The Kuantan High Court has struck out a lawsuit by 137 Orang Asli from the Bateq Mayah ethnic group to nullify their Islamic status following an alleged unlawful mass conversion 30 years ago.

Civil court judge Zainal Azman Ab Aziz earlier today allowed an application by five of the six defendants, namely the federal government, the Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa), its director and officer, the Pahang Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (MUIP).

The other defendant...