Recently our Home Minister, Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Tun Hussein Onn was quoted as saying that it is against the Federal Constitution to propagate non-Islamic religions to those professing the religion of Islam. He was referring to the case of 9 students at Putra University of Malaysia in Serdang, Selangor who were arrested for allegedly propagating Christianity to Muslim students (15th July 2009). In the end, it turned out that there was a misunderstanding and the nine were released.
Going back to what Hishamuddin had said, let us go back to Article 11(4) of the Federal Constitution. It says that state governments may enact laws to prevent the propagation of religions other than Islam to Muslims. Therefore it is only against the law when a state has such a law enacted. However some states have yet to enact such a law. Since Hishamuddin is a Federal minister, he should know that the Federal Territory itself has never enacted such a law.
However Article 11(4) cannot be applied in the states of Sabah and Sarawak. Therefore the governments of Sabah and Sarawak cannot enact a law to prevent the propagation of religions other than Islam to Muslims. This is because it is clearly stated in the Malaysia Agreement of 1963 that Article 11(4) cannot be applied in the two states.
Hence, non-Muslims in Sabah and Sarawak are free to propagate their religions to Muslims. But, out of respect for Muslim sensitivities, there has never been attempts by non-Muslim religious organizations to spread their religions to Muslims or Muslim communities.
But since the Malaysia Agreement has expressly stated that Article 11(4) does not apply to Sabah and Sarawak, Muslims in these two states should be given the free choice to leave Islam if they want to. This should not be made an issue.
Conversions from Islam to Christianity and Christianity to Islam are common in Sabah. Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman himself had said on numerous occassions that Sabahans enjoy the spirit of "live and let live".
Therefore attempts by certain NGOs to have Article 11(4) applied to Sabah are uncalled for. Similarly, the practice of the National Registration Department (NRD) in making life difficult for those converting from Islam to other faiths is a mockery of the Malaysia Agreement of 1963.
To all Sabahans, please know your rights as enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement! The Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment 1995 which makes converting out of Islam an offence can be challenged in court by citing the Malaysia Agreement.
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4 comments:
Then why all newspaper adverts and literature handout on Christian functions have this note: For non Muslims only.
Who had implemented that rule?
Joshua Y C Kong
The West Malaysian-based Federal government are either ignorant about the Malaysia Agreement or pretend to be ignorant of it. After all newspaper permits are approved by the Federal government. Just like the new practice where native marriages must be registered with the NRD. The Law Reform Act (Marriage and Divorce) 1976 clearly states that native marriages are not bound by this act. Neither are they bound by the National Registration Act.
Thanks for the info. but what we are scared of is whether the sabahan politicians know and understand this? I'm always amazed with what they can do or not do...
Sometimes I wonder, whether they fight for our right or personal agendas?
Always remember this pharse: A country bans truth gives permission to lies, and these lies will bring harm"
Even the Australia gov recently admit and apologised to the sins they had done towards its aborigin natives a century ago. Wonder if KL admin will admit their lies and stops the Borneo natives finding the truth from oversea research???
The KL Malays are not the real natives and they are same like the arrogant US whites and China communist leaders... just based on below assumption.
Without the Hinduism Malayalaam migrates to Sumantra, there will not be a Hinduism Malay Kingdom called SriVijaya be existed.
Without the expansion of Hinduism SriVijaya Kingdom, the "Semenanjung Malaya/ Tanah Melayu" will still be a part of the Buddhist Thai Kingdom.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raktamaritika
Without the influence of Arab Muslim merchants, the Hinduism kingdom of SriVijaya will still existing until now, and the Hinduism Malays will spreads through out SEA (Now only remain strong in Bali).
Without the help of China's Navy fleets lead by ZhengHe, Melaka will only be a small town like Port Dickson. (Why anti-Chinese?)
Without the help of European colonies, Tanah Melayu is continue to presenting "annual gifts" to the Thai King, and all Tanah Melayu people must learn Thai language, and Arab-nize will not be able expand to this part of the world!! (Why anti-Western politik system??)
Without the help of European colonies, Tanah Melayu will not able to "colonise" S'pore and the two states in Borneo!! And Indonesia will not be as big as today.
(Why the KL admin always claim the European colonies are evil people with greedy of power?? Who is greedy of power actually??)
If the above events didn't happened, will Malaysia and Indonesia exist like today?????
Who is the one likes to claim other's efforts/credit for their own selfish advantages??
Will KL accept that there were a Chinese Kingdom in Kinabatangan?? I bet they would afraid to admit it! check this link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huang_Senping
Therefore, Borneo, Sulawesi, Maluku, Flores, Puapa,... all should breaks into independance countries and forming Asean Union, just like the European union.
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