GEORGE TOWN: THE Syariah High Court will decide today (June 12) on the religious status of the deceased Teoh Cheng Cheng as a Muslim.
Judge Zaim Md Yudin fixed the date in chambers today, after hearing the testimonies of witnesses from both Cheng Cheng's family, as well as the Penang Islamic Religious Council (MAIPP), following the latter's application in seeking a declaration on whether the deceased was a Muslim at the time of her death.
Counsel Wan Faridulhadi Mohd Yusoff, who appeared for Cheng Cheng's oldest daughter Medelyn, named as a respondent, said apart from testimonies given by witnesses, documents relevant to the matter were also produced in court.
He said proceedings yesterday focused on Cheng Cheng's application to convert to Muslim, whether it was complete and the practices by the deceased when she was alive from the point of the supposed conversion in 1997, until she passed away.
"Based on the evidence given today, as well as the documents produced in court, the court will decide tomorrow on Cheng Cheng's religious status as a Muslim," he told reporters at the close of proceedings yesterday.
When asked on Medelyn's earlier application at the Syariah High Court to challenge her mother's religious status as a Muslim, Wan Faridulhadi said "according to procedure, MAIPP has to start the action, so we follow the court's instructions".
Medelyn had filed the application on Tuesday afternoon, naming the council as the respondent.
Earlier today, Wan Faridulhadi told reporters that Cheng Cheng had not made the proclamation of the Muslim faith (syahadah).
He said the deceased had filed the forms and made the application to convert in 1997, but never received a response from the religious department, and also did not get a religious conversion certificate.
He further stated that the 38-year-old and her live-in boyfriend did not get married.
Cheng Cheng reportedly died at her apartment in Macallum Street on about 3.30am on Saturday, following a quarrel with her boyfriend at their home.
At about 1pm on Monday, just as her coffin was being prepared to be lifted into a hearse, the police arrived to stop the cortege from leaving the apartment compound, citing a “religious issue” as the reason.
About 90 minutes later, officers from the Penang Islamic Religious Affairs Department (JHEAIPP) came to claim the body, producing documents to show the woman had converted to Islam in 1997 and had adopted the Muslim name Nora Teoh Abdullah.
Her coffin was loaded into the department's hearse and taken to the Penang Hospital Mortuary about 4pm.
Pending the court's decision, Cheng Cheng's body is still at the mortuary.
