Dompok to sponsor controversy case girl
Published on: Friday, March 27, 2015
Papar: The 16-year-old girl caught in the middle of the controversial conversion is fitting in well at her new school, some 60km away from home."Syok ni sekolah" ("This school is good"), the teenager was heard telling her younger siblings, just days after registering at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tun Fuad Stephens in Kiulu on Monday.Kampung Kaiduan Village Security and Development Committee Chairman Michael Frederick, assisted in the registration of the teenager and her three siblings.
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The student, originally a Christian from the Sidang Injil Borneo church, had reportedly recited the kalimah syahada to declare her acceptance of Islam and donned the hijab (Muslim headscarf) without her parents' knowledge.According to the law, a minor's religion is decided by her parents. But under religious law, reciting the syahada suffices to make a person Muslim, but not under the Constitution, which states that an underage child needs the consent of her parents.Her father, Jilius Yapoo, meanwhile, described the recent drama as the most challenging time for him and his family."We may just have enough food for the family, we may not be rich, but I can bear it all."
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But when he was challenged by his daughter's alleged conversion, he just broke down and cried."By far, this is God's greatest challenge for me. I never thought such a thing would happen to my family, but it did.
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"I believe there is a blessing in disguise, and I shall be strong to face this challenge," said the 46-year-old rubber tapper, from Kampung Kaiduan, here. He also thanked former Chief Minister and United Pasokmomogun KadazanDusunMurut Organisation President Tan Sri Bernard Dompok who has agreed to sponsor his children's education expenses at the new school.Yapoo found out about his daughter's "conversion" when a relative informed him that the teenager was seen donned in a hijab at school. After learning that it was his daughter, Yapoo broke down and his wife, Jaina Yassin, fell sick from stress and shock."I was just sad that the school failed to inform me, if really my daughter wanted to convert," he said.Considering legal action against Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Kinarut, Yapoo's legal adviser Darell Leiking, who is also the Penampang Member of Parliament, said the school had breached the law as stipulated under Article 12 (4) of Constitution, which states that the sole right to choose the religion of a child aged 18 and below is the parent.When asked of their relationship, Yapoo said things were almost returning to normal. "But sometimes her mood swings can be bad. For a few days, she would be laughing and joking with us. But the moment she makes a phone call, her attitude would change. She would distance herself and put on an angry face."But I believe that is all behind us now, with her at a new school and in a new environment. Things will change for the better, I hope," said Yapoo.Yapoo was excited to share in the transfer of his daughter and her three younger siblings to SMK Tun Fuad Stephens in Kiulu, some 60km away from their home.The move was on Yapoo's request, as part of his last resort to keep the family together in the Christian faith.They are also putting up at the school's hostel, run by Catholic nuns."There will be attending church masses and rosary, in accordance to the Catholic prayers. To me, I don't mind the different Christian denomination, just as long as my daughter is exposed to Christian teachings," said Yapoo, adding that his four children will be picked up on Sundays for the trip to a nearby SIB church.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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