Aliran strongly opposes the Barisan Nasional government’s move to include religion as a category in our new ICs and urges it to withdraw this decision. This latest move will further erect barriers between Muslims and non-Muslims in our country. The government should be fostering inter-religious dialogue, tolerance and understanding at all levels, and setting-up a consultative council on inter-religious affairs so that religious issues are discussed frankly without their getting politicised. The BN government should seriously focus their attention in creating a Bangsa Malaysia as a priority.

In response to the MCCBCHS (Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Sikhism) which protested against the decision, Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi clarified that it was not the National Registration Department’s decision to include religion of an individual in the IC. It was the cabinet’s and it had deliberated over the matter for a long time and came to this conclusion about three years ago. It was only now that the decision was being implemented. He further clarified that ‘there is no hidden motive, no attempt to discriminate".

Abdullah Badawi’s clarification raises more questions than provides answers.

First, according to Badawi, the matter was discussed about three years ago. Yet the cabinet did not deem it necessary to consult the rakyat, leaders of the various religions, or the MCCBCHS. This is amazing. This refusal to consult has become a habit with the BN government. It appears that it has forgotten that they are mere servants of the rakyat who are the real boss and must be accountable for their action.

Second, the BN government must get serious about creating a Bangsa Malaysia, one of the goals enunciated in Dr Mahathir’s Vision 2020. Thus far it has been "all talk and no action". Its efforts to create a Bangsa Malaysia must move beyond the superficial efforts of holding "open houses" and multicultural spectacles at opening ceremonies, national day and other pesta parades.

There must be a rethink of government policies which continue to divide us into bumiputra and non-bumiputra. In this regard, it has always been Aliran’s position that the poor and needy deserve assistance regardless of ethnic or religious background. Aliran also views the continued existence of ethnic-based political parties as retrogressive. Too often they have resorted to fanning ethnic sentiments to gain votes and to maintain power. On the other hand, multi-ethnic parties will force these politicians to promote universal values rather than address narrow ethnic issues.

It is in this spirit of fostering a Bangsa Malaysia that Aliran strongly opposes the government’s latest move to further divide and categorise us. In no time the distinction between Muslims and non-Muslims will get entrenched. The Barisan government should think through the long-term implications of its absurd short-sighted decision, which, apparently, is to help "in cases where quick identification is needed" like "disputes in the claiming of bodies, during the Ramadan, or when people enter casinos". Surely these are problems which can be resolved without resorting to such a drastic and potentially divisive administrative exercise.

Third, let us also remind the BN government that there are among the rakyat, especially in Sabah and Sarawak, who practice their ancestral faiths. Are they to be classified as "lain-lain"? And what about those "free thinkers". Apart from the fact that one’s spirituality is not necessarily related to formal religion, the forced categorisation of a person into one or another religion is an infringement of one’s privacy and civil right.

Finally, instead of erecting more barriers that separate and divide us, Aliran reiterates its position that the government sets up an Inter-religious Consultative Council embracing all the religions and spiritual traditions, major and minor. Such a Council would be responsible for promoting inter-religious harmony, dialogue, tolerance and understanding, and would facilitate discussions on religious matters in an atmosphere of mutual respect. Such a move will disallow the bigots in our midst from exploiting religions and religious matters for political ends. This question of whether to include religion as one of the categories in our ICs should have been rightly deliberated in this forum; not in the cabinet without any consultation with the rakyat.