Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz has incurred the wrath of a Hindu group for allegedly making a 'serious and damaging' remark without checking the facts.

In a hard-hitting statement, the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) today claimed the minister ( left ) attempted to 'mislead' the Malaysian public.

Yesterday, Nazri blamed the controversy that followed the death of Everest hero M Moorthy on the latter's failure to inform his family about his conversion to Islam.

The de facto law minister said this was why Moorthy's widow S Kaliammal 'contested' the Syariah court order declaring her late husband a Muslim.

Nazri added that the controversy had nothing to do with Article 121 (1A) of the Federal Constitution which forbids the civil courts from interfering in Islamic matters.

However, Hindraf chairperson P Waytha Moorthy claimed that the minister got his facts wrong.

Kaliammal never 'contested' the syariah court order, he said.

"Her originating summons in the high court was for a declaration that her late husband was at all material time a practicing Hindu and she be given the right to perform the final rites by virtue of her being the lawful wife," he explained.

The practicing lawyer said it was the state Islamic authorities that had exhibited a Syariah court order (with no respondents named) and argued that the civil courts had no jurisdiction to her application.

"We view the statement by the minister that the deceased did not inform his family as a blatant lie with the intention of misleading the public," he added.

'Alien jurisdictions'

Waytha Moorthy also referred to the minister's statement - as reported in Berita Harian - which suggested that the government had instructed the Attorney-General's Chambers to provide proposals to 'extend invitation' to non-Muslims to appear in syariah courts to testify in issues concerning them.

"We view this indication seriously and strongly oppose any form of amendment compelling non-Muslims to appear in syariah courts.

"It is the fundamental right of non-Muslims to seek redress in civil courts and when it involves conflicts with Muslims, then civil courts should be the only forum," he said.

Non-Muslims, he added, must never be subjected to 'alien jurisdictions'.

Previously, Waytha Moorthy had met several international organisations to highlight the issue of religious conversion in Malaysia.

Hindraf was set up following the controversial decision of the Kuala Lumpur High Court not to review a Syariah court ruling that former army commando Moorthy had died a Muslim and should be buried as such.

The organisation claims to represent some 50 Hindu groups.

Moorthy's death in December had sparked off a huge debate on religious freedom, leading many quarters to call on the government to push for the repeal of Article 121 (1A) which prevents civil courts from interfering in religious matters.

However, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Jan 20 said there was no need to repeal or amend the laws.

Yesterday, Nazri reiterated the government's stand on the Article 121 (1A).