KUALA LUMPUR: A businessman is challenging the Federal Territories Islamic Department (Jawi) over the unilateral conversion of his two children by his Muslim convert wife.

Lee Chang Yong, 44, has applied for permission for a judicial review to render the conversion of his eight-year-old daughter and four-year-old son null and void.

In his affidavit, he alleged that his children were not aware that his wife, Aleena Abdullah, formerly known as Teng Wai Yee, had brought them to recite the kalimah shahadah (affirmation of faith) on May 11, 2016.

Lee's daughter told him that she and her brother were brought somewhere for their thumbprints to be taken down and to recite some words in Malay which the siblings did not understand.

In his appeal, Lee wants an order that their declaration be nullified and to stop the pendaftar muallaf (registrar of converts) from registering them as Muslims.

He also wants an order to revoke any documents that are in possession of or in the record of the registrar or Education Ministry.

Alternatively, he is seeking a declaration that the certificates of conversion for the two children are null and void.

In matters related to public interest, Lee also wants to direct questions to the Federal Court if the High Courts have jurisdiction to review the actions of the registrar and its agents in exercising their statutory powers under the Administration of the Laws of Islam (Federal Territories) Act 1993.

Lee also wants to ask if a child under the age of 18 years of a civil marriage must comply with the requirements for conversion and capacity to convert into Islam under the same Act (or any similar provisions in Islamic laws throughout the country) before the registrar or its delegates may register the conversion to Islam of that child.

He also wants the Federal Court to determine if both the father and mother (if surviving) of a child from a civil marriage must give their consent before the child's conversion can be certified.

Lee also stated in the affidavit that Aleena had petitioned for divorce before she certified her conversion to Islam on Dec 29, 2015.

The Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) is expected to raise a preliminary objection on Sept 7 before the Court can allow leave for judicial review.

This case is similar to that of kindergarten teacher M. Indira Gandhi, who challenged her three children's conversion to Islam when her husband unilaterally converted them to Islam.

Last month, Indira was granted leave by the Federal Court to challenge her children's conversion by her former husband Riduan Abdullah (formerly known as K Pathmanathan).

The judicial review by Lee was filed on June 14, 2016.