NRD formally drops bid to keep Sarawak man a Muslim

(MMO) – The Sarawak National Registration Department (NRD) will apply to withdraw its appeal against a court decision allowing a Dayak Bidayuh man to renounce Islam and return to Christianity, director-general Datuk Sri Sulaiman Keling said today.

“After making a comprehensive study on Roneey Rebit’s case, the state NRD director as the third respondent in the judicial review case, has decided to withdraw the appeal against the High Court’s decision,” he said in a press statement.

Yesterday, incumbent Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem (pic) said he received assurance from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak that the NRD will discontinue the appeal.

Roneey’s case made national headlines on March 24, when the Kuching High Court recognised his constitutional right as an adult to choose his religion and ordered the NRD to issue him a new Mykad.

The NRD appealed this on April 22 despite the Sarawak Islamic Religious Department and the Sarawak Islamic Council not challenging the decision.