Clear guidelines needed for converts – PH

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From right (front) Fidzuan, Chong, Baru and other PH Sarawak leaders at the joint press conference at PKR office at Mile 3 in Kuching.

 

KUCHING: Pakatan Harapan Sarawak opined that clear laws and guidelines are needed for converts in the state.

Expressing their views in a joint press statement, PH Sarawak said as the Federal Court had made the decision that the Sarawak Syariah Court has the power to hear apostasy cases, what is needed now is for the Jabatan Agama Islam Sarawak (Jais) to come up with very clear guidelines and requirements for those wishing to leave Islam willingly to follow, so that the letter of release can be issued.

“For now, there has been no set procedure and each person has been told different things, leading to frustration and helplessness.

“The government must also seriously consider amending the relevant state laws to provide for the requirements for the letter of release.

“Cases of those who want to leave Islam are mainly the converts who embrace Islam for marriage purposes when one of the spouses is Muslim. Over time such as unforeseen divorce issues they opted to revert to their original faith,” said the statement.

Jointly signed by chairman of PH Sarawak Chong Chieng Jen, chairman of AMANAH Sarawak Fidzuan Zaidi and chairman of PKR Sarawak Baru Bian, the statement was read to the reporters by Fidzuan at PKR Office here today.

PH Sarawak suggested that procedures must be clearly set out for those who have evidential documents to prove they are no longer practising Muslims and those who have the intention of leaving the Islamic faith.

They said there must also be clear guidelines for lawyers who will be allowed to appear in the Syariah Court.

“We can foresee that many Syariah lawyers will be reluctant to take on apostasy cases for fear of being branded as ‘mermurtadkan Melayu’, and the authorities must consider allowing non-Muslim lawyers to appear in the Syariah Courts.

“Freedom of religion, which means freedom to choose one‘s religious belief had been agreed to under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and that is why Sarawak has no official religion.

“In fact, in 2011 it was reported that our late Assistant Minister of Islamic Affairs Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman had said that ‘Sarawak practises religious freedom where each and every individual can choose the religion of his or her choice.’ ,” the statement said, quoting a news report by The Sun Daily on November 13, 2011 with the headline ‘Sarawak won’t adopt anti-apostasy law’.

PH Sarawak noted that in the recent hearing in the Federal Court, Baru Bian was merely helping the four persons in his capacity as an advocate to exercise their rights to choose their own religion.

They pointed out that from the facts of the cases, it is clear that he had nothing to do with their decisions to leave the Islamic faith and those who accuse him of having a ‘Christian agenda’ are making up lies for their own purposes.