SUCH is the call by Siti Kasim in the wake of a Sabahan woman who recently lodged a police report in Kota Kinabalu after having discovered that she has been registered as a Muslim without her knowledge or consent.
Marni Pengeran, 38, from Nabawan alleged that she had never applied to convert and only discovered her name listed as a Muslim after her husband came across a document prepared for a convert programme in their district.
Marni’s experience led the human rights activist and lawyer to delve deeper into how the Orang Asli community is duped, forced or threatened to embrace Islam as in the case of the Bateq Mayah tribe in Pahang where a court hearing is on-going.
“I’ve personally viewed videos of (Chinese) vagrants been converted at coffee shops by the roadside,” she lamented in her latest YouTube rant.
“Why the obsession to change one’s faith? Are those of you who are over-zealous to change someone else’s religion so certain that you’ll obtain bonus points to enter heaven?
Conversion syndicates
“By right, those who wish to embrace Islam must do so voluntarily out of genuine understanding and love for the religion. Faking the consent of non-Muslims to get the numbers or for financial gain is a big sin that will not be pardoned by Allah in the hereafter.”
On this note, Siti Kasim stressed the need for the relevant government agencies to ensure there is no monetary rewards to those who convert non-Muslims.
“Any form of financial payout will only encourage the mushrooming of syndicates which would cash in on performing ‘mass conversion’ to get the numbers,” warned the Orang Asli advocate.
“Treating Islam as a commodity is a despicable act … The modus operandi as evident in Marni’s case is so convincing in that there’s a Photoshop image of a woman donning the tudung and usage of fake fingerprints.”
“To the religious authorities, bear in mind that Islam forbids any form of fraud in the conversion process … the Holy Prophet SAW has issued firm warning to those who defrauded others through the Surah Al-Mutaffifin whereby they will face intense insults and sufferings come Dooms Day.”
‘Double jeopardy’
Elaborating on Marni’s case, Siti Kasim expressed fear that the woman’s legal status will be under threat when she passes away.
Her family will not be entitled to her assets or worse still, her remains will be contested for burial (according to Muslim rites) by the religious authorities.
“Ironically, why must she resolve her civil status woes at the Syariah court in view of the case being treated as a criminal investigation related to document forgery?
Why is that so as she is not applying to leave Islam. In fact, she was unaware that she has been registered as a Muslim.
Whose mistake is this? By right, the onus is on government departments such as the National Registration Department (JPN) and Islamic religious departments to offer an easy route out of her misery.
This is ridiculous as she’s already a victim of fraud yet she has to go through another round of trouble – May 22, 2025
