No nod given to groups to convert locals to Islam, says Sabah religious authority

A group photo taken after an alleged conversion session in interior Sabah. – Photo courtesy of Darell Leiking.

The Sabah Islamic Affairs Department dismissed involvement in purported conversion attempts in the state, a local newspaper reported today.

According to a Daily Express report, assistant minister to the chief minister Datuk Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif said that the department did not give permission to any missionary group, including those from Peninsular Malaysia, to propagate Islamic teachings.

The denial comes in the wake of the latest controversy where a 16-year-old Christian student in Kinarut, Sabah was allegedly converted to Islam during the time she stayed at the school hostel, away from her family.

The girl, wearing a headscarf, had told her parents that she was now a Muslim and that she had recited the syahadah, which is the profession of faith in Islam.

PKR vice-president and Penampang MP Darell Leiking acting on behalf of the girl's rubber tapper father Jilius Yapoo, had written to the school last week asking for an explanation about what had transpired, and gave them seven days to reply.

He also asked the school to identify the person or persons involved in her conversion.

"The school did not reply at the end of the notice period, so we are now discussing the next course of action," Leiking told The Malaysian Insider today.

Last week, Leiking had told The Malaysian Insider that he believed that more such conversions were taking place covertly among students without their parents' knowledge, and also among adults in interior parts of the state.

"The government needs to step in and stop overzealous people from converting minors.

"And if they are adults, they must be made fully aware of the facts when asked to convert," he had said, adding that there have been cases of mass conversions taking place in the interior of Sabah.

In the Daily Express report today, Arifin said that there were several claims being made about preachers conducting conversion ceremonies for those in rural and remote villages in November and December last year.

The clarification by the religious department was made after pictures of the conversion sessions and missionary groups sporting the department's banners were posted on the Internet, the report said.

It was also reported that the missions were said to be conducted last year but the pictures only surfaced recently and went viral on social media.

According to the report, Arifin said that the religious department was monitoring the activities of these movements from Peninsular Malaysia.

"Any independent group or movement that wishes to spread Islamic teachings and values in Sabah need to get permission from the Sabah Religious Council through the state mufti office.

"There are existing guidelines that the independent preachers need to comply with prior to propagating Islamic teachings in Sabah," he said.

He also reportedly said that preachers needed to understand the culture and values of the local communities in Sabah first, adding that implementing such activities without wisdom may push people away instead of bringing them closer.

He also expressed concern that some may have the wrong impression and perception of such movements.

Earlier this year, indigenous non-governmental organisation Perpaduan Anak Negeri Sabah had said there had been an alarming increase in conversions of “anak negeri”, many of whom are Bumiputera Christians.

It said that the conversions were carried out through intimidation, threat, deception and inducements.

They had said that in some instances, even land was promised.

- TMI