KOTA KINABALU, Feb 11 ― A meeting with his daughter who was allegedly converted into Islam by a former school warden without his consent has not placated a Christian father here, who said he will do everything in his power to block her conversion.
The 46-year-old rubber tapper, Jilius Yapoo, said that he felt better after being finally able to talk to his daughter during Monday’s meeting with the school officials, but insisted he will not accept her conversion into Islam while she is still under his care.
“I’m not angry with her, but I can’t accept it. There are things we do as a family, like eating or celebrating birthdays, inheritance and even burial rights. Our family has never had to face anything that could potentially tear us apart like this,” he said.
Jilius said that he will enlist the help of a Sidang Injil Borneo church pastor to provide his second eldest daughter with spiritual counseling in the hopes that she will remain a Christian as the rest of the family including her seven siblings.
“When we spoke, she said she hadn’t completely decided whether or not to leave Christianity and embrace Islam. We agreed we will talk more when she comes home to visit us this week,” he said.
He is also asking for assistance to transfer his daughter and her three younger siblings out from the school.
Jilius said that his daughters have expressed fear that they may come under duress over the incident, including bullying or ridicule from other students, adding that his wife has been sick with worry lately.
Last Thursday, Malay Mail Online reported that authorities were investigating the “Islamisation” of a Christian student in SMK Kinarut near here by a former hostel warden.
On Monday, the school principal met with officials from the state Education Department, a police representative, Jilius, as well the student’s elder sister at the school.
Police have opened an investigation into the report, and have enlisted the help of state religious authorities to look into the case.
The student in question as well as her 17-year-old sister have been asked to give their statements at the Kinarut police station.
“I will be sad if she does decide to convert. She is my little sister, and family. Of course it will affect us a bit. But if that’s what she really wants, I will be happy for her,” said Jilius’s eldest daughter.
Jilius said that he was disappointed that the school had failed to notify him of the conversion when it happened, as he had entrusted his children to their care to be educated and not religiously influenced.
“But at least now they are letting us make this decision as a family,” he said.
The school has said that it only learned of the incident after the police report was lodged.
Christian groups in Sabah have long complained of alleged furtive attempts to convert Bumiputera followers of the faith to Islam.
