By Adrian Morgan
In April last year, I wrote about the totalitarian aspects of Malaysia's society. Since that time, the situations described then have been repeated and appear to have worsened. General elections were officially due to take place in 2009, but last month, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi suggested he would be bringing these elections forward. The elections may take place as early as March this year.
Malaysia's population of 27 million is, according to the UK government, 55% Muslim. The U.S. State Department maintains that 60% of the population is Muslim. Ethnic Malays are automatically classed as Muslim on their identity cards (MyKad) which are issued to everyone at age 12. Any changes to religious status, as defined on the MyKad, must be approved by the National Registration Department (NRD).
The NRD will not accept anyone's conversion out of Islam unless this has been approved by a Syariah (Islamic) court. So far, no Syariah court has ever allowed a living person to convert out of Islam. Individuals are denied the right to appeal in the civil courts against any decision made by an Islamic court. In practice, anyone who wishes to officially leave Islam is denied that right. Read more ...
In April last year, I wrote about the totalitarian aspects of Malaysia's society. Since that time, the situations described then have been repeated and appear to have worsened. General elections were officially due to take place in 2009, but last month, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi suggested he would be bringing these elections forward. The elections may take place as early as March this year.
Malaysia's population of 27 million is, according to the UK government, 55% Muslim. The U.S. State Department maintains that 60% of the population is Muslim. Ethnic Malays are automatically classed as Muslim on their identity cards (MyKad) which are issued to everyone at age 12. Any changes to religious status, as defined on the MyKad, must be approved by the National Registration Department (NRD).
The NRD will not accept anyone's conversion out of Islam unless this has been approved by a Syariah (Islamic) court. So far, no Syariah court has ever allowed a living person to convert out of Islam. Individuals are denied the right to appeal in the civil courts against any decision made by an Islamic court. In practice, anyone who wishes to officially leave Islam is denied that right. Read more ...
Source: Family Security Matters
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