Dr S Subramaniam
KUCHING: The Kuching High Court’s decision to allow Sarawakian Rooney Rebit to be legally known as a Christian ought to become the gold standard of decisions in all future cases involving similar circumstances.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S Subramaniam said there were many people who had become victims of circumstances and were converted to Islam but never led a Muslim way of life.
“Their attempts to rectify this have not been easy and this has had major effects on their lifestyle.
“Many of them could not get married because of their uncertain identity,” he said in a statement today (May 3).
These people, he noted, have also been subjected to the duress of enforcement officers because of their non rectified status.
“We have to uphold the fundamental constitutional right of religious freedom and ensure that all government institutions be proactive in upholding the same,” he stressed.
Dr Subramaniam, who is also Malaysian Indian Congress president, added that the Malaysian non-Muslim community was also looking forward for a quick resolution to the long standing issues of interfaith custody and conversion of minors.
“As a matured, stable, and progressive multi-religious nation, we have the strength to overcome these few obstacles in our path of strengthening national unity.”
In his statement, he also congratulated Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem for having personally intervened in the case of Rooney to uphold his constitutional right of being a Christian.
“I also welcome the assurance given by our Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak yesterday that the National Registration Department (NRD) will withdraw the case and discontinue the appeal against the High Court decision to uphold his constitutional right to practise Christianity.
“This is the correct decision and also an important precedent,” he said.
Earlier, NRD director general Dato Sri Sulaiman Keling issued a statement stating the department will file a withdrawal to its notice of appeal against the Kuching High Court today.