MB touts Pahang's anti-apostasy law to deflect PN's attacks

PELANGAI BY-ELECTION | Pahang Menteri Besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail today refuted PAS’ allegations that Islam is under threat when BN works together with Pakatan Harapan.

In a speech at Simpang Pelangai in Bentong, the Umno vice-president flaunted a recent amendment introduced to Pahang Islamic law to prevent proselytisation of Muslims as an example.

Wan Rosdy said the amendment passed by the Pahang state legislative assembly in 2020 was also supported by then Ketari assemblyperson Young Syefura Othman, who is from DAP.

"(The opposition) claimed that Pahang will become a secular state. Basically, they were saying that Pahang is not Islamic.

"After I became the menteri besar, we passed an enakmen murtad' (anti-apostasy law) in Pahang. YB Rara (Young Syefura) can confirm this because she too supported the bill.

"What does this mean? Before this, there was no law that could stop any Muslim in Pahang from 'murtad'.

"But with the support of my friends in the state executive council and fellow assemblypersons, now we have a law that allows (authorities) to arrest, detain, and advise any Muslim who wants to quit Islam," he said during the Bentong Fruits Carnival held at Dataran Pelangai.

It is understood that Wan Rosdy (above) was referring to the Pahang Administration of Islamic Law (Amendment) Bill that was tabled and passed by the state legislative assembly three years ago.

Among others, the amendment states that any Muslim who wants to quit Islam will be assessed by a Faith Advisory Committee, whose role is to determine whether an applicant is not a Muslim.

If the applicant is found to be a Muslim at all material times, the enactment empowers the state Chief Registrar of Determination of Muslim Status to order the person to undergo "the advisory process" and later if he still refuses to repent, a "repentant process".

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