The Penang Islamic Affairs Department (JAIPP) cannot compel Muslims converts to notify their next of kin about their conversions to avert future cases of body-seizing during their funerals.

State executive councillor Abdul Malik Kassim said although JAIPP will try to get the converts to notify their kins during conversions, this cannot be made “mandatory” or “compulsory”.

Abdul Malik said the matter cannot be made into law yet as the Fatwa Council and legal adviser have to be consulted to see if this was even “legally possible”.

He added that his office is not looking into the matter yet or even studying the possibility yet but that JAIPP has in practise been trying to get converts to inform their families about their decision to convert to Islam.

“What is important is our practise and that means to strengthen our practices and standard operating procedures so that future problems can be averted,” Abdul Malik clarified.

“In cases of conversion, why the fuss of hiding or secrecy? It should be announced. The nearest of kin must be informed and invited to the conversion ceremony,” he said when interviewed at his office in Komtar.

“Even though the family members may object, let’s meet with them and notify them about the situation. At least they know of the conversion,” he added.

Abdul Malik was referring to the case of Teoh Cheng Cheng, 38, whose body was seized by JAIPP officers last Monday, based on the belief that she was a Muslim convert since 1997.

The Penang Syariah Court however ruled on Thursday that Teoh, who has four children, was not Muslim and ordered JAIPP and the Penang General Hospital to return her body, which was finally cremated on the same day according to Taoist rites as the United Hokkien Cemeteries in Batu Gantung.

Abdul Malik said JAIPP does try to contact family members of converts even before Teoh’s case, but the procedure was practised more for a social reason.

He added that with the practice, JAIPP hoped to spread the message of Islam to the convert’s parents in the hope that they may consider converting to the religion as well.

‘Bid to strengthen the practice’

“That was what JAIPP did initially but with this recent problem (Teoh’s case) we hope to strengthen the practice so we would be able to avoid another case like hers,” said the Batu Maung assemblyperson.

Abdul Malik said JAIPP had always tried to avoid “urgent conversion”, while trying to ensure that potential converts know what they were getting into before they decided to make the final decision to convert.

However, Abdul Malik conceded that it would be a challenge for JAIPP if future converts did not provide the proper information on how to contact their next or closest of kin.

He added that even Islam did not make it compulsory for parents to know about an adult’s conversion to the religion.

“We have to find ways and means to make sure we can contact family or next of kin of the converts,” he said.

“We have to explain to converts that even if their parents or family objected to their decision, they won’t be killed or tied up, so let’s inform them about it,” he added.

“We have also engaged NGOs who are good on the ground to assist us in this. There are Chinese and Indian converts NGOs who are active and we want their full cooperation in this,” he stressed.