COMMENT Opportunism is rife among many non-governmental organisations and political parties in this country.One never knows why these organisations first come out with bold statements and then completely abandon them.
There could be variety of reasons for this change in positions. Opportunism, material benefits and the need for recognition from authorities could be the main ones.
About a month ago, a NGO called Hindu Conversion Action Team (Hicoat) came out with a controversial announcement that more than 7,000 Hindus have been clandestinely converted to Islam.
Such a statement came in the wake of the raging controversy surrounding two cases of unilateral conversions.
Even before Arun Doriasamy, the president of Hicoat, brought to fore the issue of forcible conversions to Islam, there were already reports of non-Muslims "converting" to Islam without their knowledge.
What Arun Doraisamy said merely confirmed some of the worst fears of non-Muslims in the countryabout now certain Muslim organisations, perhaps in league with certain state agencies, were converting non-Muslims without their knowledge.
After the first announcement, Arun "disappeared" from the scene. Nothing was heard of him.
But suddenly out of blue, he emerged yesterday with another Muslim NGO to say that the 7,000 cases of Hindus becoming Muslims is not so much about religious conversion but about defects in documentation.
Arun’s statements were supported by Zainal Rijal Abu Bakar, president of Muslim Lawyers Association (PPMM).
'Islam won't tolerate forcible conversions'
Zainal Rijal, at a joint press conference with Arun, said that since Islam is a religion of peace, it would not tolerate forcible conversions of non-Muslims.
He supported the stand of Hicoat that the 7,000 cases of Hindus converting to Islam are not true and these are defects in the documents.
Both of them said that they would form a technical committee to work closely with Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nancy Shukri to rectify the mistakes in documentation.
Are the 7,000 cases of change in religious identity of Hindus cases of wrong documentation or clandestine conversions engaged by certain irresponsible and extreme Muslim organisations in the country?
Why has Hicoat, despite its initial bravado on the issue of forced conversions, suddenly "chickened" out?
Was there pressure applied on Hicoat by the authorities to get it to reverse its position.
Why was there a need to tag along with PPMM to pour cold water on the issue of forcible conversions that troubles Malaysians, especially non-Muslims?
Why is this happening to non-Muslims only?
It is an insult to intelligence for both these outfits to say forcible conversions are nothing but cases of wrong documentation.
How come forcible conversions do not happen among Muslims in the country?
We are yet to come across cases where Muslims are complaining that they have been converted to non-Muslim faiths without their knowledge.
Why is it happening to non-Muslims only? Surely, there must something wrong about the nature of the trajectory of Islam in this country.
I hope that Arun Doraisamy and his newfound friend do not take Hindus or non-Muslims as fools or idiots in this country.
I don't think Hindus or non-Muslims are prepared to believe your crap of defects in documentation.
If there are only few cases, then the argument about defects is acceptable, but not when there are more than 7,000 cases.
If these 7,000 cases are only among Hindus, what about Buddhists, Christians and members of other non-Muslim faiths?
Clandestine religious conversions, directly or indirectly condoned by the state authorities, are a big menace to the well-being and dignity of non-Muslims in the country.
Sorry, I can see a hidden hand of the PM's Department in ensuring that these two NGOs are saying the "right" thing!
For these, we need to know what rewards are awaiting them.
P RAMASAMY is Deputy CHief Minister II of Penang and the state assemblyperson for Perai.
