CFM calls for all government departments and agencies to abide to Federal Constitution

PETALING JAYA: The Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) has urged all government departments and agencies to understand and adhere to the sacrosanct constitutional provisions in the Federal Constitution.
CFM chairman Rev Dr Eu Hong Seng said this is ensure no perception of bias by government ministries, departments and agencies that deal with all Malaysians and their racial and religious diversities.
Eu made the call after National Registration Department (NRD) had initiated an appeal against the Kuching High Court's decision to which the State Islamic Council and the State Islamic Department had no objection to Rooney Rebit's application to convert out of Islam.
"The federation is dismayed that the fundamental and constitutional rights of Rooney, who was born Christian but was converted to Islam at eight when his parents converted to Islam, was denied by NRD as the department sought to the former's religion.
"The issue is only solved when Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem had to step in to obtain Prime Minister's assurance to Rooney that NRD would not be appealing Rooney's case," Eu said in a statement.
Rooney was born a Christian but was converted to Islam at the age of eight when his parents converted to Islam.
Eu then questioned as to why it is so difficult for NRD to uphold and respect Article 11 (1) of the Federal Constitution that every individual has the right to profess and to practice his religion.
He then pointed out that once the constitutional freedom and rights are understood and embedded that there would be consistency in all policies and actions.
"We believe that this constitutional approach will provide us the consistency we need in our policies for the good of all Malaysians and will give us a common understanding that we as Malaysians ought to have.
"If we go against this very foundation of our nation then we cease to exist as a nation bound together by our common constitutional principles," he said.