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S'wak PKR chief hopes Rebit won't be one-off apostasy case
Published:  May 3, 2016 5:23 PM
Updated: 10:08 AM

Although he’s glad that Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem intervened in the case of Rooney Rebit, Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian has expressed hope that it would not be a one-off case.

“This should not be an isolated and one-off case which is resolved during this campaign period,” Baru said in a statement today.

Adenan yesterday confirmed that he secured the assurance of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak that the National Registration Department (NRD) would withdraw the case and discontinue the appeal against the High Court’s decision.

Baru, however, pointed out how there were many other conversion cases that deserve the same attention from Adenan and the prime minister, if they are “sincere in upholding the people’s rights to freedom of religion”.

He cited the case of Sharon Fiona Braoh @ Nur Shafiqah Abdullah, where a consent order was obtained from the court that the Sarawak Islamic Religious Department (Jais) and the Sarawak Islamic Council would state in writing that they had no objection for her to be released from the religion of Islam.

Despite being served with these letters, the NRD had refused to amend Sharon’s identity card and insisted that she obtain a letter of release from the Syariah Court, said Baru.

However, the syariah judiciary department stated that it had no jurisdiction to issue the conversion out-of-Islam certificate as required by the NRD.

“Sharon is caught in this game that is played by the NRD. There are several other cases where converts are trying to go back to their former religions but are faced with many barriers.”

The prime minister, added Baru, must announce a policy that no Malaysian should be forced to remain in any religion against his or her will, and Adenan, on the other hand, must reassure Sarawakians that their freedom of religion is not merely illusory.

“I suggest that a special council be set up to deal with matters of religion so that parties will not have to go through the long and emotionally draining court process to assert their rights to personal beliefs,” said Baru.

Rebit, a Bidayuh who was converted to Islam as a child, had in a landmark ruling on March 24 been granted a declaration by the High Court in Kuching that he is a Christian in accordance with his constitutional right to freedom of religion, as he is now an adult.

It ordered NRD to change his name to Rooney Rebit and his religion from Islam to Christianity in his identity card and its records.

Meanwhile, according to a newsreport, the NRD has confirmed it is dropping its appeal.

"After studying this case in detail, the NRD, as the third defendant in the case, has decided to withdraw its appeal.

"The notice of withdrawal will be filed in court today," NRD director-general Datuk Seri Sulaiman Keling said in a statement today.

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