A 54-YEAR-OLD man has been given leave by the Shah Alam High Court for a judicial review on the Shariah Appeals Court’s refusal to hear his application to renounce Islam. 

Justice Shahnaz Sulaiman, in granting the leave, said the case was neither “frivolous” nor “vexatious” and that “this court further finds there is some substance in the grounds supporting the application”, Free Malaysia Today reported. 

The Shariah Court had rejected the 2014 application on the grounds that the notice of appeal was not served on the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) within the time prescribed by law. 

After dismissing the application on October 7, 2019, the Shariah Appeals Court then ordered the convert to undergo counselling. 

The man, who is representing himself on October 17 – within the 14-day period – filed an appeal to the Shariah Appeals Court. 

He, however, failed to serve it on Mais within the prescribed period for service. 

He said he was unable to serve the notice on time as he was without lawyers and urged the Shariah Court to grant him an extension of time to do so. 

Mais objected to the application, and it was subsequently struck out by the Shariah Appeals Court. 

He then filed for leave for a judicial review in the High Court as he argued that the Shariah Appeals Court dismissed his appeal without hearing the merits of the case. – December 22, 2023.