Separating the Malay from Islam

By Raja Petra Kamarudin Thursday, 29 May 2008

There is an ongoing debate about Malays having lost their political power in the 8 March 2008 general election, about Malay states falling into the hands of non-Malays, and about if this continues then Malays will lose their preferential status and special rights and privileges -- which will probably also see the end of the New Economic Policy. Some (Umno-types) have accused those of us (Malays) in Pakatan Rakyat of being traitors to our Malay race and of not loving the Malays enough.

Malays are automatically Muslims, according to the Federal Constitution of Malaysia, and Muslims are prohibited from leaving Islam and converting to other religions. By law, Malays become Muslims, whether they like it or not, and once a Muslim always a Muslim.

But that is not the issue here. Let us not argue about whether it is fair to ‘constitutionalise’ Malays and ‘trap’ them in Islam for the rest of their lives. read more