KUCHING: The state Islamic Department (Jais) has no record of Beginda Minda, the father of the boy caned for bringing non-halal food to school, being a Muslim.
Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Islamic Affairs) Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman mentioned this to reporters yesterday when asked on Beginda’s religious status.
“In Sarawak, there is no record that Beginda is a Muslim… Maybe we get help from Islamic departments from other states to probe his status,” he said after officiating at Tadika Zasa’s 25th anniversary and mini convocation here.
According to Daud, the law does not stop one from exiting Islam although such practice is not encouraged by the religion.
He also said that in Sarawak, a person might have a Muslim sounding name but that did not mean he or she is a Muslim.
“In our state, we have many Ibans whose names are like Muslim names but they are not Muslims,” he said.
Beginda on Thursday said he had left Islam, while the mother of the boy Angela Jabing had said her son is not a Muslim.
The furore over Beginda’s status started earlier this week after an MP questioned Beginda’s status during the Dewan Rakyat sitting.
This is because Beginda is also known as Noor Azman Abdullah, and he had used that name when contesting as an independent in several elections in the state.
Beginda is now with Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).
As for his son’s case, the senior assistant who caned him had already apologised for his action although the Education Department indicated that it might take action against him.