The Penang government will offer legal assistance to the family of alleged Muslim convert Teoh Cheng Cheng, whose body was seized by the State Islamic Affairs Department (JAIPP) yesterday.

 

This is to help the family file a case at Penang High Court tomorrow to determine if Teoh is Buddhist, although JAIPP insists she is Muslim.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, together with several state executive councillors, met the family this afternoon and  agreed to offer legal help.

 

According to DAP's Lau Keng Ee, who is handling the matter as the family are his constituents, said the legal team comprises DAP MPs Gobind Singh Deo ( left ) (Puchong), Ramkarpal Singh (Bukit Gelugor) and former PKR Batu Uban assemblyman S. Raveentharan.

 

"The team is preparing the legal  documents to be filed in the Penang High Court tomorrow," Lau said, after arranging a meeting between the state leaders and Teoh's mother Tan Mah Suan, 64, and her two sons.

 

"Madam Tan insists that her daughter has been a Buddhist all these years and not a Muslim. She brought along supporting documents like her identity card, and birth certificates of the children," he added.

 

Jaipp ‎said the case will be mentioned in the Syariah court at 9am tomorrow.

 

The 52 year-old businessman however declined to reveal more information about the case.

 

Body seized

The body of Teoh, whose Muslim name is Nora Teoh Abdullah, was seized by JAIPP officers during the funeral wake at Lebuh Maccalum yesterday.

 

JAIPP authorities confirmed that Teoh, who reportedly committed suicide on Saturday, converted about 17 years ago.

 

Teoh, 38, a waitress, with three children aged 10 to 17, was to be cremated according to Taoist rites at the Batu Gantung United Hokkien Cemetery yesterday. 

 

However the family has denied knowledge about her conversion to Islam.

 

When contacted yesterday, state executive councillor Abdul Malik Kassim said the family "is at liberty" to take legal action against Jaipp.

 

However, he denied that the body was seized, saying JAIPP officers had settled the case amicably with the family, after which they allowed the body to be taken to the mortuary.

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