The Sungai Buloh Hospital today has refused to hand over the remains of film director Mohan Singh to the Selangor Islamic Council (Mais) for burial.

The hospital's chief forensic Dr Shahidan Mohd Noor said the hospital would abide by a civil high court order not to release Mohan Singh's remains to Mais or the family until the deceased person's religion was ascertained.

Earlier today, the religious body had obtained an order from the Shah Alam Syariah High Court proclaiming that Mohan Singh was a Muslim and should be buried according to Islamic rites.

This order was obtained despite a Shah Alam Hugh Court ruling giving permission to Mohan Singh's family to proceed with a judicial review on his religion.

Following the syariah order, Mais officials had gone to the Sungai Buloh hospital to claim the remains. However Mohan Singh's family members too had rushed to the hospital to stop the remains from being taken away.

However Dr Shahidan stood firm on the matter, telling both parties that Mohan Singh's remains would remain in the hospital until the courts have decided on his religion.

The hospital has earlier rejected the family's attempt to claim the body.

Date fixed for family's case

Mohan Singh, 41, died of a heart attack on May 25. Mais claimed that he had converted to Islam in 1992 and filed an application at the Syariah High Court the same day to verify his religious status.

The family then filed an application for a judicial review last Friday, naming as respondents the Health Ministry director-general, the hospital director, the government, and Mais.

They said that Mohan Sigh had conducted Sikh last rites for his mother who died three years ago.

The family's lawyer A Rajesh Kumar said their matter wil be heard on June 16.

Disputes over claims of religious conversion have been a contentious issue in Malaysia following several highly publicised cases, such as that of Mount Everest climber M Moorthy who died in 2005.