I am not a Muslim, says caned boy’s dad

By Joseph Tawie, Free Malaysia Today

KUCHING: Beginda Minda, whose son Basil was caned 10 times for bringing non-halal food to his school, is prepared to be investigated by the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim).

“I am ready with the documents to prove I am not a Muslim. I have asked my lawyers to study any statement made by anyone on the status of my religion. I will not hesitate to sue them,” he said.

Beginda, a former Muslim, said he changed his religion in 1999 through his lawyers and by 2001, was given a certificate stating that he was no longer a Muslim.

“In 2004, they asked me to apply for a MyKad. Now my name is Beginda Anak Minda,” he added.

Beginda was responding to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz’s comments in Parliament yesterday.

The government, according to Nazri, had asked Jakim to investigate the religious status of Beginda who was known as Noor Azman Abdullah before.

Only after this, the minister said, could investigations proceed into the caning of Beginda’s son for bringing fried rice with pork sausages into the school’s premises.

The issue also caused a shouting match in Parliament between independent MP Zulkifli Noordin and PAS MP Dzulkefly Ahmad when the former accused PAS of condoning Muslims eating pork.

The verbal salvo which lasted for 10 minutes resulted in Dzulkefly being given the marching orders from the Dewan Rakyat.

SEE VIDEO HERE: http://www.malaysia-today.net/component/content/article/58-video/35877-dewan-rakyat-110910-morning-session-debate-on-pork-sausages