However, the dispute is far from over as Ngiam Tee Kong, 52, has indicated that he will sue MAIWP for negligence.

High Court (Appeals and Special Powers Division) Judge Lau Bee Lan granted Ngiam rights over the remains of his wife, who was alleged to have converted to Islam, after MAIWP informed the court that it was giving up all rights on the 53-year-old Wong's remains.

Lau Bee Lan made the decision in chambers.

The court was scheduled to hear an application for temporary injunction by Ngiam to prevent MAIWP from claiming the remains of his wife who died last Dec 30.

Lawyer Karpal Singh, who represented Ngiam, told reporters outside the court that MAIWP had given him a letter on Jan 16 stating that Wong's conversion to Islam was not in accordance with the Syariah Law and Section 85 of the Administration of Islamic Law (Federal Territories) Act 1993.

He said Ngiam would claim Wong's remains from the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Hospital (HUKM) today.

"Ngiam will file a civil suit against MAIWP for negligence," he added.

Lawyer Zulkifli Che Yong, who represented MAIWP, said it was MAIWP's responsibility to probe Wong's religious status following claims that she had converted to Islam.

Zulkifli said MAIWP's decision to release Wong's remains was made after taking into account the views of the Mufti and testimony from a witness, traditional healer Siti Aishah Ismail, who used to treat Wong.

In his application filed on Jan 2, Ngiam claimed Wong died and her body was still in the HUKM mortuary.

Ngiam said they were married in 1979 at the Civil Registration Office in Petaling Jaya and before her death, his wife was practising Christianity.