NATIVE-rights groups in East Malaysia are alarmed over claims that Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) in Shah Alam had allegedly forced a group of non-Muslim Bumiputera students from Sarawak and Sabah to attend a compulsory Islamic study course.
The East Malaysian non-governmental organisations today called for an investigation to be carried out to determine the truth of the allegations.
They called on the Ministry of Higher Education to investigate and explain the matter to the public.
“Let us be clear ... Sabah and Sarawak joined Malaysia under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) with the assurance that our religious and cultural rights would be respected,” they said in a statement.
The statement was signed by Peter John Jaban (Malaysian Action for Justice and Unity Sarawak branch co-founder), Robert Pei (president of Sabah-Sarawak Rights alumni of Australia and New Zealand), Daniel Jambun (president of Borneo's Plights in Malaysia Foundation), Jovilis Majami (president of Persatuan Pembangunan Social Komuniti Sabah), Stephen Mojingol (president Persatuan Pertubuhan Kebajikan Rumpun Dayak Sabah) and Ricky Ganang (Advisor Forum Adat Dataran Borneo).
"We are alarmed by the claims that non-Muslim students from Sarawak and Sabah were forced by UITM in Shah Alam to attend an Islamic course. This can be considered as an attempt at forced conversion of non-Muslims.
"It is a very serious matter and requires an official investigation. It is an attack on religious freedom and an attack on the identity of Sarawak and Sabah people.
"UITM as a university is supposed to develop Bumiputera students and as an institution of higher education, it should not be playing a role of religious nature to convert students from non-Muslim backgrounds," the groups said.
The groups want immediate clarification from the UiTM management and ministry. - January 14, 2025
