BN supporters (in blue) and Nyomek’s supporters (in pink) gather in front of the nomination centre at Bau District Council.
KUCHING: The National Registration Department (NRD) has filed an appeal against the High Court’s decision on a local Bidayuh Muslim convert, Roneey Rebit, who has reverted to a Christian.
The filing was made last Friday, said lawyer Chua Kuan Ching who represented the 42-year-old man from Kampung Benuk.
Chua said the department was the only defendant appealing against the decision imposed on March 14.
Two other defendants were State Islamic Religious Department and Sarawak Islamic Council, which, from the beginning had no objection to his application.
It was NRD the third respondent that insisted that he (Roneey) obtain an order from the Syariah Court which had brought the matter to the High Court.
In the landmark ruling, Justice Datuk Yew Jen Kie cited the federal constitution’s charter which accorded freedom of religion and allowed Roneey to embrace his choice of belief now that he was a grown adult.
The NRD was also ordered to change Roneey’s name and religion in his MyKad.
His parents converted him to Islam when he was 10 years old.