Najib assures NRD won't challenge Christian man's bid
Published on: Tuesday, May 03, 2016
Kuala Lumpur: The National Registration Department (NRD) will end its challenge against a Sarawak Christian's bid to remove "Islam" from his MyKad, Tan Sri Adenan Satem said.The incumbent Chief minister said he was informed of the decision by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Monday.The case of Dayak Bidayuh convert Roneey Rebit had led churches in the state to question Adenan's previous pledge to protect the religious freedom of Sarawak's natives, ahead of the May 7 state election.
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"I have indeed spoken to the prime minister today on the matter, who gave me the assurance that the appeal by NRD will be withdrawn," Adenan said."I must apologise for the delay as I only got to know about the matter today," the Adenan said.The prime minister is in Sarawak to help the state Barisan Nasional (BN) campaign for the May 7 state election.Earlier, Sarawak PKR joint director of operations Lynette Tan criticised NRD for filing the appeal.
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She said both the prime minister and his deputy had an obligation to explain NRD's alleged interference with the religious freedom of Sarawakians."The NRD is under the purview of the Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also the Deputy prime minister, and whether they are on the same page with the chief minister on the issue of autonomy for Sarawak," Tan said.
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The case made national headlines earlier this year after the Sarawak High Court made a landmark judgment allowing Roneey to revert to his childhood creed and ordered the NRD to issue the now 41-year-old a new MyKad.Roneey had sought to change his Muslim name on his MyKad from Azmi bin Mohamad Azam Shah and to remove the word "Islam" from his MyKad so he could officially be a Christian again.He was converted to Islam at age eight by his Christian-turned-Muslim parents.However, the NRD insisted that Roneey obtain an order from the Shariah Court before it could process his application.Dissatisfied, he filed a judicial review at the civil High Court to challenge the NRD and on March 24, won the case.But a month later on April 22, NRD filed an appeal with the Court of Appeal to set aside the decision of the Kuching High Court although the state Islamic Affairs Department and the Sarawak Affairs Council did not object to Roneey's request to revert.Meanwhile, the Association of Churches, Sarawak (ACS) welcomed Adenan's announcement.Its Sec-Gen Ambrose Linang, however, panned the NRD's initial decision last month to pursue the case to the Court of Appeal."There really is no need for NRD to file appeal in the first place because any such appeal is seen as interfering in the religious freedom of Sarawakians," Linang said.He said as far as he knows Roneey's case is the first to be taken to court after the NRD refused to process his application.He hoped the NRD will, from now, process any application from Muslim converts who seek to revert to their previous religions."NRD should not make it difficult for the Muslim converts to go back to their old religions," Linang said.Rooney could not be reached for comment. His lawyer Chua Kuan Ching said she welcomed the chief minister's initiative.However, she also urged both the state and federal governments to provide an assurance that the NRD will not seek to meddle in future applications by others caught in a similar bind to Roneey, especially if the Islamic authorities involved did not object.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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