NRD to withdraw appeal notice against court’s decision to recognise Rooney’s right to be a Christian
Adenan (File Photo)
KUCHING: Bidayuh Rooney Rebit’s more than 30-year-long wish to be recognised as a Christian is finally granted, thanks to Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem.
The National Registration Department (NRD) will withdraw its notice of appeal against the Kuching High Court’s decision to recognise Rooney’s right to be legally known as a Christian.
Adenan gave this assurance after discussing with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on this issue yesterday.
“I have spoken to the Prime Minister today (yesterday) on the matter. He gave me the assurance that the appeal by NRD will be withdrawn,” Adenan said in a statement through his press secretary Ambrose Cheng.
Adenan apologised for the delay in addressing the issue as he only “got to know about the matter today (yesterday).”
On March 24 this year, the Kuching High Court ruled in Rooney’s favour, holding that his conversion as a minor was not of his own volition, and he had the constitutional rights to exercise his freedom of religion.
It also held that Rooney was not subjected to the jurisdiction of the Syariah Court as he could not be considered a Muslim.
Justice Datuk Yew Jen Kie made the decision on the application made by Rooney (formerly known as Azmi Mohamad Azam Shah), who was converted to Islam when he was 10 years old by his Christian-turned-Muslim parents.
The Bidayuh, now 41, had applied for a judicial review to obtain recognition that he is a Christian, an order of mandamus to compel the first and/or second respondents to issue the letter of release from Islam; an order of mandamus to compel the third respondent to change the applicant’s name to Rooney Rebit; and an order of mandamus to compel the third respondent to drop his religion of Islam in his identity card and records at the National Registry.
The NRD filed a notice of appeal on April 22, 2016, after it was ordered by the Kuching High Court to issue a new MyKad to Rooney with the name he was born with and with the Muslim classification removed.
Two other defendants in the case, namely Islamic Religious Affairs Department (JAIS) and the Sarawak Islamic Council, did not appeal.
Meanwhile, Rooney’s lawyer Chua Kuan Ching welcomed Adenan’s prompt action in handling the issue.
He, however, suggested that Adenan and Najib gave an assurance that the NRD would not oppose similar cases in future.
“It is better if the Chief Minister openly come up with a policy on this. For instance, as long as the Sarawak Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) has no objection, the NRD would not interfere and will amend the MyKad accordingly,” he said when contacted by The Borneo Post yesterday.
He reckoned Rooney’s case could be a “one-off case only.”
The Association of Churches, Sarawak (ACS), when contacted yesterday, welcomed Adenan’s announcement on this issue.
Its secretary-general, Ambrose Linang, hoped the NRD would drop its appeal promptly as a sign of its sincerity.
“This is indeed good news from Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem for the Christian community in Sarawak. On behalf of ACS, we would also like to thank Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak for his assurance on the issue,” said Linang.
He hoped the NRD would, from now, process all applications from Muslim converts who sought to revert to their previous religions.
“NRD should not make it difficult for Muslim converts to go back to their old religions, especially in Sarawak, where there are many such cases.”
He added that he did not think the announcement yesterday was related to the current campaigning for the May 7 state election.
“I believed the chief minister’s decision has been consistent with his various spot on 53 other initiatives he has made over the last two years. So, I don’t think it is related to the state election,” said Linang.
He added that even though Christians in Sarawak made up 1.6 million of its total population of 2.6 million, everyone had been living in peace and harmony.