The Christian Federation of Malaysia today urged to government to find a solution to solve future religious tussles over a deceased person whose religious status was in question.

"There must be a transparent mechanism to resolve such issues through dialogue," said CFM chairperson and executive committee member Bishop Paul Tan Chee Ing in a statement today.

"[And] to protect the rights of citizens to profess or revert to their religion without intimidation from outside parties," he said.

He was referring to the recent controversy surrounding the tussle for the body of A Rayappan, 71, whose family and the Selangor Islamic Affairs Council (Mais) both contested for the right to bury him.

Rayappan who died on Nov 29, was born a Roman Catholic, but converted to Islam in 1990 when he took a Muslim woman as his second wife.

In 1996, Rayappan - who was a van driver - renounced Islam and went back to Mary, 69, and their six children.

A legal tussle ensued when his family was stopped from claiming his body at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital by Islamic religious authorities.

Mais then obtained a Syariah Court declaration to claim the body and then further pursued the matter to the Syariah Appeals Court.

In the meantime, the family filed a civil suit at the Kuala Lumpur High Court for the body to be released to them.

PM's interference

While this dispute was heating up, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi ordered attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail to personally interfere in the case.

Following this, Mais decided to withdraw its application before the Syariah Appellate Court, paving the way for the family to claim the body.

The family claimed the body last night and Rayappan will now be buried on Sunday according to Christian rites.

CFM said it was thankful for the involvement of the prime minister to solve this matter.

"We wish to thank the prime minister and his cabinet, along with all other parties involved in the resolution of Rayappan's case," said Tan.

"We are glad that good sense has prevailed and the family of the deceased does not have to suffer psychological trauma any longer. They can now proceed to say their final farewell to their loved one according to Christian rites," he added.