As a practicing Muslim in Malaysia, Elfie said “legitimising apostasy would be detrimental to Islamic values as practiced by Muslims in Malaysia.”
This drew a reply from a Singaporean, Shairul Fazleena who said: “I am a Singaporean and a proud Muslimah and I feel that Malaysian apostates are more angry with the Malaysian government than they are with Islam.”
She added "I feel that they think Islam is the problem but only on the way Malaysia bases its policy with regards to it. I have engaged some of these apostates on the website and have been trying hard to show them that it is not Islam that has wronged them but people using Islam as an excuse to impose their will.
"I am not writing to you to champion the apostates’ cause. I am only doing this so that the Malaysian government may consider reviewing their policy.
"In Singapore, people can renounce their religion as and when they like it and there is no pressure to practice one belief.
“It is wrong to force one to hold on to a religion that one doesn’t believe in and this it contradicts the claim that Islam is not about force.”
However, she said Malaysian apostates are confusing themselves as to who or what is actually oppressing them and in some way, they have linked this to Islam.
"While I respect the Malaysian government (for) trying to execute Islamic law as well as they can, I think punishing apostates is not relevant any more.
“After all, Malaysia doesn’t stone to death Muslims caught for adultery, does it? If that can be overlooked, why not apostasy?”
Other Malaysian comments:
Lisa Jaafar: "Many Malays have no choice but to be Muslims because we were brought up as Muslims by our parents immediately after we were born.
"As children, we had no free will and independent judgement. Children do not read scriptures and compare different religions’ doctrines and practices.
“However, as adults we have free will and independent judgement. Some may arrive at understandings and conclusions that may differ from our parents’ and grandparents’ who may have been illiterate or semi-literate.”
Mister Tambourine: I am one of the very many Malay/Muslim Malaysians who are not in favour of changing the status quo of the land as far as the Constitution and rule of law are concerned.
We prefer to keep religion a personal matter and let the Almighty be the absolute judge.
We are liberal, tolerant (as was the holy Prophet), peace-loving who reject (opposition) PAS because it is a party, which imposes its will on us Muslims to comply with its distorted view on Islam and an Islamic state.
Your letter has helped encourage similarly liberal Malays to abandon any thoughts of supporting arrogant, intolerant Islamists in this country who will curtail our already limited freedom to practice and worship as we like.
‘Be like Indonesia’
Johan Baba: Mohamad Elfie Nishaem Juferi betrayed his extreme intolerance bordering on fanaticism towards Malay Muslims whose only “crime” is to follow the dictates of their hearts and leave their religion.
In the eyes of Elfie, these people stigmatised as apostates or ‘murtad’ are even worse than Muslims who are rapists, murderers or people who commit incest.
But what many people are not aware of is that Elfie has all along been harassing and intimidating these apostates, many of whom have fled overseas to escape the wrath of the Malaysian religious authorities with whom he has apparently been liaising with.
They do not want to be forced to blindly embrace Islam from birth onwards.
In other predominantly Muslim societies like Indonesia, apostates are treated just like any other of their citizens with no discrimination.
They should be allowed to return here and live as proud and equal citizens without having to convert back to Islam.
Dr Syed Alwi Ahmad: Muslims generally take their religion very seriously. “There is nothing wrong with that - provided you put religion in its proper context.”
However some people go further and assert that religion is the ‘absolute truth’. In other words, religion need not be put in context and that it is literal with no burden of proof.
They practice (and want others to practice) - a 10th century interpretation of Islam. I totally reject this.
‘Serious crime’
**Last week, academics at a seminar on apostasy held in the International Islamic University (IIU) urged the government to stem the tide of apostasy before it grew to larger proportions. **
IIU law professor Abdul Aziz Bari in his paper said failure to restrict the number of Malay Muslims leaving their religion would open up a constitutional pandora’s box.
littlespeck.com/region/CForeign-My-041228.htm
