forced conversion?

the orang asli said they were forced to convert to islam but the religious officer denied it. so who’s right? who’s lying?
(you can’t read the news if you are not a subscriber of malaysiakini, but you can go here to read both of the news together)

one of the orang asli recounted how he was tricked into converting to islam by the state islamic and malay customar council (MAIK).

he said he gave his personal details to a man plying herbal roots and his details were used to register him as a muslim. he also claimed that over 60 people get duped the same way he did.

MAIK assistant propagation officer, ahmad nordin denied the allegation and said:
“we never force anyone to convert. we usually enter their area and explain islam to them, hoping to open their minds and hearts,”

and he also brought up that some christian groups, mainly from raub and cameron
highlands in pahang, were also actively involved with the orang aslicommunity.

“since ours is a free country, anyone is free to say or do anything within
the law.” he added.

oh really? but i thought the law said other religion, esp. christianity are not allowed to proselytize their religion. the hush hush words behind these christian groups were usually “we must tread carefully. it is dangerous and risky to propagate our faith to the orang asli.”

see, they have the fear there, you know, like they might end up behind bars or what. why? is it because islam is the official religion and one shouldn’t propagate any other religion except islam? maybe this is not the written rule but sort of an unspoken rule, which the govt. do enforce?