KOTA BARU: The government has asked Illi Najwa Saddique, a Malaysian Muslim who recently married Indian Hockey captain Manpreet Singh Pawar, to come forward and explain their religious status.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs), Ahmad Marzuk Shaary, said the government is very concerned about the matter and Illi Najwa would be called to explain her situation as soon as she returns home from India.

He said so far, the ministry is still waiting for an official decision from the Johor Islamic Religious Department (JAIJ) on Illi Najwa's religious status.