MIRI – The Sarawak government has been slammed for staying quiet over alleged incidents of forced religious conversions recently brought up by the Malaysian Human Rights Commission.
Sarawak PKR said the state government must defend non-Muslim folk in Sarawak and protest against these forced conversions into Islam allegedly carried out by the National Registration Department.
Party information chief Abun Sui told The Vibes that the recent disclosure by Sarawak Suhakam commissioner Datuk Madeline Berma of forced conversions of non-Muslim natives is a serious issue the ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak must deal with.
Abun, a lawyer and a native rights activist, said it seemed that GPS had avoided responding to the issue despite Suhakam’s statement last week.
“Why is the chief minister (Datuk Abang Johari Openg) so silent about the issue?
“What is the official stance of the Sarawak Unit for Other Religions under the CM’s office?
“Unit chairman Datuk Amar Dougglas Uggah, who is also deputy chief minister, seems to be silent too.
“They and the Sarawak state cabinet should submit a protest letter to the prime minister and cabinet demanding immediate measures to stop forced conversions.
“They must be brave to defend the rights of Sarawakians at the national level,” said Abun.
Berma had said Suhakam received information of non-Muslim Sarawakians being administratively converted into Islam.
She added that those Sarawak natives whose names have “bin” and “binti” are listed as Muslims when they apply for new MyKads without being consulted by the NRD officers processing their applications.
After that, it would be too late or too difficult to amend as the NRD would throw up procedural headaches that might take years to solve, she said.
Berma also highlighted the dilemma of natives who embraced Islam after getting married to Muslims as they face a lot of difficulties in the event of a divorce and wanting to leave Islam.
Abun said it is common in Sarawak for non-Muslim natives to have “bin” and “binti” in their names.
“The use of ‘bin’ and ‘binti’ is not an automatic indication of being a Muslim.”
He said there are also cases of non-Muslim children being compelled at a very young age in government kindergartens and primary schools to attend Islamic classes.
These are forms of forced conversions, he added. – The Vibes, January 25, 2021
