Government to look at ways to help over conversion

The Star, Friday April 18, 2008

PUTRAJAYA: The authorities are looking into ways on how best non-Muslims wishing to convert to Islam can exercise one of their most difficult, if not important, duties – to inform their family members of their decision.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said that while the Government realised that making it compulsory for future converts to announce their intention to their family would make it difficult for them, it was necessary to avoid confusion and problems.

He said that following Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's announcement last week, the Syariah Judicial Department and the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) have been looking into ways to assist individuals planning to embrace Islam.

“I have also been discussing with the Minister in charge of legal matters, Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, as to what can be done.

“We will be organising a conference next week where legal practitioners, Muslim scholars and ulamaks will converge to give their views and ideas on how best to tackle the issue,” he said yesterday.

“We need to hear what the experts say. We also need to make it easy for those who need to take on the responsibility of dropping the bombshell to their families,” he said.