GEORGE TOWN, June 12 — Four days after her funeral was disrupted by the state religious affairs department (Jaipp), Teoh Cheng Cheng was finally laid to rest when she was sent off in a simple Taoist ceremony and cremated.

Teoh’s family claimed her body from the Penang Hospital mortuary at about 4.30pm today, almost two hours after the Penang Shariah Court delivered the verdict that the mother of four was a non-Muslim.

Her body was immediately taken to the Batu Gantung crematorium here where a Taoist priest performed the final funeral rites before the casket slid into the furnace at about 5.15pm.

Teoh’s mother, Tan Mah Suan, 64, cried and called her only daughter’s name repeatedly throughout the ceremony.

Teoh’s four children, three daughters and a son aged between 17 and 10, were also present to pay their final respects.

Teoh’s body was taken away at her funeral on Monday by Jaipp officers who claimed that the 38-year-old had converted to Islam and should be buried the Muslim way.

Her family disputed the allegations.

Tan also filed a civil suit this morning to declare Teoh as a Buddhist and to claim her body back to be cremated according to Buddhist or Taoist rites.

The Penang Islamic affairs council (Maipp) had also filed an application to the Penang Shariah Court for a declaration of Teoh’s religious status and today, the Shariah Court ruled that Teoh was not a Muslim.