GEORGE TOWN, June 13 — The Penang government today donated RM20,000 to the family of Teoh Cheng Cheng, whose body was taken by state Islamic authorities from the midst of her Taoist funeral this week.
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng presented a cheque for the amount to Teoh's mother, Tan Mah Suan, at his office this morning.
"This contribution is to assist the family in their hardship and also for Teoh's children whom Tan is caring for now," he said.
Lim today expressed gladness that the issue was amicably resolved after the Penang shariah court ruled that Teoh was not Muslim when she died last Saturday.
"I hope that in future, all religious matters should be handled sensitively," he said.
On Monday, Penang Islamic Religious Department (Jaipp) disrupted Teoh's funeral at her home in Macallum Street and seized her body after informing her family that the 38-year-old waitress had converted to Islam and should be buried according to Muslim rites.
The family disputed Jaipp's claim and filed applications both in the Shariah and civil courts to declare that Teoh had at all times been Buddhist, and to claim her body back.
Her body was placed at the Penang Hospital mortuary until the Shariah Court decided yesterday that she was not a Muslim and ordered for her body to be released back to her family.
The family claimed her body hours later and Teoh was finally cremated after a simple Taoist ceremony at the Batu Gantung crematorium yesterday.
