PM merely obliged new convert’s request, says Mohd Na'im

SEPANG: The Prime Minister’s recent act of converting a man to Islam at the Ar-Rahimiah Mosque in Klang was done to fulfill the request of a Malaysian citizen, who comes from a diverse racial and religious background, according to Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar (pic).

The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) stated that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s actions were in accordance with the Constitution and the laws of Malaysia.

“He simply responded to the individual’s request to perform the ceremony, and his presence at the mosque was unplanned.

“The fact that the Prime Minister himself conducted the conversion to Islam was an interesting and historic moment for the new convert,” he told Bernama on Aug 25, after visiting the family of Sharipuddin Shaari, an e-hailing driver who died in a plane crash on Aug 17 in Elmina, Shah Alam.

Mohd Na’im was addressing the criticisms directed at Anwar for leading the conversion ceremony, which some perceived as not being the responsibility of the Prime Minister.

Mohd Na’im explained that the conversion to Islam was also carried out at the request of Hushim Salleh, the chairman of the Malaysian Islamic Welfare Organisation (Perkim) Klang chapter, who happened to be present at the mosque where the ceremony was taking place.

A video went viral on social media last week showing Anwar about to leave the mosque after Friday prayers, but he was invited to complete the conversion ceremony.

Meanwhile, Mohd Na’im stated that his office would assess the type of assistance to be provided to Sharipuddin’s family, including his widow Suriani Muda, 43, and their two children Nur Izzara Arissya, 9, and Muhammad Sharul Izuan, 16.

“Among other things, we will request the Selangor Islamic Religious Council to evaluate the family’s needs, as the widow is currently unemployed, and to consider her as a beneficiary of the tithe,” he added, after presenting a donation of RM3,000 from the Yayasan Taqwa Wilayah Persekutuan, along with his personal contribution.