The petition that HRP wanted to submit to the Sultan of Perak, but stopped by the Police Bullies
Petition to DYMM Perak Sultan from 5000 subjects on forced conversion to Islam Freedom of Religion – Article 11 of the Malaysian Federal Constitution
No.66-1, Jalan Ng Weng Hup, 30100 First Garden, Ipoh, Perak
HQ: No.6, Jalan Abdullah, Off Jalan Bangsar, 59000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel: 03-2282 5241 Fax: 03-2282 5245 Website: www.humanrightspartymalaysia.com
29th August, 2010
To : His Royal Highness
Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Yusuff Izzuddin Shah Ghafarullahulah
Sultan O Perak,
Kuala Kangsar
Perak.
From: Ramesh Periasamy
Perak Chairman,
Central Committee Member,
Human Rights Party Malaysia,
Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia.
Your Highness,
Petition from 5000 subjects of Your Highness on the Right to Freedom of Religion as in Article 11 of the Malaysian Federal Constitution
We would like to humbly submit this appeal to Your Highness to provide protection and support to Your Highness’s subjects whose Constitutionally guaranteed rights are being denied. Because of certain circumstances in their lives that span religious borders of Islam and Hinduism and the treatment they are getting at the hands of the authorities concerned over the issues arising, they now feel that the right enshrined in the Malaysian Federal Constitution, Article 11 is being denied to them in practice.
The case of Madam Banggarma (My Kad # 820813-06-5678).
Madam Banggarma was born a Hindu on Aug 13, 1982, in Keratong, Pahang, to plantation workers B Subramaniam and Latchumy Ramadu, but today lives in Tanjung Piandang, Perak. Madam Banggarma was converted by the State Islamic Religious Authorities at the age of seven while she was staying in a welfare home in Kepala Batas, Penang. She now lives with her fisherman husband, Mr. S Sockalingam and their two children Kanagaraj, eight, and Hisyanthini, two.
She has not been able to marry Mr. Sockalingam in the Civil Registry because she is registered as a Muslim and he as a Hindu. Madam Banggarma’s case for the declaration of her religion as Hinduism, has been referred to the Syaria Court by the Civil Courts. Madam Banggarma’s contention is that since her conversion happened involuntarily and at an unknowing age on her part, and since she has lived a Hindu all her life, and wants to continue to do so, she feels her case must be heard in the Civil Courts as she considers herself a Hindu and not in the Syaria Court which wields no jurisdiction on those who are not Muslims. But the Civil Courts have ruled otherwise. She, however, insists on wanting to remain a Hindu.
Since Your Highness is the Head of the Islam in Perak Darul Ridzuan, we appeal to Your Highness to consider the rights enshrined in the Malaysian Federal Constitution Article 11 and intervene not only to protect Madam Banggarma’s right guaranteed to her in the Federal Constitution to practice the religion of her choice but also to establish clear precedence on matter like this that cross the religious lines to Islam for all the other subjects of Your Highness in the interest of a healthy and just Perak Darul Ridzuan. This is the wish of the 5,000 subjects of Your Highness who have signed this appeal petition.
The case of Madam Indira Gandhi
This is a longstanding case and one which has been in the public eye for some time now. The background to this case briefly is that Madam Indira Gandhi’s husband Mohd Riduan Abdullah @ K Pathmanathan converted to Islam after a marriage with her of several years and after the birth of three children. When he converted he took custody of their third child and went into hiding with that child. After much public debate, the intervention of the Federal Cabinet and latest Ipoh High Court order on March 11 2010, the custody of her third child Prasana Diksa was finally decided in her favour.
Unfortunately she has been unable to enforce the Ipoh High Court ruling on her husband who is now living in Kelantan. The impunity with which her husband is behaving has to do with the fact that when it comes to matters such as these, the authorities responsible for enforcement seem not to be enforcing with the necessary intensity, given the sensitive issues involved and the fact that this is of much public interest in a multi- racial and multi-religious citizenry.
We appeal again to Your Highness to to instruct that appropriate action be taken by the authorities concerned to enforce the ruling of the Ipoh High Court and to force her husband to comply with the ruling to return custody of her third child to Madam Indira Gandhi. This will ensure that that justice is done in Perak Darul Ridzuan regatrdless of creed, religion and race. It is this intention that the 5000 subjects of Your Highness wish to express in the signing of this petition.
We do hope that Your Highness will do the needful to set matters right on both these cases.
Please accept our apologies for disturbing your peace with this petition, but our avenues for recourse on matters such as these are limited. We have attached the signatures of all Your Highnesses subjects who desire to see justice done in Perak Darul Ridzuan.
We Thank Your Highness very much.
Your humble subject
‘DAULAT TUANKU’
Ramesh Periasamy
Perak Chairman
Human Rights Party Malaysia (HRP)
