Malaysia Hindu Sangam Disappointed With Decision on M. Moorthy

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, December 26, 2005: Datuk A. Vaithilingam, president of the Malaysia Hindu Sangam writes:

The Malaysia Hindu Sangam expresses its very great disappointment and sadness on the failure of Madam Kaliammal in her efforts to seek relief in the Civil High Court. We are concerned that the present laws give plenty of protection to the Muslim community whilst non-Muslims have very little protection by any statute under provisions acceptable to non-Muslims. We are of the opinion that the Federal and all State Governments in Malaysia should seriously review the existing laws with attention being paid to the interests and welfare of non-Muslim communities. We would propose some amendments to the law in this regard. The Malaysian Hindu Sangam is concerned with the law relating to seizure of bodies of deceased persons from Hindu families. This is done on the grounds that the deceased had some record with the Islamic authorities of a conversion to Islam. It is suggested that if a person converts to Islam the family of the person be informed by the authorities immediately. This will prevent the family suffering a shock on the funeral day or when the person is on his deathbed. There should also be provisions in the law for a person who converts to Islam to revert to his former religion in a simple procedure without any harassment and without having to go to any Court. There should also be reasonable laws governing commitments to the family incurred by persons who change their religions before and after their conversion from one religion to another. The present laws are not satisfactory and not reasonable. There is much pain and suffering by family members. We sincerely hope that the authorities concerned will give sympathetic consideration to find a just solution which is truly fair to all communities. The Malaysia Hindu Sangam is working with our partners in the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism & Sikhism to further the proposals we have already made previously to alleviate the grievances of non-Muslims