KUALA LUMPUR: The recent act of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim openly converting a Hindu youth to Islam was done at the request of Klang district Malaysian Islamic Welfare Organisation (Perkim) chairman Hushim Salleh.
In a series of videos posted by a user on X, Hushim said what prime minister did was unplanned, and it occured after he performed Friday prayers at a mosque after visiting the next-of-kin of the Elmina plane crash victims at Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital in Klang.
He said it was there that he asked Anwar if the latter to lead the conversion of the youth.
"The ceremony should have taken place at the Perkim office, not at the mosque. But on that day, Anwar went to visit the next-of-kin of victims of the plane crash; and at the same time, he performed Friday prayers at the mosque opposite the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital.
"So, the prime minister converted him at my request as the Klang district Perkim chairman.
"It was spontaneous. It was due to the noble heart of a man named Anwar Ibrahim, who when he had finished his prayers, he told the officer that he wanted to go back because he had a programme at 3pm.
"But as the chairman of Klang Perkim, I had asked him to lead the syahadah for Muhammad Anuar," said Hushim, adding that Anwar obliged his request.
The act sparked criticism among non-Muslims, with former Penang deputy chief minister Prof P. Ramasamy saying such an act showed that Anwar has no respect or gratitude towards the Indian community who sacrificed a lot for the welfare of the country.
Malaysian Advancement Party president P. Waytha Moorthy also said Anwar's conversion 'ritual' caused uneasiness amongst non-Muslims.
However, Anwar's act was defended and supported by former Umno Youth chief Khairy
Jamaluddin.
Khairy, in his 'Keluar Sekejap' podcast on Monday said there are those who believe that as prime minister, it is not Anwar's duty to get involved in religious affairs.
"Some even claimed the move is an effort by the government to regain the support of the people after the end of the state elections.
"I want to defend the prime minister in this matter.
"Just because he's a prime minister, it doesn't make a person stop being a Muslim," he said in the podcast.