Jamil Khir: No cases of people leaving Islam

PARLIAMENT There is no case of apostasy recorded with the syariah courts nationwide, the government said.

This comes despite claims of mass proselytisation of Muslims, including by Christian preachers, which was raised at a seminar at UiTM Lendu campus this month.

"According to syariah court cases nationwide, there has been no case of apostasy to date," Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom said.

Jamil Khir, who is minister in charge of Islamic affairs, said this in a written parliamentary reply to Kashturi Patto (DAP-Batu Kawan).

The written reply was given during the last Dewan Rakyat session of 2015, which concluded this month.

Kashturi asked the prime minister to state the number of conversions from and to Islam and the number of Malaysians who are atheists, according to age, gender and state from 2005.

Jamil Khir said the number of conversions to Islam and related statistics is recorded by the respective state Islamic affairs departments as this comes under state jurisdiction.

The police and UiTM recently came under fire for hosting an "anti-apostasy and Christianisation" seminar.

A participant told Malaysiakini the talk covered the use of the word 'Allah' by Christians and warned of proselytisation of Muslims.

Proselytisation of Muslims by followers of other religions is a crime. -Mkini