I REFER to the 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 allowed only if the mother’s life is in danger.
In Zika-infected pregnant women, the danger is that the child may be born with microcephaly and other defects that will cause distress and hardship to parents.
When the law on legal abortion was first enforced, there was no reference to any religious body as it was considered a medical problem.
Now the situation appears to be different. Confucius once said: “Life is simple but people make it complicated.”
Since this issue impacts every religion, the 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 multireligious, multiethnic country like ours, no one community or group should feel sidelined in shaping public policy.
We must give substance and meaning to 1Malaysia. Otherwise, it would remain just a slogan.
DR A. SOORIAN,
Seremban, Negri Sembilan