Malaysian officers delay cremation of converted Hindu man

SEREMBAN - Malaysia’s Islamic Affairs Department officials policemen turned up to claim the body of a 49-year-old Hindu man at the Jalan Templer over a reported allegation that he had converted to Hinduism 20 years ago.

Raj Kumar Kutty, who was born to Muslim parents, died on Tuesday and his body was due to be cremated at 3 p.m. on Wednesday at the Hindu crematorium at Jalan Templer.

Several religious officers turned up and claimed that the deceased was born Moideen Kutty Mohd Ali and should be buried according to Muslim rites.

The family of the deceased did not dispute this, but then produced documents, including his identity card and marriage certificate, stating that he had converted in 1990, The Star reports.

They claimed that the deceased, a hotel employee, was married to a Hindu woman according to Hindu rites and had four boys with her, aged between 11 and 18.

However, they gave in to requests from the religious officers to delay the cremation so that they could produce evidence that Raj Kumar was still a Muslim.

Several hours later, the officers failed to show any proof.

The deceased’s wife, P. Shan Bagvalli, 45, lodged a police report claiming that her husband was a Hindu and that he had observed its way of life ever since she knew him.

She said they were married at the Sri Muthumariaman Hindu temple in Setapak Jaya.

An officer from the department, Mohamad Zulkarnain Abdullah, said that as far as they were concerned the deceased was still a Muslim.

He said the department would seek an order from the Syariah Court today to declare Raj Kumar a Muslim. (ANI)