The Star Online > Nation
Thursday December 7, 2006

Cabinet wants religious status of dead man verified
BY SYED AZHAR

KUALA LUMPUR: The Cabinet has directed the Attorney-General to look into the case of Rayappan Anthony to confirm his religious status, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said.

He added that the Cabinet had discussed the issue and had agreed to hand over the case to the A-G as it was important that it be resolved.

“We want the A-G to find out his religious status, and if he is not a Muslim the authorities should hand over the remains to Rayappan’s family,” he told reporters after launching Malaysian Bio Industry 2006 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre here yesterday.
Rayappan Anthony

Abdullah was asked to comment on the issue of Rayappan, 71, who died last Wednesday, and whose body is caught in a tussle between the Selangor Islamic Religious Council and his family members.

Rayappan converted to Islam in 1990 following a second marriage, and was said to have converted back to Christianity in 1999, and subsequently confirmed his profession of the Christian faith by way of a statutory declaration before a Commissioner of Oaths.

The relevant documents prepared by a lawyer and executed by the Commissioner for Oaths were submitted to the National Registration Department, which accepted the declaration and reinstated Rayappan’s religious status to Christianity.

It was also said that the MyKad of the deceased (issued in 2003) had “Christianity” printed below his name.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz told reporters at the Parliament lobby yesterday that the family of the late Rayappan Anthony should go to the Syariah Court and give evidence.

“They are being asked to give evidence. There is a precedent in the case of Nyonya Tahir; the family went to submit evidence. My personal view is that they should do this if they want a solution,” he said.

Nazri expressed optimism that the Syariah Court would be fair to the family of Rayappan and did not foresee any problem.

“It is clear he had gone back to his earlier faith, and the identity card does not state that he is a Muslim,” he added.

AG Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail said all parties must respect each other's religion and should sit down and discuss the matter to reach an amicable solution.

“Let us sit down and discuss the problem. Solutions can only be found if all parties sit down and look at the problem in a fair and equitable manner.

“Everyone must respect each other's religion and try to solve it amicably without immediately taking any stand. I will be meeting with several Islamic religious bodies including the Majlis Agama Islam Selangor (MAIS),'' he said, stressing that he could only advise the religious bodies as he has no jurisdiction over the Syariah Court.

Abdul Gani said his role was to see that justice was done based on the law and facts and was sure the parties concerned would listen to good sense as was in the case of Nonya Tahir.

Let’s submit to the rule of law not emotions

I refer to your report “Cabinet wants religious status of dead man verified” (Star Dec 7).

All peace loving Malaysians with goodwill and who want justice to reign would heartily welcome the cabinet’s decision to direct the Attorney-General (AG) to look into the case of Rayappan Anthony to confirm his religious status. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi must be praised for his wisdom and fairness in arriving at such a unprecedented decision.

By handing the responsibility to the AG, the cabinet has rightly endorsed that the case should be under the jurisdiction of the civil courts. The question of fairness of the syariah courts is not the issue here but who should justly handle such cases.

We hope and pray that the AG and the civil courts can come with a reasonable and just decision on this important case that could become precedence for similar cases in the future. We hope justice will be done based on the law and facts and all the parties concerned would listen to good sense for the well being of the nation.

We are encouraged by the AG Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail’s statement that all parties must respect each other's religion and should sit down and discuss the matter to reach an amicable solution. In a Multi-racial and multi-religious society like Malaysia, dialogue in a civil manner is the only way to overcome problems like these that inevitably surface from time to time.

There can never be one sure winner all the time. Every community should compromise and they should consider the whole picture, not just be myopic in just looking at the interest of their own community.

At the highest level, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and the cabinet, has set the tone of moderation, goodwill and fair play, it is now up to us to adopt these virtues in our dealings with all. We must submit to the rule of law at all times and at all costs, not blinded by emotions and prejudice.

Dr.Chris Anthony