Incentives for marrying and converting orang asli

KELANTAN will offer RM10,000 to each Muslim preacher who marries an orang asli woman and naturally converts her as part of renewed efforts to propagate Islam among the 3,000-odd community in the state.  

State Religious Affairs committee chairman Hassan Mahamood (PAS – Tawang) said the same incentive was applicable if the preacher was a Muslim woman who took an orang asli husband. 

Asked if the preacher may court the orang asli as a second or third wife, Hassan said it depended on the individual. 

The latest figures show that in the past five years, 2,904 of some 3,000 orang asli who reside in Gua Musang and Jeli districts, embraced Islam on their own free will. 

Hassan said the state government was unhappy with the conversion rate of the orang asli, who traditionally did not subscribe to any main religion. 

Besides the monetary incentive, the preachers would also receive free accommodation, a four-wheel-drive vehicle and a fixed monthly allowance of RM1,000. 

On criminal activities and social ills among youths, Hassan said these were due to the influence of the western media. 

“The Federal Government allowed sex-oriented movies, music and magazines to be accessible to the masses. 

“Crime can only be controlled through the Syariah Criminal Procedure Code,” he said.