MP SPEAKS | People of indigenous origin and the Orang Asli must be allowed to practise and profess their faith freely and any attempt to convert them will be a stumbling block in forming a cohesive Malaysian society as per the Federal Constitution.

The Orang Asli, who are the oldest inhabitants in this land we all call home, have been here before 2,500 BC and continue to live here in peace with nature, with the people - their souls tied to the earth they know. The practice of animism and the belief in the presence of spirits continue to influence their lives until today.

Recently, the Kelantan Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (Maik) reportedly said it plans to convert all 16,000 Orang Asli in Kelantan to Islam in 30 years' time.

While the position of Islam as the religion of the state is clearly mentioned in the Federal Constitution, Article 11 allows any persons to practise and profess their faiths freely. And this applies to those who believe in animism and spirits. Any attempt to influence or disallow them from practising their faith freely will be deemed as going against the very grain of the fundamental provision, which is freedom of religion and belief.

Any movement, whether state-orchestrated or supported by a national institution of higher learning, that seeks to proselytise is a setback to the New Malaysia that was founded on the participation of Malaysians from all walks of life, creeds, and ethnicities in voting out a kleptocratic government and voting in a government by the people, of the people and for the people.

The Malaysian people spoke as one voice to send a powerful message that they will no longer tolerate a tyrannical government to continue to be in power.

In the case of Kelantan, Maik is in a unique position to play an influential role as defender of the people of different faiths by being the bridge to unify the diverse groups of people who live in the state.

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), too, after almost 50 years of churning out well-known figures like Transport Minister Anthony Loke, Deputy Dewan Rakyat speaker Rashid Hasnon, Syariah High Court Judge Nenney Shushaidah Shamsuddin, Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador and many other Malaysians, has the moral duty to contribute to nation building.

As an institution of higher learning, UKM must work on ways to bring closer this assortment of people and cultures we call Malaysia.

Recently at an international conference in Singapore, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, an outspoken advocate for freedom of religion and belief, has called for joint efforts to tackle the world's "single most" important threat - the attack on interfaith harmony, mutual respect and trust.

Article 11 of the Federal Constitution clearly states that every person has the right to profess and practise his religion and manage his own religious affairs, establish and maintain institutions for religious or charitable purposes, and to acquire, own property and hold and administer it in accordance with the law. This provision gives absolute protection to all Orang Asli who wish to practise and profess their faith in our New Malaysia.

KASTHURI PATTO is the member of Parliament for Batu Kawan and Wanita DAP international secretary.

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