KUCHING: The Association of Churches in Sarawak has called upon the state government to establish a special ministry or department to look after the affairs and interests of non-Muslims.
The call came following the latest case involving a Bidayuh man from Sarawak who was converted to Islam when he was a minor due to parental conversion and only exercised his constitutional right to convert to Christianity when he reached the age of majority.
In a recent press statement, the association said the man had to wait over 30 years until he could apply for and obtain a court order to direct the National Registration Department to change his name and particulars in his identity card to Christianity.
“It is disheartening to learn that the National Registration Department has recently filed an appeal to the Court of Appeal against the High Court’s decision.”
The association said this was one of the many instances of the failure of the federal government to uphold the guarantee of religious freedom under the IGC Report and the Malaysia Agreement.
“The guarantee of religious freedom is a fundamental constitutional right which requires strong and genuine commitment from the authorities to uphold.
It cannot be achieved by infrequent acts of ad hoc benevolence.”
The association also urged the federal government to uphold its duty to guarantee the constitutional right of religious freedom of the people of Sarawak and the country.
“It has been heart-warming to hear from the chief minister that the state government is negotiating with the federal government for autonomy for the government of Sarawak and to be re-vested with powers in order to govern and administer certain interests and subject matters in Sarawak in accordance with the Report of the Inter-Governmental Committee 1962 (IGC Report), Malaysia Agreement 1963 and Federal Constitution of Malaysia 1963.”
Paragraph 15(3) of Chapter 3 of the IGC Report, states clearly ‘the guarantee for religious freedom contained in Article 11 should be retained’.
“During the formation of Malaysia in 1963, the people of Sarawak were accorded special constitutional safeguards in respect of religious freedom which the government of Malaysia must guarantee in accordance with the IGC Report, Malaysia Agreement and the Federal Constitution.”
The association said the importance of religious freedom to a multi religious society in Sarawak could not be overstated.
“Although the Federal Constitution could be amended by a two-thirds majority in the Parliament of Malaysia, the IGC Report and the Malaysia Agreement which was registered with the United Nations cannot be unilaterally amended without the consent of all the signatory countries.”
The association said Sarawak must not lose sight of the constitutional rights, safeguards, assurances and undertakings in respect of religious freedom.