MIC will submit recommendations on proposed changes to the laws affecting non-Muslims, especially on matters relating to religious conversions, to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi within a week.

Party president S Samy Vellu said the proposals which would include amendments to the Federal Constitution, would also be submitted to Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

MIC's proposals would only involve the rights of non-Muslims, he added.

"We accept that Islam is the official religion of the country. Our proposals will not in any way affect Islamic laws and the rights of Muslims as enshrined in the Federal Constitution.

"It is only certain laws that involves the non-Muslims where we feel some changes ought to be done," he was quoted as saying by Bernama.

Two-hour meeting

Samy, who is also works minister, said he had a two-hour meeting with a delegation from the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Sikhism at his office yesterday on the proposed changes to the laws.

On Dec 29, the council reportedly said that a sub-section of the Federal Constitution should be repealed to make it clear that the Syariah Court had no jurisdiction to hear matters involving non-Muslims.

Samy Vellu said during the meeting, which was also attended by experts and lawyers, they exchanged information and felt that some changes should be made to the governing laws on non-Muslims as certain states adopted laws that might not be very acceptable to non-Muslims.

He cited a case where Islamic laws in some states where children of Muslim converts were automatically converted.

The other issue that ought to be resolved is the question of the family member or the spouse not being informed when a person in that family converts to Islam, he said.

Plug the loopholes

Samy Vellu said MIC wanted to adopt a pro-active approach towards the problem to ensure whatever loopholes in the existing laws were plugged.

"I will discuss the MIC's proposals with MCA president Ong Ka Ting and other non-Muslim ministers before the Cabinet meeting tomorrow.

"I fear if we don't address this issue, it may derail the unity that has been built by the Barisan Nasional (BN) government for almost five decades," he added.

Samy Vellu also advised non-governmental organisations not to embark on any move that could trigger disunity among the various races in the country.

"We will seek a solution through consensus from the government through the existing political process," he said, referring to the BN concept of discussing sensitive matters behind closed doors.