GOMBAK: Nine years ago an eleven year-old Orang Asli girl decided that she wanted to convert to Islam and her decision was accepted with an open heart and mind by her parents who still hold firm to the beliefs of their ancestors.
Roselita Ludin, 20, is the Orang Asli woman who chose to become a Muslim together with her brother in 2014 while they were living with their late grandmother who had embraced Islam much earlier. After the passing of their grandmother they now live with their parents in their grandmother's house.
Roselita said the decision to embrace Islam was made on her own free will without any persuasion or insistence from anyone, and she admitted that she is very happy that her mother respects her decision and has allowed her to lead her own life and make her own choices.
"Before I became a Muslim, I already began wearing a 'tudung' (headscarf) and I used to follow my late grandmother to the nearby Surau for prayers.
"I saw the beauty of Islam through my late grandmother who lived a happy and peaceful life and we recited the Syahadah together with the family's blessing and approval.
"I feel that ever since I became a Muslim the course of my life has been better. I feel grateful and blessed with what I have, and I count my blessings from The Almighty Allah SWT," said Roselita, who lost her beloved grandmother two years ago.
According to her, after her grandmother passed away, her parents and three siblings moved into her late grandmother's house to accompany her and her brother and they lived a harmonious life together despite having different beliefs.
"Life has been good and we respect and love one another. The family is very respectful as they do not bring nor eat non halal food and if they want to eat non-halal then they have it outside.
"To be honest, the joy of celebrating Ramadan and Aidilfitri is not felt as much ever since my grandmother passed away, but my dear mother always reminds me to perform my prayers and she will reprimand me if I am late in doing so or if I forgot.
"Even though we are of different faiths, my mother is aware of the plight of the Palestinians and she feels sad about what is going on over there in Gaza," she said.
Mother Rohaida Alang Bayan, 44, admitted that she has accepted the decision made by her two children with an open heart because she is happy for her children if they are happy with their lives and the choices that they have made.
Rohaida said that even though she does not know much about Islam, she does know that her daughter cannot eat nor consume non halal food.
"I am very careful when it comes to the source of the food that we eat because I make sure that all the food is halal, as we stay in the same house, under the same roof.
"When we first started living together, it was tough on the two children who had to put up with being hungry and thirsty during the month of Ramadan but when it was explained, then only they understood.
"As a mother, it's not just the children who respect us as parents but we respect the beliefs and choices of our children so that we can live in peace and harmony together.
"I have chosen to support them and therefore I want them to be good muslims," she said.