COMMENT | A recent statement by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Mohd Na’im Mokhtar sets alarm bells ringing.

In a Bernama report dated Aug 1, Na’im said that he wanted to harmonise the syariah and civil laws of Malaysia, and “the ultimate purpose was to dignify syariah law to its rightful sovereign position”.

He said that one of the aims of the process of harmonisation was to elevate the position of Islam as the religion of the federation.

In response to the minister, does harmonisation mean that civil laws will be made syariah-compliant? If so, will the rights of non-Muslims be protected?

How long will it be before...