Kuala Lumpur: Faced with rising ethnic and interfaith tensions, Muslim-majority Malaysia will soon introduce a regulation that will require its nationals to inform their family before converting to Islam.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said such a declaration would prevent families from contesting conversion by any member.

His comments came as several religious disputes have come to light in recent months. In one such instance after a Hindu ethnic-Indian, Moorthy, who had secretly converted to Islam, died, his widow could not claim the body for cremation.

The Islamic authorities said he had to be buried as the deceased had converted to Islam. However, his widow said she was unaware of the conversion.

Noting that religious issues were "very sensitive", Abdullah told reporters after chairing a meeting of the National Council on Islamic Religious Affairs here yesterday that issues like demolition of places of worship and funeral disputes should be tackled wisely to avoid racial tension.

The step is seen as a damage control exercise by Barisan Nasional which suffered its worst ever electoral performance in last month's general election following discontent among ethnic Indians who allege discrimination. Minorities, including Indians and Chinese, who are mostly Buddhists, account for 40 per cent of the 27 million population.

The coalition lost its hold in five states and also one third of the parliamentary seats to the opposition.

Non-Muslims have accused Islamic authorities of often giving their decision against minorities.

Abdullah suggested that non-Muslims who wanted to convert to Islam should fill a form or letter declaring their intention to let their families know. This would ensure that families had been told and had understood his or her decision, Star newspaper said today.
Source : PTI