard the Islamic faith in this country from any form of transgression in accordance to Islam’s position as the religion of the federation and existing laws, as well as call for an anti-apostasy law,” they said.

This was among nine resolutoins to deal with the issue of apostasy, which they said is causing “distress” among Muslims.

Commenting on this after the meeting, PAS Youth chief Nasrudin Hassan said that the party has always advocated the apostasy law and has attempted to raise it in Parliament since 1988.

“In 1999, (PAS President) Abdul Hadi Awang tried to table a private bill against apostasy but this was not allowed. (PAS vice-president) Salahuddin Ayub did the same in 2006 and it was also rejected outright,” he said.

He added that while he agrees with other scholars that Islam is a ‘religion of discourse’ (agama hujah), but “we still need a law because some people cannot be persuaded through arguments”.

“To curb and control those who will no longer listen to arguments, we need laws,” he said.  

The NGOs, including the Perubatan Islam Darus Syifa’, Pro-Guam, Majlis Perunding Melayu and Umah Care, also called on Jais to charge those found proselytising to Muslims, if evidence is found.

They also acknowledged that apostasy occurs because Muslim agencies and NGOs are not doing enough to assist those in need.

The NGOs lamented the fact that hundreds of millions of ringgit collected through tithe have not been used to assist Muslim poor to the extent that they are forced to seek help from other religious bodies.

“We cannot be angry at others preaching to Muslims - lawful or not, they are doing their job. We must do ours,” said discussion chairperson and president of Ikatan Ilmuan Malaysia Mohd Fuad Mohd Salleh.

Eight other resolutions

Among others, Mohd Fuad said Muslim NGOs should also look at going into the interiors to both help Muslims and preach to non-Muslims in competition with Christian groups who are actively doing so.

The other eight resolutions passed by the NGOs are:

  • To support the strengthening of the faith through education and welfare programmes. This includes reinstating federal financial support for state-funded religious schools (SAR).
  • To demand that bodies managing funds held in trust for the Muslim community to act more effectively to ensure that Muslims in need are cared for.
  • To urge the media not to twist or manipulate issues pertaining to the Islamic faith for the benefit of any political party as this will further divide the Muslim community.
  • To urge all parties to act lawfully and to stress that all issues pertaining to Islamic faith are sensitive matters that can affect inter-religious harmony.
  • To demand that all parties involved in weakening Islamic institutions, including Islamic education, mosque and surau, apologise to all Muslims as these acts have caused others to disrespect the religion.
  • To urge that only qualified individuals are allowed to run institutions related to Islam in Malaysia.
  • To suggest that forums such as the roundtable discussion be used as a platform to bring together people from various background and political parties for the sake of Islam.
  • To come together as a collective group to defend Islam.