March 12, 2007	Monday	Safar 22, 1428

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Muslim converts in the northern state of Perlis will now be allowed to retain their family names, instead of changing it to “Abdullah” following a state religious edict, reports on Sunday said.

The fatwa, or religious edict, issued by the Perlis Fatwa Council said converts must retain their family or father's name to avoid confusion in their family history or lineage, the News Straits Times reported.

“It's time that we correct society's misconception that converts must assign the bin or binti, which stood for “son of” or “daughter of” to “Abdullah”, said state mufti Mohamad Asri Zainul Abidin.

“From now on, the council has decided that it is haram, or forbidden, for them to do so,” Mohamad Asri said according to the newspaper. Mohamad Asri said changing a convert's family or father's name to “Abdullah” was commonly practised in Malaysia as most thought it was required by Islam.

He said the practice was actually contrary to the teachings of Islam, which stresses fairness, equality and respect for one's parents.

Multicultural Malaysia's almost 27 million population is made up of 60 per cent Muslim Malays, 26 percent ethnic Chinese and 8 per cent ethnic Indians.—AFP