Converts To Islam Must Declare Religious Status, Says Abdullah - Bernama

PUTRAJAYA, April 10 (Bernama) -- The Federal government will soon make it a requirement for non-Muslims converting to Islam to declare their new religious status to their family members, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

He said the step was aimed at avoiding problems when they died.

"We do not want the religious department saying the deceased was a Muslim but the family members disputing it because he or she converted on the quiet," he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the National Council on Islamic Religious Affairs here Thursday.

Once the new ruling was in place, he said non-Muslims who converted to Islam must be in possession of documents stating that they had informed their family members about their conversion.

Abdullah said he had informed the meeting that religious issues were ultra-sensitive and must be tackled wisely and did not want them to cause racial tension.

These included the demolition of houses of worship, conversions and funeral disputes, he said.

The meeting also discussed the assimilation of research staff at the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) into the Halal Industry Development Corporation.

[From http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=325935]