KOTA KINABALU, Feb 10 — The school allegedly involved in the controversial conversion of a Form Four student should get to the bottom of the incident and hold the person responsible accountable, the girl’s village chief said.

Michael Frederick, who is the Kaiduan Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) chairman, said the school should not leave the issue to be “decided by the family” as this would be its way of “washing their hands” of the controversy instead of preventing more future incidents.

“The school should not just be able to wash their hands of the situation now that she’s been converted.

“They need to see it through and ensure that the sanctity of family is kept intact after such a potentially devastating incident,” said Michael, who is also Angkatan Gabungan Rakyat Asli Sabah (Agaras) president.

Last Thursday, Malay Mail Online reported that authorities were investigating the “Islamisation” of a Christian student in SMK Kinarut near here, allegedly by a former school hostel warden.

Yesterday, the principal met with officials from the state Education Department, a police representation and the student’s father Jilius Yapoo as well as her sister at the school.

Jilius said the school had explained the situation and had apologised to him for not informing him of the “conversion”, but said it was now between him and his 16-year-old daughter to decide what to do.

According to the school, the teenager had recited the khalimah syahada, the declaration of accepting Islam, which made her Muslim in the eyes of Islam, but not within the Constitution, which states that a minor needs her parent’s consent to change religions.

The police have opened inquiry papers into the report but have enlisted the help of state religious authorities to look into the case.

Michael said the school needs to hold the warden in charge of the hostel accountable for converting the student without her parent’s consent.

“It is definitely unusual for the school to allow a religious conversion without asking for the student’s parents’ permission.

“Usually, they notify parents just to take their students out from school and a letter needs to be produced and signed by parents and acknowledged by the committee,” he said.

He added that his association supports every individual’s right to freedom of religion, but said the authorities should ensure that such conversions are carried out appropriately in the future.

In the case of the 16-year-old, Michael pointed out that minors should first obtain their parents’ consent.

“We cannot have students going to school with one religion and coming out with another. They need to revise this process and prevent this from happening again,” he said.