‘Don’t get emotional over memo withdrawal’

Abstracted from New Straits Times online
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/nst/Sunday/Frontpage/20060122083138/Article/index_html

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 21:
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Non-Muslims must not get emotional over the withdrawal of a memorandum to the Prime Minister calling for a review of laws affecting them.

The withdrawal of the unprecedented memorandum by non-Muslim Cabinet ministers yesterday was "a redemptive and reconciliatory act", Malaysian Consultative Council for Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Sikhism spokesman Rev Wong Kim Kong said.

He said the ministers had undoubtedly faced pressure from their own communities which were concerned about their rights as non-Muslims in relation to Islam on conversion, marriage and divorce.

On Wednesday, non-Muslim ministers, acting on an MCA initiative, presented a memorandum to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi calling for a review of Article 121 (1A) and other laws that affect non-Muslims in Islamic matters.

The retraction came in the wake of an outcry by Muslim Cabinet members and Barisan Nasional leaders. Some of the non-Muslim ministers met Abdullah at his residence this morning to withdraw the document.

"As representatives of non-Muslim communities, they are facing an impasse between confrontation and redemption," Wong said.

"I am sure the retraction was based on some amicable agreement that the problems will be resolved in the Cabinet’s tradition of consultation and consensus.

"The ministers value national stability and for the sake of unity and harmony, they have opted to withdraw the memorandum in favour of reconciliation."

 
Useful links:

• Tafsiran hakim cetus konflik (Utusan Online, 23-January-06)
   
• "Don't get emotional over memo withdrawal" (New Straits Times, 21-January-06)
   
• Memo to PM - Call for review of laws affecting rights of non-Muslims (New Straits times, 20-January-06)
  In an unprecedented move, non-Muslim ministers submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister yesterday calling for ...
   
• Signature Campaign of the MCCBCHS
   
• Report on the Parliamentary Roundtable on Article 121 (1A) in Parliament (Committee Room 1)
   
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