A group of Orang Asli in Kelantan claim they have been duped, and even 'forced' in some cases, to convert into Islam by the state Islamic and Malay Customar Council (MAIK).

Relating how he was tricked in 2001, Muslim convert Hassan bin Ain, 59, from Kuala Betis said he was approached by a man pretending to be interested in the herbal roots he was plying.

"I'm now a registered Muslim ... but not because I wanted it. Instead, I was deceived into giving my personal details to someone who had later filled up the conversion form," he said when met in Terengganu recently.

"A month later, I received RM400 and only then did I realise that my details had been used to register my conversion to Islam. The money I received was a token (saguhati)," he added.

Hassan was among 50 Orang Asli women and men who gathered at Kampung Batu 13 near Jerteh in Hulu Besut during the Hari Raya Haji break for an inter- faith and cultural event organised by the controversial religious mystic Ariffin Mohammad, better known as Ayah Pin.

'Dragged out of their homes'

Hassan believes more than 500 had converted to Islam out of the 2,600 Orang Asli in Kuala Betis.

"Over 60 people got duped into converting to Islam the same way as me," he added.

He also claimed that more than 10 physically-disabled, ill, aged and mentally-unstable Orang Asli were allegedly dragged out of their homes by force and registered.

"One day, my son and his friends who were on their way to play football at a nearby field were stopped midway by MAIK officials and made to recite the kalimah shahadah (declaration of testimony) on the spot.

"Each boy was then given RM400 and a sarong with a white kopiah (skullcap)," he said.

The group claimed that the issues have been raised with the Orang Asli Affairs Department (JHEOA), Islamic Development Department (Jakim) and MAIK but no response has been forthcoming.

In an immediate response, MAIK assistant propagation officer Ahmad Nordin denied the allegations of forced conversion or using aid as bait.

"We never force anyone to convert. We usually enter their area and explain Islam to them, hoping to open their minds and hearts," he said when contacted today.

"We register them the moment they indicate interest and follow that up with various courses, talks and programmes for a better understanding of Islam."

Ahmad, an ustaz who goes on field trips, said there were over 4,000 Muslims, both adults and children, among the Orang Asli in the Gua Musang area.

He said RM400 was usually given as a token to each new convert while 'gifts' in the form of some cash or in kind were usually handed out during certain functions such as weddings and Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

MAIK is a statutory body which reports directly to the Sultan of Kelantan

Islamic propagation among the Orang Asli is also done by the Islamic Development Department (Jakim), the Muslim Welfare Organisation Malaysia (Perkim) and the Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (Abim).

'Get your priorities right'

In relating similar experiences of the Orang Asli in another area called Pos Hendrop, Bidi bin Ronggeng, 26, urged religious officials to get their priorities right.

"I think close to 35 percent of Muslim converts in Pos Hendrop have lost faith due to feelings of disillusionment caused by unkept promises, especially by the religious officials themselves."

He claimed that religious authorities are neglecting the needs and interests of new converts despite an ustaz being stationed by Jakim in each village or post (orang asli administrative district).

Bidi said most of the Orang Asli districts were reporting similar experiences with regards to coerced or forced conversion where promises of development and aid were allegedly used as baits.

He was among several tok batins or tribal chiefs who attended the inter-faith event from various pos in Gua Musang and Johor.

Bidi, who came with his father, who is also a tok batin, said what the Orang Asli wanted is to upgrade and improve their living quarters/conditions, and to stop making empty promises to "trap unsuspecting Orang Asli into embracing Islam".

'Don't force us'

"The situation is now too complicated as not everyone in a family is a Muslim. Those who converted did so for money, some of which was not given for Raya Haji as promised," he said.

"Don't force us to convert if we don't feel it in our hearts and stop harassing us with subtle or direct threats about becoming a kafir (infidel) and going to hell."

Bidi said there are plans to return the special card that is issued by the council upon registration of conversion if the situation remains the same within this year.

During the 1990s, he said, many Orang Asli strongly resisted conversion to Islam and chose to retain their tradition.

On the political power struggle between Islam-based PAS and the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition led by Malay-based Umno, Bidi said each made different promises in return for votes during general elections.

"Usually, PAS guarantees a place in heaven while the BN promises more development," he said.

Pos Hendrop has about 500 families.