In a spot after ‘embracing’ Islam as a minor

(The Sun) GEORGE TOWN (Nov 19, 2009) : She was only seven when she was told to take an oath to embrace Islam and renounce her original faith.

Kedah PKR Youth Deputy Chief Gooi Hsiao Leung (left) talking
to Banggarma Subramaniam, 27 ( second left) and her husband
S. Sockalingam, 31 (right), with the present of their children,
Kanagaraj, 8 (center, back) and Hisyanthini, 2 (center, front).
Both Kanagaraj and Hisyanthini are showing their birth
certificates, which does not bear the name of their father's.

Siti Hasnah Vangarama Abdullah, now 27, was in a government welfare home, Rumah Kanak-kanak in Taman Bakti, Kepala Batas, when she and several other children, some of whom were Chinese, were told by Perkim and the Penang Muslim Affairs Council to take the oath and renounce her original Hindu faith.

Born Banggarma Subramaniam, she practised Islam in the welfare home until the age of 15.

"I was more mature and realised what had happened, and started practising Hinduism again," she said in a press conference yesterday to highlight her plight.

Banggarma said ran away from the welfare home three years later, unable to cope with the stress of living in the home.

She married S. Sockalingam, 31, according to Hindu rites, but could not register the marriage as, according to the National Registration Department, she was a Muslim.

She also could not name Sockalingam as father of their two children, Kanagaraj, 8 and Hisyanthini, 2, in their birth certificates due to this.

"When I went back to the home in 2001 to collect my documents I was told that I was still a Muslim," she said.

Banggarma tried to change her name in her MyKad to her original name, but failed.

She and Sockalingam, who are residing in Tanjung Piandang, Perak, approached the relevant authorities to help her to revert to Hinduism, but their efforts were in vain.

They then turned to PKR Kedah's Deputy Youth chief Gooi Hsiao Leung for help.

Gooi, a lawyer, said no minor is capable of giving free consent to renounce his or her own religion and embrace Islam.

"At the age of seven, she would not have understood nor appreciated the meaning of the words in the oath. She could hardly even write and spell her own name," he told the press yesterday.

Gooi said the welfare home should have left Banggarma's original religion alone until she was old enough to decide for herself.

He said he would refer her case to the relevant authorities, and if necessary, take the issue to court.

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Comments (17) Add Comment

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written by born2reign, November 22, 2009 18:07:14

Picadilly,
Whether Christian or Buddhist homes, these are NGOs who do work because they do God's will to serve the underpriviledge. A Christian can choose to reject Christianity at age 30 if that is his choice, of course this is not like a golf club membership. However no Christian body ever rejects a child if the father is a non-Christian, I can assure you. Same goes for other religion other than Malaysian Islam. Even in Indonesia the people have free will to convert out of Islam.

Islam in Malaysia is a political tool, also to seize properties and dead bodies (whatever for I cannot imagine).

Malaysian Islam is a godless religion, an institutionalised man-made religion set by outward deeds but void of substance, void of love of God, and his people.

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written by born2reign, November 22, 2009 17:58:07

I feel sorry for her children. The birth certificates should just state their biological father and leave religion out of it. If your father is an Indian, or Caucasian, what's the point of using religion to create a fatherless generation?

Islam is used by a group of power hungry people to oppress. Do you think the discouraging of using English in workplaces and schools is to promote BM? No it is to ensure others do not discover of other religions for merciful than Islam, nothing to do with patriotism.

Let's ask the great Hindu PM Najib Razak, how he will deal with this situation, of a practising Hindu and a bumiputera (Muslim Malay). Talk about lost of identity.

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written by jaz, November 21, 2009 10:36:27

Rock,

I'm no Islam basher. I just speak of the truth. And I do perceived that a person should have the freedom to embrace whatever religion they preferred. Religion is not about which God you worship, it's not about going to church, it's not about making donations...Religion is suppose to serve as a guide, to help someone live their lives with conscience, compassion. To give hope and inspire faith when one is down. To teach a person to have toleration and love for their neighbors. When a religion incite hatred with others. When a person is forced into converting. When they have no faith in the religion. Then the whole point about embracing your religion is off.

Religion is a matter of choice. It's purpose is not to generate as many followers as possible, it is not a way to ensure you will go to heaven when you die. It's not about how many times you go to mekkah. Rethink your perceptions about religion. At least think about it. Even if you disagree.

Ah, who will want to listen to a God-less dog like me speaking about religion. I chose to forgo religion because I'm no longer convinced that there is any point of embracing Christianity. I'm no longer assured that these are the right reason for doing so.

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written by jaz, November 21, 2009 10:15:11

talk to stop,

I like your quote: "If you love something set it free. If it comes back to you it is for you to keep. If it doesn't it never was. "

Like a little birdie you keep as a pet, but you're so afraid that it would fly away and leave you one day, so you keep it in the cage or a tight leash. Surely the birdie would feel smothered. When it does gets away, do you think it would risk coming back?

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written by Proarte, November 20, 2009 19:36:35

Rock said:

"Look at the Islam bashers like proart, zym zym, jaz etc, their comment are filled with nothing except hatred in Islam."

Rock is probably one of those guys who like the Minister Puad feels communicating in English is 'weird'.

My comment was:

Is Islam such a pathetic religion that new converts need to be underaged , mentally unsound or comatose?

Rock, if you understand English you would realise that I was questioning the modus operandi of the powers that be who to my mind, bastardise Islam and give it stinking name in Malaysia.

Islam by definition is the submission to the will of Allah. Is the Islam practised in Malaysia submitting to the will of Allah?

Our institutions which are predominantly Muslim Malay run are rock bottom in terms of governance and morality. Yet the Malays are forever harping on about Islam Islam Islam Islam. The fact is most Malays are not practising Islam ( submission to the will of Allah) which would explain the rotten state of public morality in Malaysia at every level of society. Islam in Malaysia is moulded by UMNO to suit their own political aims. It is a bastardised Islam which is EVIL beyond measure.

So Rock, don't talk bullshit about Islam or dare accuse me of insulting Islam.

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written by talk2stop, November 20, 2009 19:21:19

I hope the muslims in Malaysia not making a mockery out of Islam. If she does not have the heart it is of no point to have the soul.
If you love something set it free. If it comes back to you it is for you to keep. If it doesn't it never was.
Set this muslim lady free. Muslims must show how compassionate Islam is. She will soon realise what Islam is all about and return back to Islam. May Allah help her to find what she is looking for.

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written by a guest, November 20, 2009 16:00:15

I am waiting for The Defender of ISlam, The great Zulkifli Nordin of PKR's comment on this.Humanity said help others whom need it BUT some religion said, only help if they are your brothers or sisters of same religion.If they are not, make them one.I call that pimping but some said their heart is opened..........

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written by Rock, November 20, 2009 10:50:39

The issue is clear and it's men in laws will handle it. But the comments posted in here are so unwarranted and prejudicial. Look at the Islam bashers like proart, zym zym, jaz etc, their comment are filled with nothing except hatred in Islam. Super Admin, this is what I called abuse and misled freedom of speeches. We Muslims in here are of the same spirit, would not condone injustice in whatever forms but at the same we don't not accept such uncalled remarks and comments. Don't let us lose our supports to MT.

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written by temenggong, November 20, 2009 10:30:36

Conversion of children in orphanages has been on going for a long time now both in the govt or christian homes. This is really taking advantage of the disadvantaged, robbing from the blind - a sign of moral decrepitude! There you have it, unambiguously clear for all to see. Such is the worth of religions.

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written by jaz, November 20, 2009 10:09:37

Pathetic religion, that's what it is. A person has the rights to chose whatever religion he/she preferred to embrace. Only Muslim was deprive of such rights. And those who are born into it. Or being converted with or without consent. Pathetic.

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written by mikewang, November 20, 2009 09:47:19

Conversion at a young age is not a problem if you allow the person to change his/her mind at a later or more matured age ie. if there is really a freedom of choice to a religious belief.

What is happening in Malaysia is that conversion to Islam is a one way process.
That is where all the problems rest.

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written by advocatusdiaboli, November 20, 2009 02:03:23

So, this is what the Government Welfare Homes do. Their job is to convert as many non muslim children as they can. When you cannot respect the religion and the rights of a non muslim you do not deserve to be called a human. You bastards use the taxpayers money which by large comes from the non muslims and do this kind of nonsense! Bloody bastards! This is why your religion gets such a bad name all over the world. Forced conversions of minors. Helpless minors at that. Is your religion so pathetic that you have to convert all and sundry? Apologise to Banggarama and let her children and husband lead a normal life. Prosecute the Government Orphanage handlers who perpetrated this atrocity on helpless minors. If you want other to respect you then you better learn to respect the rights of others first. Bastards!

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written by jokersland, November 20, 2009 01:46:32

Why there are always a lot of arguing when concerning Islam? Is the authority so unsecure with their religion? What's the point when you force a person to embrace the religion that they are not practicing it. Let the person to choose the faith they want, It's really become a river of no return.
Really Really A Truly A Jokers Land

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written by picadilly, November 20, 2009 01:35:42

what about christian homes? are they making sure that young children are not converted until they reach consent age????? some are overzealous in converting immediately when the children join.

Serve for Compassion, Not Compulsion!

-6

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written by yui89, November 20, 2009 01:14:51

it is not the religion that is pathetic.the people who holds the power is the idiot.i think islam in malaysia or maybe mostly around the world is like christianity during those dark ages,controlled by the priests.
anyone who opposes the church were severely dealt with.JAIS people is like UMNO people.having absolute power on what they hold.it's the only thing that makes them feel important in society.

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written by Zym Zym, November 20, 2009 00:47:45

A recent survey found that at least 5 % of muslims say jihad is justified. 5 % of 1.5 billion muslims is 75 million ! We have 75,000,000 living time bombs on this planet.