Malaysian Sikh council seeks for proper directives to avoid 'final rites' controversy

Petaling Jaya (Malaysia), June 3(ANI): In order to prevent controversy over final rites relating to the Sikh comunity, the Malaysian Gurudwra Council appealed to the government to issue proper directives to Ismalic religious aiuthorities.

The appeal follows in the wake of Mohan Singh's body being not released by the Sungai Buloh Hospital to his family as he was believed to have converted to Islam in 1992.

Malaysian Gurdwaras Council President Jagir Singh said he was agitated that Mohan's family could not take his body to perform his last rites as required by Sikhism, Star online reported.

"We are of the view that a Syariah Court is not in a position to determine Mohan's religion as most witnesses who can vouch for his professing of religion are non-Muslims, whose evidence the Syariah Court has no jurisdiction to hear," Singh said.

Earlier, the Selangor Islamic Religious Council had claimed that Mohan had converted to Islam in Penang in 1992. They had also filed an application at the Syariah High Court to certify Mohan's conversion status. (ANI)