Sabah Christian leaders: Why no action on mass conversion into Islam

Sabah religious authorities have been asked to “nullify without further delay” the mass conversion of natives into Islam that had taken place in the state, which Christian leaders said were performed fraudulently.

President of the Protestant Church in Sabah, Reverend Jensey Mojuin, addressing the monthly ethnic Kadazandusun Christians’ gathering in Pitas this morning to sound their latest mamangkis, said no action had been taken despite police reports lodged on the matter.

"Three months had passed since the 'shameful' conversion of about 64 people, including children, from three villages – namely Kampung Layung Maliau, Dowokon and Sosop.

“Despite lodging police reports, no concrete action has been taken," Mojuin said.
He said the inaction could only mean that the “extremist group” which performed the conversion “are enjoying the support and protection of some powerful people”.

He did not say who the powerful people were but the group reportedly was a Selangor-based Islamic non-governmental organisation known for its extremist religious views.

Mojuin said the mass conversion in Pitas, a majority of whom were followers of his church, was unjust and fraudulent and had threatened the peace and religious harmony enjoyed for so long in Sabah.

Pitas, up one of the “dog ears” of Sabah, is reportedly one of the poorest district in the state.

To get to Kampung Layung Maliau, one of the remotest villages in the district, is a three-hour walk from the suspension bridge across Sungai Penipak.

Villagers here are largely subsistence farmers planting tapioca, vegetables and maize. The village has neither electricity nor running water.

The 33 “converted” villagers there claimed on New Year's Day, they were deceived into converting by the group, saying their presence in the Pitas town mosque where they were asked to go to was only to receive financial assistance.

They claimed they were promised RM800 per head but in the envelope they were given after signing some documents contained only RM100.

They said they were illiterate and no one explained what the form was about.

“This so-called mass conversion is, therefore, illegal,” said Mojuin, adding that it was done with deception.

“These extremists took advantage of those who are illiterate and extremely poor to trick them into thinking that they were bringing welfare aid from the government.

“Some accepted the so-called welfare aid and were asked to sign a document.

“This document is now used as proof that they have agreed to become Muslims,” he said.

Mojuin also slammed the government policy where Sabah Bumiputeras with a “bin” or “binti” in their names were automatically listed as Muslims in their MyKad.

That, he said, was “Putrajaya’s MyKad Islamisation of Bumiputera Christians in Sabah”.

On the use of the word “Allah”, Mojuin said “regardless of what Putrajaya or any earthly courts may say or do”, Bumiputera Christians in Sabah would continue to use the word “Allah” as their forefathers had done so.

“Let us make it very clear about that.

"Further, both the Sabah and Sarawak governments have assured us that we can continue to use the word as this has been used for generations."

According to the online encyclopaedia Wikipedia, a 1960 census showed Muslims only make 37.9 % of the population.

In 2010, the number was 67.4%.

Opposition Bingkor assemblyman Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan in a recent media statement blamed the sharp rise in the number of Muslims to the federal government's “deliberate” and “wrongful” issuance of MyKad to illegal Muslim immigrants for “political purposes”.

To Mojuin, the issuance of the MyKads to these illegal immigrants had made “anak negeri Sabah” (Sabah Bumiputera) not only victims of political Islam but also race-based economic policies that have excluded and dispossessed them of their rights.

He said native lands have been stolen from them and given to non-natives.

“Illegal foreigners with illegal identity cards are now enjoying more rights and privileges than us the anak negeri of this land.”

The mamangkis is an old Kadazandusun war cry used by their ancestors to rally warrior troops for battle.

It has now been adopted as a Christian clarion call for religious revival and freedom of religion.

The spiritual revival campaign started last December with a gathering in Penampang. It has since been held in Ranau and Nabawan.