Suhakam under fire for being quiet on Firdaus Wong’s illegal conversion tactics

A backbencher criticized the National Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) for its silence regarding allegations that preacher Firdaus Wong had provided guidance on handling requests from minors who wished to secretly convert to Islam.

Hassan Karim (PH-Pasir Gudang) informed the Dewan Rakyat that the commission seemed unwilling to address concerns related to racial discrimination and religious freedom.

“Why wasn’t there any response from Suhakam regarding this issue (involving Firdaus)? Suhakam would surely have been aware that religious freedom is the universal right of all Malaysians, whether they are Muslims or non-Muslims,” he said.

Hassan stated that Suhakam should have assumed greater responsibility in advocating for human rights issues. He personally regarded Firdaus’s remarks as deeply concerning from a Muslim perspective.

“His actions caused concern and alarm among non-Muslims in Malaysia,” he said, reported FMT.

An investigation into Firdaus was initiated following the circulation of a video where he purportedly provided instructions to handle requests from minors seeking to convert to Islam discreetly.

The independent preacher also allegedly advised children to pray in secrecy and conceal their conversion from their parents.

According to lawyer Rajesh Nagarajan, Firdaus essentially admitted to converting minors by stating that he had experience dealing with such cases.

Firdaus is being investigated under Section 505(c) of the Penal Code for allegedly making statements to incite hatred.

Section 505(c) of the Penal Code criminalises the act of making statement to incite any class or community of persons to commit any offence against any other class or community of persons.

Petaling Jaya police chief Shahrulnizam Jaafar said that four police reports were filed against the preacher, and statements had been provided by three individuals.