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Interfaith group wants action against preacher over covert Islamic conversion
The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) has called on the government to act against controversial religious preacher Firdaus Wong over a video where he advised a man on how to handle requests from teenagers to embrace Islam.
The group said any covert plan to convert minors to Islam was immoral, illegal and unconstitutional.
"The MCCBCHST is appalled...
The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) has called on the government to act against controversial religious preacher Firdaus Wong over a video where he advised a man on how to handle requests from teenagers to embrace Islam.
The group said any covert plan to convert minors to Islam was immoral, illegal and unconstitutional.
"The MCCBCHST is appalled by this immoral and illegal plan to convert minors. Over the past 10 years, we have been vocally raising the issue but it keeps falling on deaf ears of authorities.
"Therefore, the MCCBCHST makes a desperate call to all MPs, including federal ministers, to raise this issue in the cabinet and ensure that this immoral and sinister plan is stopped immediately and action taken against Firdaus.
"If one were to be converted from Islam into another faith, we can expect an immediate outcry but why not in such cases?
"We are all God's children. Please do not deny them their parents’ protection whilst they are minors and please do not destroy family units," said the group in a statement.
Its president Tan Hoe Chieow and vice-presidents Julian Leow Beng Kim, Chuan Yuan, Ganesh Babu Rao and Sardar Jagir Singh jointly signed the statement.
This came after Firdaus uploaded a video on TikTok showing him engaging in a question-and-answer session at an event, where a man, believed to be also a religious preacher, asked Firdaus what to do when underaged non-Muslim teens want to embrace Islam.
Firdaus replied by saying that the teenagers should be welcomed to Islam but their conversion must not be registered nor announced.
He also shared some advice on how teenagers can practise Islam discreetly so they can keep it a secret from others.
Against Federal Constitution
In response to this, the group said this is not only against the Federal Constitution's fundamental liberties but also violates the basic structure of the Constitution.
"Article 12(4) provides that ‘for the purposes of clause (3), the religion of the person under the age of 18 years shall be decided by his/her parents or guardian’.
"In the (2018) Federal Court's unanimous decision of M Indira Gandhi vs Perak Islamic Department director and two others, it was held that for the conversion of minors, both the parents must consent.
"Thus, this immoral, illegal and unconstitutional secret conversion plan proposed by Firdaus by simply uttering the ‘kalimah syahadah’ is void ab-initio for non-compliance with the Federal Constitution Article 12(4) as parent consent was not obtained.
“In Islam, the point of conversion is upon recitation of the ‘kalimah syahadah’ and not upon registration.
"In fact, not only was the parent’s consent not obtained, but the sinister plan included keeping the conversion a secret from parents’ knowledge," said the MCCBCHST.
It reiterated that the conversion of minors without informing their parents is a highly immoral and illegal act, which would devastate them.
"Schools are places where knowledge is imparted but if schools themselves indulge in such immoral practice of converting minors, then there is no longer any safe place for our children," added the MCCBCHST.
It also cited Article 12(3) of the Federal Constitution which provides that "no person shall be required to receive instruction in or take part in a ceremony or act of worship of a religion other than that of his/her own".
"Thus, Firdaus runs afoul of this constitutional position too. The parents’ approval must first be obtained before preaching about Islam to minors," said the group.
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Malaysiakini has deleted one of my comments citing it as racist and slanderous. I wrote this comment on the "Interfaith group wants action against preacher over covert Islamic conversion" In 1987 Operation Lallang saw the arrest of many who had raised issues with Anwar's bulldozing decision to appoint senior assistants and supervisors to Chinese-medium primary schools.[8] Concerns were raised by Chinese politicians and organizations that those appointed were Chinese who were not Chinese-educated. A similar move was initiated against Tamil schools also. And there is no surprise, the architect of the move was none other than the then Education Minister, Anwar Ibrahim. Then came his sacking from UMNO and as DPM. All the years that he was in wilderness and behind bars i was an ardent supporter thinking that he would change. Indeed his stand and speeches resonated with the people. It was belatedly that we found out that his right leanings, politically and religiously, have remained intact. Malaysiakini was launched with a bang as an independent online media but now it seems to have moved to the right too. There is a saying that the media is the fourth pillar of democracy. Unfortunately Malaysiakini seems to have no such concerns. I have been notified that my subscription is expiring tonight and have been requested to renew it. I won't, I don't want to. May be this is the final goodbye to all the commentators and Malaysiakini.