Excuse me, I am not a NON!

Nearly half of this country's citizens has been recognised as a Non for many decades. It was so ingrained into our lives that it even attracts opposition from those who themselves are associated with such a term if there is any effort to change it. We are addressed as such by the authorities, our teachers, our colleagues, our classmates, politicians and of all persons, ourselves!

Does it ring a bell?

For those who are searching to gain their spiritual enlightenment in a serene place of worship, they need to pray hard to ensure a suitable piece of land is provided and approval to construct the place of worship or their house of gods for the Nons are given the nod by the authorities in a reasonable time. Even then, the Nons will toiled in the name of the almighty through days and nights to raise enough funds to build the structure. It will be a blessing if there is a windfall from the authorities.

We are getting used being called the Nons. But it does not mean the Nons need to be addressed as such. Just because the term has been in use for such a long time, it did not mean it is right to do so continuosly. There are Nons who are actually not comfortable to be addresed as such. Why must a person be declared as a non-entity of such and such community?

Can we have a re-look on this matter? Does the constitution in any way written with such a term?

Article 3 of the Federal Constitution says;

"Islam is the religion of the Federation; but other religions may be practice in peace and harmony in any part of the Federation".

The Constitution was adopted and in use since independence in 1957. If the intention and spirit of the Constitution is to create a clear division between two entity of citizentry, it would have used the word Islam and Non-Islam. But in reality our forefathers of independence acknowleged there were many religions and their adherents in this land, which is the reason for the word other religions which recognises the existence of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and natives and folk religions during that time.

This clause is not the over-rated social contract term that many political animals has been fond of over using it. Article 3 is a very important statement in the most important instrument that defines and governs the nationhood of Malaysia and its people.

It is with this understanding that during a recent meeting in a committee formerly known as Jawatankuasa Hal-Ehwal Bukan Islam Negeri Selangor, I proposed that the term be changed from "Bukan Islam" (Non-Muslim) to "Selain Islam" (Other Than Islam). This suggestion was in response to many objections from representatives of religions other than Islam on the term "Bukan Islam" during the meeting.

Will the Selangor State Government be the first in Malaysian modern history to refrain from using the term "Non- Muslims" (Bukan-Islam) when addressing people of religions other than Islam. If the Selangor State Exco accepts the proposal of the Jawatankuasa Hal-ehwal Keagamaan (Selain Islam) Negeri Selangor to use the term "other than Islam" (selain Islam) instead of "Non-Muslim" ( Bukan-Islam), it will surely be the first state to do so.