KOTA KINABALU: United Pasok Momogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) president Tan Sri Bernard Dompok said the 74 villagers from northern Sabah who were allegedly “tricked” into converting to Islam were “taken advantage of”.
He said the conversion was not conducted in the true spirit of the Federal Constitution that provides for freedom of worship.
“Basically, the people in these villages were taken advantage of,” he said after meeting Protestant Church of Sabah president Rev Jensey Mojuin.
Dompok said Upko had conducted a preliminary probe into the villagers’ claims and was still collecting more information.
Among the 74 affected northern district Pitas villagers were some PCS members well as some from the Sidang Injil Borneo and Baptis Pelita Cahaya.
The villagers had claimed they were brought to the Pitas town community hall under the pretence of receiving financial aid from a non-governmental organisation.
Instead, they were brought to the Pitas town mosque where their identity cards were taken before they were made to recite some “foreign words” and then given RM100 each.
Sabah Islamic Affairs Department (JHEAINS) outgoing director Amri Suratman had been quoted as saying that the conversion of the 74 adults and children from three remote villages was valid as it was carried out according to Islamic law.
He said the New Year’s Day event was organised by a Selangor-based NGO, but the conversion was carried out by JHEAINS officers.
Amri said the villagers were asked if they were converting to Islam voluntarily and on their own free will.
He added it was up to the Syariah Court to decide if the conversion of the villagers would stand.
When asked about Amri’s remarks, Domok said; “What has been said by the department is not correct. There is evidence to the contrary. We will have more information in about a week.”
Dompok also said the villagers could potentially take legal action to reverse their conversion, but the decision to do so was up to them.
He said Upko was stepping in to help the villagers as “we are here to serve the cause of justice and human rights.”
“These are basic issues. A person’s conversion to any religion is his right and this right must not be tampered with,” Dompok said.