PUTRAJAYA: A 31-year-old Orang Asli woman failed in her appeal to challenge the legality of her conversion to Islam when she was only two years old.
A three-member Court of Appeal bench in a majority ruling dismissed the woman's appeal on the ground that it had no merit, according to a report by Free Malaysia Today.
The woman had filed an appeal to overturn the Kuantan High Court's decision to dismiss her originating summons on the grounds that matters related to renunciation must be determined by the Syariah Court.
The plaintiff is an Orang Asli from the Jakun tribe who was born out of wedlock on Nov 27, 1993.
On Nov 4, 1995, the woman's mother converted to Islam and was given an Islamic conversion certificate by the Pahang Religious and Malay Customs Council (MUIP).
Her father is a Muslim.
The woman contended that her parents never gave their consent at any time for their daughter to convert to Islam.
However, the woman's status in her MyKad is registered as Islam and was given an Islamic name.
The woman argued that she never embraced Islam and never recited the Syahadah as she was only two-years-old on Nov 14, 1995.
She also contended that she consistently practiced the customs and beliefs of the Jakun tribe.