A group of Orang Asli have turned to the Court of Appeal to quash their Islamic status which they claimed was imposed on them through an unlawful mass conversion 30 years ago.

The 137 plaintiffs from the Bateq Mayah ethnic group are appealing against the Kuantan High Court ruling on Oct 3 which allowed applications by the Pahang Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (Muip) and four others to strike out the lawsuit.

When contacted by Malaysiakini, the Orang Asli’s former counsel Fahri Azzat