Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim presided over the conversion of an Indian youth at a Klang mosque last week upon the request of a Muslim Welfare Organisation Malaysia (Perkim) leader.
The clarification was provided by the organisation's Klang chapter leader, Hushim Salleh, today.
"On that day (last Friday), the prime minister converted a youth upon my request as the Klang Perkim leader.
"The (conversion) event was supposed to have taken place at Perkim's office, not at the mosque.
“But on that day, Anwar went to visit the kin of the (Elmina) plane crash victims, and stopped by for Friday prayers at the mosque opposite the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah hospital," Hushim said in a video shared on Twitter today.
Hushim, however, did not mention why the organisation decided to hold the event at the mosque instead of Perkim’s office.
He stressed that the request, and Anwar agreeing to participate in the event, were both spontaneous.
"After prayers, he told his officers that he has to leave for a programme at 3pm, but I requested him to convert Muhammad Anuar (the Indian youth involved in the conversion), and Anwar agreed," Hushim added.
Anwar had received brickbats for participating in the conversion at Masjid Jamek Ar-Rahimiah in Klang, last Friday.
The Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH) said Anwar's open participation in the event displayed a lack of religious sensitivity, while the Global Human Rights Foundation said the premier had failed to take into account the sensitivities of non-Muslims.
Former Penang deputy chief minister II P Ramasamy also pointed out that none of Anwar's predecessors had participated in such ceremonies.
Meanwhile, Hushim pleaded for all quarters to not prolong the issue, and stop demonising the prime minister.
‘Request from Muhammad Anuar’
According to him, Muhammad Anuar had personally requested to be converted by Anwar, and even asked for his name (post-conversion) to be similar to the prime minister.
"I would like to reiterate that it was me who requested the prime minister to perform the conversion. As a servant of Allah, he came and agreed (to participate).
"So don't spin all kinds of stories (around the issue), and accumulate sins," he said. - Mkini
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