Malaysian rights activists yesterday criticized a controversial plan by a hard-line Islamic party to offer cash and perks in return for converting indigenous people. “This is a violation of human rights. It looks like religion is being made a commodity,” said S. Arutchelven from human rights campaigners Voice of the Malaysian People. “Indigenous people have their own beliefs and culture. We urge the Kelantan government to stop this program,” he said.
Kelantan is the only Malaysian state under the control of the Pan-Malaysia Islamic Party (PAS) which wants to turn the multicultural country into an Islamic nation. State officials said Monday that cash and other rewards like four-wheel-drive vehicles would be offered to Muslim preachers who married and converted indigenous people. Kelantan Religious Affairs Committee chair Hassan Mohamood said the state government was unhappy with the conversion rate of indigenous people or “Orang Asli,” who do not follow mainstream religions. Most Orang Asli are animists and still embrace traditional medicine-men or witch-doctors to communicate with the spiritual world.
| The Orang Asli are the indigenous Sakai people, rather nice Negrito woods dwellers who're racially distinct from the Malays. The Sakai have historically been horribly oppressed by the Malays — the sultans used to hold Sakai hunts for sport. They don't do well in captivity, having the habit of just giving up and dying. Looks like the Kelantan government has found a new way to oppress them. |
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