S’wak natives denounce Maszlee’s conversion remark, demand clarity

The Education Ministry is violating the rights of Sarawakian and Sabahan non-Muslims if it is sending teachers from the peninsula here to convert local students to Islam.

(The Star) – Four indigenous civil society organisations in Sarawak staged a symbolic protest against Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik on Thursday (Dec 20) morning over his remark on Islamic conversion in schools.

Representatives of the four groups – Gerakan Anak Asal Sarawak, Borneo Resources Institute, Tahabas (Tanah Hak Bangsa Asal Sarawak) and Save Sarawak Rivers – held the protest in Miri.

These groups, which are fighting for human rights for Sarawak natives, are protesting His statement that schools in Sarawak and Sabah are grounds for Islamic conversion.

Dr Maszlee had said in Parliament early this week that Sarawak and Sabah are “medan dakwah” and that Muslim teachers from the peninsula sent to Sarawak and Sabah must spread their faith by converting local non-Muslim students to Islam.

The four native groups are from the Orang Ulu and Dayak communities.

Social activist Peter Kallang, who is chairman of Save Sarawak Rivers, told The Star that what Dr Maszlee said was very alarming.

“Teachers are civil servants. They cannot double as preachers to convert non-Muslim students.

“The Education Ministry is violating the rights of Sarawakian and Sabahan non-Muslims if it is sending teachers from the peninsula here to convert local students to Islam.

“The Pakatan Harapan government in Putrajaya is not doing a good job in protecting the rights of non-Muslims if it allows such a policy to continue.

“We natives in Sarawak want to see Maszlee withdraw his stance, and we want the government to explain if it is indeed true that Muslim teachers form the peninsula are sent here to east Malaysia to convert non-Muslim students.

“It is a serious violation of human rights,” said Kallang.

The four groups want an official investigation to be launched to determine how many teachers from the peninsula were coaxing students in Sarawak and Sabah under their charge to convert to Islam.