'Need for Act to govern apostasy cases'
The Sun (6/5/08): The country needs an Act to govern apostasy cases to avoid confusion and misunderstanding among multi-racial Malaysians, said Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi (BN-Batu Pahat).
"The questions we need to clarify are whether permission can be given for a Muslim to renounce Islam, how to stop Muslims from becoming an apostate, the issue of faith rehabilitation and the status of a Muslim convert who wish to return to his (or her) original religion.
"That is why I said this act must be drafted quickly," he said when debating the motion of thanks for the Royal Address in the Dewan Rakyat (Parliament) today.
Chong Eng (DAP-Bukit Mertajam) asked whether he was referring to a Malay who is born a Muslim or the non-Malays who converted to Islam.
Puad said: "Such a question is the reason why there is a need for a law to govern these matters."
"In Islam, when one becomes as Muslim, he or she is bound by certain regulations. There is no compulsion in religion, meaning no one should be forced to become a Muslim.
"But, once someone has embraced Islam, he (or she) must adhere to Islamic teachings. The process of law about this must be clear so that there is no confusion," he added.
Chong asked whether Islam allowed its believers to renounce the religion like what is practised in other religions.
Puad said everyone must respect each other’s religion and in Islam, there is a certain guideline when dealing with the issue of apostates and a Muslim cannot leave the religion as and when he likes.
Supporting Puad, Nasharuddin Mat Isa (PAS-Bachok) said there are two kinds of laws concerning the issue of apostasy, namely substantive and procedural laws.
"And our procedural law has yet to reach a level that we can be proud of and must be improved," he added.
Taib Azamudden Md Taib (PAS-Baling) said he agreed with Puad on the need for a law on apostasy to enable Muslims who want to renounce the religion to be called by the authorities to explain himself.
"With the Act, it will not be interpreted that it is easy for someone to walk in and out of Islam like walking in and out of a shop," he added.
On another matter, Puad said government-linked companies which are allowed to invest in foreign businesses must be careful and learn from the experience of Singapore.
He also said the government should consider revoking its policy of teaching Science and Mathematics in English.
"The questions we need to clarify are whether permission can be given for a Muslim to renounce Islam, how to stop Muslims from becoming an apostate, the issue of faith rehabilitation and the status of a Muslim convert who wish to return to his (or her) original religion.
"That is why I said this act must be drafted quickly," he said when debating the motion of thanks for the Royal Address in the Dewan Rakyat (Parliament) today.
Chong Eng (DAP-Bukit Mertajam) asked whether he was referring to a Malay who is born a Muslim or the non-Malays who converted to Islam.
Puad said: "Such a question is the reason why there is a need for a law to govern these matters."
"In Islam, when one becomes as Muslim, he or she is bound by certain regulations. There is no compulsion in religion, meaning no one should be forced to become a Muslim.
"But, once someone has embraced Islam, he (or she) must adhere to Islamic teachings. The process of law about this must be clear so that there is no confusion," he added.
Chong asked whether Islam allowed its believers to renounce the religion like what is practised in other religions.
Puad said everyone must respect each other’s religion and in Islam, there is a certain guideline when dealing with the issue of apostates and a Muslim cannot leave the religion as and when he likes.
Supporting Puad, Nasharuddin Mat Isa (PAS-Bachok) said there are two kinds of laws concerning the issue of apostasy, namely substantive and procedural laws.
"And our procedural law has yet to reach a level that we can be proud of and must be improved," he added.
Taib Azamudden Md Taib (PAS-Baling) said he agreed with Puad on the need for a law on apostasy to enable Muslims who want to renounce the religion to be called by the authorities to explain himself.
"With the Act, it will not be interpreted that it is easy for someone to walk in and out of Islam like walking in and out of a shop," he added.
On another matter, Puad said government-linked companies which are allowed to invest in foreign businesses must be careful and learn from the experience of Singapore.
He also said the government should consider revoking its policy of teaching Science and Mathematics in English.
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