Department must explain its action and disclose what it was going to do with alleged Muslim convert's cremated ashes, says its chief J Dhinagaran
NIBONG TEBAL: Penang MIC youth condemned the state Islamic Religious Affairs Department (JAIPP) for taking away the ashes of an alleged Muslim convert in Sungai Bakap last week.
Youth chief, J Dhinagaran said: “JAIPP practically stole the ashes of Nagamah without her family’s knowledge or consent, and did not show evidence that she was a convert.
“We strongly condemn the unlawful action,” he said today.
Nagamah passed away in Sungai Bakap hospital on Aug 14 and her family cremated her body at Batu Berapit Crematorium on the same day.
However, JAIPP officials took away her ashes despite objections from her family members, claiming that Nagamah was a convert.
Various Hindu bodies and rights groups, especially Hindraf Makkal Sakti, have condemned JAIPP for its high-handed insensitive action.
State executive councillor in charge of Islamic Religious Affairs, Abdul Malik Kassim, said on Thursday that Nagamah, 64, was converted to Islam by Ustaz Anuar Ismail in November 2006.
He said she was converted at JAIPP’s Seberang Perai Selatan district office after marrying one Ibrahim Noyan and had nine children registered as Muslims by the NRD.
Return Nagamah’s ashes
Nagamah’s family has lodged several police reports against JAIPP for taking away her ashes.
Dhinagaran said JAIPP’s high-handed action without due regard to the process of law has hurt the feelings of ethnic Indians in the state and country.
He demanded JAIPP to explain the rationale for its action and disclose what it was going to do with Nagamah’s ashes.
He said it was unfortunate that Nagamah’s eldest son M Kamasantheran, 46, could not fulfill his religious obligations to conduct Hindu obituary prayers for his late mother.
“Unfortunately her ashes are with JAIPP,” he said.
He hit out at Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s Pakatan Rakyat government for again failing to safeguard Hindu interests in the state.
He said Lim should direct JAIPP to stipulate a standard operating procedure that must be strictly adhered in future cases of ‘body-snatching’ or taking away of ashes.
He also slammed Pakatan Indian elected representatives for being busy in securing seats to contest in the next general election, rather than addressing and resolving Indian issues.
He suggested that JAIPP should return Nagamah’s ashes to her grieving family members to enable them to perform the final rites in accordance to the Hindu practices
“We hope goodwill would prevail,” said Dhinagaran.
NIBONG TEBAL: Penang MIC youth condemned the state Islamic Religious Affairs Department (JAIPP) for taking away the ashes of an alleged Muslim convert in Sungai Bakap last week.Youth chief, J Dhinagaran said: “JAIPP practically stole the ashes of Nagamah without her family’s knowledge or consent, and did not show evidence that she was a convert.
“We strongly condemn the unlawful action,” he said today.
Nagamah passed away in Sungai Bakap hospital on Aug 14 and her family cremated her body at Batu Berapit Crematorium on the same day.
However, JAIPP officials took away her ashes despite objections from her family members, claiming that Nagamah was a convert.
Various Hindu bodies and rights groups, especially Hindraf Makkal Sakti, have condemned JAIPP for its high-handed insensitive action.
State executive councillor in charge of Islamic Religious Affairs, Abdul Malik Kassim, said on Thursday that Nagamah, 64, was converted to Islam by Ustaz Anuar Ismail in November 2006.
He said she was converted at JAIPP’s Seberang Perai Selatan district office after marrying one Ibrahim Noyan and had nine children registered as Muslims by the NRD.
Return Nagamah’s ashes
Nagamah’s family has lodged several police reports against JAIPP for taking away her ashes.
Dhinagaran said JAIPP’s high-handed action without due regard to the process of law has hurt the feelings of ethnic Indians in the state and country.
He demanded JAIPP to explain the rationale for its action and disclose what it was going to do with Nagamah’s ashes.
He said it was unfortunate that Nagamah’s eldest son M Kamasantheran, 46, could not fulfill his religious obligations to conduct Hindu obituary prayers for his late mother.
“Unfortunately her ashes are with JAIPP,” he said.
He hit out at Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s Pakatan Rakyat government for again failing to safeguard Hindu interests in the state.
He said Lim should direct JAIPP to stipulate a standard operating procedure that must be strictly adhered in future cases of ‘body-snatching’ or taking away of ashes.
He also slammed Pakatan Indian elected representatives for being busy in securing seats to contest in the next general election, rather than addressing and resolving Indian issues.
He suggested that JAIPP should return Nagamah’s ashes to her grieving family members to enable them to perform the final rites in accordance to the Hindu practices
“We hope goodwill would prevail,” said Dhinagaran.
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