I wonder which college this is. Not many colleges/uni in Perlis. There’s UniMaP, Kolej Matrikulasi, Kolej Antarabangsa Teknologi dan Profesional, and Kolej Komuniti Arau, among others.

Its easy to say the student is a major (above 18) and able to make own decision. However, I think also need to look at the surrounding environment and the influence of the people around her. Its easy to claim that no force was used, but on the other hand, how was the influence? Was the girl given a chance to verify with her elders? Did she check with her religious authorities or leaders?

Even though she is a major, I think since she is under the care of the parents/guardian as she is still studying, this conversion should be challenged and revoked. Also, those responsible should be investigated and punished accordingly

The student herself may have lacked proper religious knowledge, mainly due to lack of support from family and community. Also since authorities are not helpful nor supportive enough, the community is left to fend for themselves to teach religion to their children (imagine if had religious class in school). To add to this, she took up silat, which could have been another additional influence for her.

Even in universities, there’s a lack of support for other religions, with administrators claiming that they have done enough by providing bus service to temples or vegetarian food on certain days or by organising Ponggal and Deepavali events.

Another thing, this can constitute abuse of power or responsibility, since the lecturers are in a position of influence and authority over the student. Their action will cast a mark on the integrity and professionalism of the institution. Furthermore, if indeed the rules were broken, then its a criminal act.

I remember that ex-PM mentioned the rules on conversion will be revised and some changes were propsed, but it seems the Rulers Council rejected it. While the issue is being dilly-dallied, more cases like this will occur.

The crux of the problem is whether the relevant parties were informed or not. Why need to create problem the family and cause misery for them?

Seorang pelajar kolej beragama Hindu, yang didakwa ‘dipaksa’ memeluk Islam Julai lalu oleh pensyarahnya telah mengambil langkah itu secara sukarela tanpa sebarang unsur paksaan daripada mana-mana pihak, kata Jabatan Agama Islam Perlis (Jaips).

Ketua Penolong Pengarah Dakwah Jaips, Kesumawati Kassim memberitahu The Malaysia Insider, pihaknya tidak berhadapan dengan sebarang masalah untuk mendaftarkan pelajar itu kerana dia telah memenuhi syarat-syarat menganut Islam mengikut kemahuannya.

Pelajar itu memeluk Islam Julai lalu dan berbula ketika Ramadan lalu.

Kesumawati berkata, dia hadir di Jaips bersama tiga saksi iaitu dua pensyarah dan isteri seorang pensyarahnya bagi mendaftarkan pengislaman secara sah.

Dalam satu kenyataan Khamis lalu, Persatuan Agama Hindu (MHS) mendakwa seorang pelajar perempuan sebuah kolej di Perlis telah ditukar agama sebagai Muslim tanpa keizinan ibu bapanya dan tindakan itu bertentangan dengan peraturan.

Ibu pelajar itu juga, menurutnya, telah membuat laporan polis terhadap insiden tersebut.

Gadis itu difahamkan telah membuat laporan polis menyatakan pengislamannya bebas daripada sebarang paksaan.

Mengulas mengenai dakwaan bahawa Jaips turut mengambil kesempatan terhadap golongan bukan Islam yang miskin, Kesumawati berkata, tidak timbul isu pihaknya berbuat demikian, sebaliknya golongan saudara baru terbabit sendiri hadir di pejabatnya menyatakan mahu memeluk Islam.

Sebaliknya kata beliau, pihaknya lebih kepada membantu dan membimbing mereka dalam mendapatkan kefahaman sebenar tentang Islam.

“Pihak Pertubuhan Kebajikan Islam Malaysia turut bekerjasama dengan Jaips bagi membantu saudara baru ini mendalami Islam dengan menyediakan kelas Fardu Ain dan kemudahan penginapan bagi menjamin keselamatan mereka,” katanya.

“Namun begitu, terpulang kepada individu terbabit sama ada mahu memanfaatkannya atau tidak. Kami hanya boleh membantu, bukan memaksa,” tegasnya lagi.

Dalam satu kenyataan Khamis lalu, Presiden MHS RS Mohan Shan berkata, siasatan pihaknya juga menunjukkan tiga pensyarah kolej di negeri itu terlibat dalam kerja menukar agama pelajar terbabit dan beberapa kakitangan Jaips sendiri tidak mematuhi peraturan dalam soal tersebut.

Jaips berkata hanya dua pensyarah menguruskan kes pelajar berkenaan dengan dibantu isteri salah seorang pensyarah terbabit.

“Pensyarah-pensyarah dan pegawai jabatan agama terbabit juga mendakwa mereka tidak menyedari kewujudan peraturan sedemikian,” kata Mohan.

Justeru, Mohan berkata, perkembangan itu menunjukkan sikap tidak bertanggungjawab ahli akademik sedangkan mereka seharusnya menjaga kepentingan agama, budaya dan sosial pelajar masing-masing demi memastikan perpaduan, keamanan dan keharmonian di kalangan golongan pelajar terpelihara.

Sehubungan itu kata beliau, persatuan tersebut memandang serius kejadian itu dan akan membawa perkara berkenaan ke perhatian Menteri Pengajian Tinggi dan juga Perdana Menteri dalam waktu terdekat.

Mengulas lanjut kenyataan Jaips, Mohan yang turut dihubungi The Malaysian Insider berkata, pihaknya terkilan dengan tindakan pensyarah-pensyarah terbabit dan menjadi tanda tanya seolah-olah mereka mempengaruhi pemikiran gadis tersebut untuk memeluk Islam.

Katanya, pihaknya tidak kisah jika pelajar berkenaan memeluk Islam tetapi pendekatan yang digunakan oleh mereka menjadi persoalan.

Kata Mohan, pelajar berkenaan telah dibawa ke rumah pensyarah pada 1 dan 15 Julai lalu dalam usaha mengislamkannya.

Selain itu, tindakan mereka membawa pelajar terbabit dari institut pengajiannya dan kemudian ke Jaips turut dipersoalkan Mohan.

Ini kerana perkembangan itu tidak dimaklumkan kepada pihak pengurusan institut terbabit dan ibu bapa.

“Tindakan pensyarah-pensyarah ini seakan-akan menggalakkan pelajar lain turut dipengaruhi mereka,” katanya lagi.

Tambah beliau, kerajaan seharusnya mengambil tindakan tatatertib terhadap ketiga-tiga mereka yang terlibat, dua pensyarah dan seorang isteri kepada pensyarah terbabit.

Menurut Mohan lagi, silibus kokurikulum silat yang diambil pelajar berkenaan di institut tersebut turut mempengaruhinya memandangkan dia merupakan pelajar bukan Islam tunggal mengikutinya.

source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/bahasa/article/jaips-pelajar-kolej-perlis-peluk-islam-secara-sukarela/

The earlier article which MHS exposed the issue:

The Malaysia Hindu Sangam (MHS) has decried the alleged involvement of staff from a local college in Perlis together with officials of the state Islamic affairs department (JAIP) in the conversion of an Indian student to Islam.

In a statement issued yesterday, MHS president RS Mohan Shah expressed shock that three lecturers of the college had a hand in the conversion of the female student, when they should have been focused on their students’ “development of knowledge, skills and talent”.

“It is disappointing, therefore, to note that these staff members getting involved in religious conversion of students when they should, in fact, safeguard the religious, cultural and social interests of their students to ensure unity, peace and harmony among students in these multiracial institutions of higher education,” said Mohan Shah.

According to Mohan, the lecturers and JAIP officials failed to “follow the rules.” When confronted on the matter, the lecturers concerned said “they were not aware of the rules”, he added.

“MHS takes a serious view of this incident and will bring this matter to the attention of the minister of higher education and also to the prime minister for necessary action,” he said Mohan Shah.

source: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/175851