IT is disappointing that the government has remained silent on the alleged encouragement from Muslim preacher Firdaus Wong to teachers to secretly convert minors, Global Human Rights Federation president S. Shashi Kumar said.

He said the government must take action against Wong for breaching the law and the Federal Constitution.

“It is coming to a week since the video went viral, and we have yet to see any statements and action from the police, the Attorney-General’s Chambers, or the Education Ministry.

“They must take proactive actions against people like Wong,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

He was referring to a video showing Wong telling 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.

Shashi said some civil society movements and activists will be holding a press conference on Tuesday to highlight the severity of the matter.

“We also need the media to pressure the authorities to take appropriate action,” he said.

Wong’s suggestion on converting these minors into Islam without the knowledge of the parents is not only illegal but also goes against the ethical standards of society, he added.

He said that such incidents must be dealt with promptly to safeguard the rights and well-being of children, especially the rights of minors from being exploited and manipulated for religious purposes.

“The aim of the press conference is also to create awareness and demand accountability from those involved in these illegal and unethical activities,” he said.

Earlier today, the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Taoism (MCCBCHST) also hit out at Wong for his actions.

MCCBCHST said it was highly immoral and illegal to convert minors to a religion without the consent of their parents.

It said the parents would be devastated by their child’s secret conversion.

It called upon members of parliament to raise the issue to stop and take action against Wong. – June 8, 2024.