7/15/2025 Malaysia (International Christian Concern) — In a significant ruling, Malaysia’s High Court has declared a TikTok video by preacher Firdaus Wong Wai Hung that encourages non-Muslim minors to convert to Islam as unconstitutional and unlawful.  

The decision reinforces parental rights under Malaysia’s Federal Constitution and has sparked renewed discussions on religious freedom, parental authority, and the role of faith in public spaces. 

Justice Amarjeet Singh, presiding at the Kuala Lumpur High Court, ordered Firdaus to remove the controversial video from all social media platforms and issued a permanent injunction prohibiting similar content in the future. Firdaus was also ordered to pay 10,000 MYR (about $2,350) in legal costs to the eight non-Muslim parents who filed the lawsuit. 

The case originated from a June 2024 TikTok video in which Firdaus advised a social media influencer on how to handle non-Muslim minors interested in converting to Islam without their parents’ knowledge. The preacher reportedly suggested keeping such conversions secret and unregistered, prompting widespread outrage among non-Muslim parents.

The video’s content raised alarm over the breach of parental trust and constitutional protections. The parents, represented by lead counsel M Visvanathan, argued that Firdaus’ actions violated Article 12(4) of the Federal Constitution, which grants parents or guardians the authority to decide the religion of minors under 18. 

Visvanathan emphasized that the video undermined parental rights and set a dangerous precedent. He invoked the High Court’s authority under Section 25 and the Second Schedule of the Courts of Judicature Act 1964 to uphold constitutional liberties. The court agreed, ruling that Firdaus’ actions were unconstitutional and harmful to the rights of parents. 

This landmark case is one of the first to address digital proselytization and underage conversion in Malaysia’s constitutional framework. It underscores the judiciary’s role in protecting parental authority and highlights ongoing debates about religious freedom and the influence of religion in public institutions. 

The ruling sends a clear message that Malaysia’s Constitution safeguards parental rights regarding a child’s faith, and digital platforms cannot be used to circumvent these protections. 

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