I REFER to the recent news that the Health Ministry will meet the National Fatwa Council to discuss the consensus on abortion for pregnant women infected with the Zika virus.
As the law stands, abortion is only allowed if the mother's life is in danger. In Zika infected pregnant women the danger is that the child may be born with microencephaly and or other defects which would undoubtedly cause enormous distress and hardship to the parents in due course.
When the law on legal abortion was first promulgated there was no reference to any religious body as it was considered purely a medical problem.
Now the situation appears to be different. Confucius once said: "Life is simple but people make it complicated".
Since the question of abortion is sensitive and impacts on every religion, the Health Ministry should, if at all, refer the matter to the Inter-Faith Council where Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and Taoists can weigh in on the issue and come to a consensus.
In a multi-religious, multi-ethnic country like ours no one community or group should feel sidelined in the shaping of public policy.
We must give substance and meaning to "Satu Malaysia". Otherwise it would remain just a slogan.
Dr A. Soorian
Seremban
As the law stands, abortion is only allowed if the mother's life is in danger. In Zika infected pregnant women the danger is that the child may be born with microencephaly and or other defects which would undoubtedly cause enormous distress and hardship to the parents in due course.
When the law on legal abortion was first promulgated there was no reference to any religious body as it was considered purely a medical problem.
Now the situation appears to be different. Confucius once said: "Life is simple but people make it complicated".
Since the question of abortion is sensitive and impacts on every religion, the Health Ministry should, if at all, refer the matter to the Inter-Faith Council where Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and Taoists can weigh in on the issue and come to a consensus.
In a multi-religious, multi-ethnic country like ours no one community or group should feel sidelined in the shaping of public policy.
We must give substance and meaning to "Satu Malaysia". Otherwise it would remain just a slogan.
Dr A. Soorian
Seremban