IT is highly immoral and illegal to convert minors to a religion without the consent of their parents, an interfaith group said today.

The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Taoism (MCCBCHST) said parents would be devastated by their child’s secret conversion.

It said conversion of children into Islam is a violation of the constitution.

“Schools are places where knowledge is imparted but if schools themselves indulge in such immoral practice of converting minors, then there is no longer any safe place for our children,” it  said in a statement today.

The group was referring to a video showing Muslim preacher Firdaus Wong showing a teacher how to convert secondary school students.

The video, uploaded on Wong’s TikTok account earlier this week, has caused public outrage and criticism.

The four-minute clip shows Wong and the teacher discussing the conversion of Forms Three, Four, and Five students. The teacher is asking how to handle such matters. The preacher tells the teacher to convert the minors by reciting the “kalimah syahadah” but not to take any pictures and videos or register the students as they are below 18.

“The MCCBCHST is appalled at this immoral and illegal plan to convert minors. Over the past 10 years (it has been) raising the issue of the conversion of minors but (the calls for attention have) fallen onto deaf ears.

“The MCCBCHST therefore makes a desperate call to all members of parliament, including ministers, to raise this issue in the cabinet to ensure that this immoral and sinister plan of converting minors is stopped immediately and action taken against Firdaus Wong.

“If one were to be converted from Islam into another faith, we can expect an immediate outcry. Why not in the above such cases?,” it said.

“We are all God’s children. Please do not deny (the children) their parents’ protection… Please do not destroy family units.” – June 9, 2024.