preying on the disadvantaged and materially deprived.
Student converts on fear of failing electrical course
Andrew Ong May 24, 07 2:06pm MKINI
C Ragu, 20, signed up for a course in a government-owned vocational
institute in the hope that one day he would become a electrician.
In January last year, and just six months shy from graduating, strange and
drastic events prevented him from completing his course.
He claims that back then, two Islamic teachers (ustaz) and an
administrator
from the institute had coerced him to sign documents to show that he had
embraced Islam.
"I trusted them (and signed the papers) because an officer from the
(institute's) administration was there," said Ragu, who is a practising
Hindu like the rest of his family members.
Ragu recalled that he was in a practical wiring class when he was abruptly
whisked away by the two ustaz and the administrator on Jan 26 last year
for
about three hours.
He was brought to the Selangor Islamic Council (Mais) in Kajang and where
he
was made to sign the documents and immediately given a new name Muhammad
Ashraf Abdullah before one uztaz Rahman Siva.
"I was afraid at the time that they would fail me (if I did not sign the
document)," added Ragu.
'Temporary document'
Ragu said the day of the incident was the first time he had met the two
ustaz.
"Initially, some of my friends spoke to me about the goodness of Islam.
They
had later informed the ustaz about me. The ustaz then asked to see me in
his
office (on that day).
"They took me to take (a passport size) photo before bringing me to sign
the
documents... after it was over, they took me for lunch before sending me
back to the institute. Not a word was said during the journey," said Ragu.
When contacted by Ragu later that night, his father went to pick him up
and
never to return to the institute.
The document signed by Ragu states that it was a temporary document
(below),
valid for six months, on the signatory's religious status pending the
issuance of a permanent card. Ragu never received the card.
Together with his parents, a driver and housewife, Ragu had been trying in
vain ever since to have the official status of his religion restored.
He had previously to lodged a police report at the Cheras district police
headquarters and through a legal firm, sent several letters to Mais
seeking
to annul the declaration that he had embraced Islam.
On Feb 9 last year, Ragu also made a statutory declaration on the Jan 26
incident and that he was a Hindu.
In their latest attempt to resolve the matter, they had hand delivered
another letter to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi urging him to
intervene in the matter yesterday.
Mais explains
Contacted today, Mais assistant religious propagation officer (penolong
pegawai dakwah) Jauharul Mohd Tahuddin today confirmed that Ragu is indeed
considered a Muslim.
In recalling Ragu's case, Jauharul said the former was accorded a standard
30-40 minute briefing to ensure that he understood what he was signing and
that he did not embrace the religion under duress.
"We make effort to explain to new converts, but sometimes, they suddenly
come back later to change their minds," said Jauharul when informed that
Ragu had made a police report in 24 hours after the incident and a
statutory
declaration was made soon after.
He said the document which Ragu had signed was not valid for official
purposes such as marriage and that the official card to prove that he was
a
convert was not issued.
"He has to attend a standard five-day course on Islam and only after that
would he be issued a card after that," explained Jauharul.
On the religious status stated on Ragu's Mykad, he said the onus was on
converts to update their religious status with the National Registration
Department themselves.
The administrator from the institute, when contacted today and yesterday,
declined comment other than that he would consult his 'boss'. Despite
being
asked twice, he did not specify who his 'boss' was.
PM urged to act
In the letter to Abdullah, human rights lawyer P Uthayakumar claimed that
he
had received numerous complaints of similar practices in other
government-run learning institutions.
He said parents had sent their children to such institutions with the
trust
that they be returned to holding the same faith they were born and raised
with.
"The National Service Programmes may also be of a serious concern to
non-Muslim parents in the future.
"Our client's father for that matter has decided not to send any of his
children for the National Service training as he has since lost confidence
in the state authorities, " wrote Uthayakumar.
On Ragu's 'conversion' , Uthayakumar urged the Malaysian cabinet to
intervene
on the matter to ally fears of non-Muslim parents in sending their
children
to government-run educational institutions.
"We hope your good selves also see the fears and insecurity of the
non-Muslim Indian and Chinese parents - 50 and 95 percent of whom choose
to
send their children to Tamil and Chinese primary schools respectively even
after 50 years of independence, " added Uthayakumar.
Contacted for clarification, Uthayakumar said those who had allegedly put
pressure on Ragu were in violation of the Federal Constitution and the
Education Act 1996
Article 12 (3) of the Federal Constitution states that no person shall be
required to receive instruction in or to take part in any ceremony or act
of
worship of a religion other than his own.
Section 51 (b) of the Education Act 1996 states that no pupil shall attend
teaching in a religion other than that which he professes except with the
written consent of his parent.
"Parents send their children to educational institutions purely for
education. If anything else, the institution must seek the parents consent
and knowledge," said Uthayakumar.
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