Intervention by Adenan, Najib ends saga on Rooney’s bid to practise religion of his choice
KUCHING: The National Registration Department (NRD) yesterday withdrew its notice of appeal against the Kuching High Court’s decision to recognise Bidayuh Rooney Rebit’s right to be legally known as a Christian.
This means Rooney will soon be getting a new MyKad bearing the name he was born with and be rightfully recognised as a Christian.
NRD director-general Dato Sri Sulaiman Keling said the department filed its withdrawal yesterday after analysing the case thoroughly.
“NRD, as the third respondent in the case, has decided to retract its notice of appeal for the case, and it will be filed at the Kuching High Court today (yesterday),” he said in a statement.
He added that the Islamic Religious Affairs Department (JAIS) had also issued a ‘Letter of no objection to come out from Islam’ to Rooney as his application was justifiable.
NRD’s withdrawal comes a day after Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem announced that the department would do so.
When news of Rooney’s predicament was published by The Borneo Post on Monday, Adenan immediately discussed the issue with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, and Najib gave the nod for the appeal to be withdrawn.
NRD had filed a notice of appeal last April 22 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.
Meanwhile, Adenan’s swift action in resolving the issue has impressed Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S Subramaniam. He commended Adenan for taking a personal interest in the case.
“I also welcome the assurance given by our Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak yesterday (Monday) that NRD will withdraw the case and discontinue the appeal against the High Court’s decision to uphold his (Rooney) constitutional right to practise Christianity.
“This is the correct decision and also an important precedent.”
Dr Subramaniam, who is also MIC president, pointed out that the Kuching High Court’s decision to allow Rooney to be legally known as a Christian ought to become the gold standard for decisions in future cases involving similar circumstances.
He 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 daily lifestyles. Many of them could not get married because of their uncertain identities,” he said in a statement yesterday.
This group of people, he noted, had 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.”
Dr Subramaniam 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.”