The New Straits Times
by Maizatul Ranai
"If we have a system where we can check those who embrace Islam, we should also have the same system to identify those who are murtad (an apostate)."
He also said Muslim converts who did not want to declare their conversion for fear of harm or that their lives might be at risk should seek police help.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom recently said that the government was in the process of reviewing the regulations pertaining to the registration of Muslim converts so that there would be no legal or religious repercussions over the status of converts.
Under the proposal being looked into, upon a conversion, the Islamic Development Department Malaysia (Jakim) and the National Registration Department (NRD) would automatically document the particulars of the person so that the information would be made available to interested parties.
This is seen as the government's alternative solution to avoid disputes over the status of Muslim converts upon their death.
It was reported that at present, Muslim converts were given the choice to either publicly announce or keep mum over their conversion.
Those who want to make known their new religion have to update their particulars at the NRD with support letters from religious authorities. The information will be kept confidential.
Former Istana Negara adviser Datuk Abu Hassan Din Al Hafiz is also for the proposed system, saying that it is a must for Muslim converts to announce their new religious status as required by the religion.
The converts, he said, should not keep their family members in the dark upon their conversion to avoid conflicts that may arise over matters involving death and wealth distribution.
"There are some cases of families being misinformed of their family member's conversion. This makes it hard for us to handle their funeral and deal with the confused family at the same time."
He, however, said converts could choose to keep mum about their religious status if revealing it would lead to negative implications which could bring them physical harm.
by Maizatul Ranai
KUALA LUMPUR: Religious leaders have urged the government to go ahead with the proposal to get Muslim converts to publicly announce their religious status.
They said the move, which would require converts to update their religious status in an open automatic system, was necessary as the religion required them to declare their new religious status openly upon conversion.
"They (converts) should inform everyone, especially their family members, that they have embraced the religion," said Perak mufti Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria.
Harussani, however, said the system should also be extended to cases of apostasy or those who renounced Islam.
They said the move, which would require converts to update their religious status in an open automatic system, was necessary as the religion required them to declare their new religious status openly upon conversion.
"They (converts) should inform everyone, especially their family members, that they have embraced the religion," said Perak mufti Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria.
Harussani, however, said the system should also be extended to cases of apostasy or those who renounced Islam.
"If we have a system where we can check those who embrace Islam, we should also have the same system to identify those who are murtad (an apostate)."
He also said Muslim converts who did not want to declare their conversion for fear of harm or that their lives might be at risk should seek police help.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom recently said that the government was in the process of reviewing the regulations pertaining to the registration of Muslim converts so that there would be no legal or religious repercussions over the status of converts.
Under the proposal being looked into, upon a conversion, the Islamic Development Department Malaysia (Jakim) and the National Registration Department (NRD) would automatically document the particulars of the person so that the information would be made available to interested parties.
This is seen as the government's alternative solution to avoid disputes over the status of Muslim converts upon their death.
It was reported that at present, Muslim converts were given the choice to either publicly announce or keep mum over their conversion.
Those who want to make known their new religion have to update their particulars at the NRD with support letters from religious authorities. The information will be kept confidential.
Former Istana Negara adviser Datuk Abu Hassan Din Al Hafiz is also for the proposed system, saying that it is a must for Muslim converts to announce their new religious status as required by the religion.
The converts, he said, should not keep their family members in the dark upon their conversion to avoid conflicts that may arise over matters involving death and wealth distribution.
"There are some cases of families being misinformed of their family member's conversion. This makes it hard for us to handle their funeral and deal with the confused family at the same time."
He, however, said converts could choose to keep mum about their religious status if revealing it would lead to negative implications which could bring them physical harm.
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