Digital IDs for Sabah Mualafs
Published on: Saturday, April 06, 2024
By: Hayati Dzulkifli
Dr Mohd Arifin (right) presenting Ramadan contribution to one of 590 Muslim converts while Jumain (second right) looks on.
MEMBAKUT: Sabah Islamic Religious Affairs Department (Jheains) will soon be introducing an identification digital card for Muslim converts (Mualaf).
State Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Mohd Arifin bin Mohd Arif who disclosed this said Jheains new Director Jumain Abdul Ghani mooted the idea of producing such digital card to facilitate the affairs of the Muslim converts in Sabah.
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He said issuance of the digital card within this year would enable the Muslim converts to get such card quickly while converts who may have changed their names could be recorded in the department’s database.
In the past, Dr Mohd Arifin, who is also State Exco Islamic Affairs and Education, said the registration of the Muslim converts was made manually and they had to wait for a certain period to get the conversion cards.
“Also among the advantages of having this digital card for Muslim converts is security and makes it easier for the department to check the status of the converts quickly.
“For example, if there is an accident involving death, having the digital cards will be useful when identifying the converts in Sabah as Jheains can check through its MyKad stated in the card although some may have changed their non-Muslim names,” he said after after presenting Ramadan contributions to 590 Muslim converts during a Ramadan Semarak Programme for Membakut at Sri Wawasan Hall in Kg Pimping, near here, recently.
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Such programme is the 15th being held here every year to have such gathering with the Muslim converts and community leaders while fostering ties and attending religious talks by two well-known Islamic preachers.
Earlier, Dr Mohd Arifin urged the converts to continue to maintain closeness with their families as well as harmony despite different religions.
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“Choosing Islam is not choosing to separate from a non-Muslim family,” he said.
To a question, he said Muis and Jheains would help Muslim converts who are facing accommodation problems after having an issue with their non-Muslim families.
“Apart from giving some allowance to the Muslim converts to learn more about Islam in classes, we would try our best to help provide a place for them to stay.
“Presently, we have a shelter protection home in Likas for them to stay. In other words, they should contact Muis and Jheains when facing problems,” he said.
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