The Penang High Court today denied homemaker S Banggarma's application for a court order that would nullify her conversion to Islam when she was seven.

NONE Judicial Commissioner Yaacob Haji Sam in his oral judgement found that Banggarma ( right ) is a Muslim since her parents converted to Islam in 1983 in Pahang, together with their children.

He said the court supported the defendants' argument that the matter should be heard in the Syariah Court as the civil court has no jurisdiction over a case involving conversion to Islam.

The defendants - former premier and Perkim chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Perkim official Raimi Abdullah and the State Islamic Council - were represented by Matthias Chang, Zubaidah Tun Muda and Abu Bakar Mohamad Sidik respectively, while Banggarma is represented by lawyer Gooi Hsiao Leung.

Speaking to reporters after the 40 minute judgment, Banggarma said she was very disappointed with the court decision but will fight on to prove her rights as an Indian and a Hindu.

The homemaker, who hails from Perak, questioned the rationale of her case being heard in a Syariah Court when she is not a Muslim.

"I will not admit that I am a Muslim, because I am not. I was born an Indian, a Hindu and I remain so until I die. They have no rights over me," she said, visibly disappointed with the outcome of her case today.

"I am not sad but I feel I must continue to fight because I have been pressured since I was a child when I am not the one who is in the wrong," she added.

"My name is not Siti Hasnah, it is not me and no one can force me to be Siti Hasnah," she stressed.

‘Converted unwittingly'

Banggarma, whose Muslim name is Siti Hasnah Vangarama Abdullah, lives in Tanjung Piandang, with her fisherman husband S Sockalingam and their two children - Kanagaraj, eight, and Hisyanthini, two.

She has claimed that she was converted unwittingly on Dec 28, 1989 by the Penang Welfare Department when she was living in a welfare home.

Her application to nullify her conversion last December was based on Article 12(4) of the federal constitution and Section 80 of the Penang Administration of Islamic Affairs Enactment 1993.

The constitution prohibits the conversion of minors to any religion without the consent of a parent or guardian.

NONE The Penang Islamic statute stipulates that anyone below the age of 18 shall not be converted to Islam without the consent of his or her parents.

However, Welfare Department director-general Meme Zainal Rashid has claimed that Banggarma was converted to Islam in 1983 by her father and not by state religious authorities as alleged.

"But I am no longer a child of seven, I am an adult now, and I can think now for myself," said Banggarma.

"Is this 1Malaysia, that I have no right to fight for myself? Why must I be forced to accept Islam? I have my own life," she added.

Banggarma said she had been criticised since young for living, speaking, eating and dressing like an Indian and a Hindu.

She has also been questioned with brutal honesty by her village folk as to why she converted to Islam when she was not serious about the religion.

"I have been accused of playing around with the Muslim religion. But no one knows what my problem is, that I am not a Muslim," she said.

"I feel I am in a dilemma, directionless, yet I will not give up," she added.

Meanwhile, Gooi said that while he, too, was very disappointed with the court's decision, he will accept it for now.

"We are seriously considering an appeal; the matter is not over yet," he added.