Its director, Asri Abdullah, said that once the Islamic status of the two children is confirmed, the department will manage their burial.

Asri said the department received a request from the police to verify the children’s religious status.

“The father informed the police that the conversion was done in Kelantan, but a check with the religious department there found no record. There was also no such record found in Negeri Sembilan.

“Our department relies on the confirmation of the biological parents regarding the children’s religious status. They need to make a police report about it, and this will be used to authorise the burial,” he told Bernama.

Negeri Sembilan police chief Alzafny Ahmad said a report was received from the public at 11.45am on Sept 4 about a car that had fallen into the river with a young boy and girl inside.

He confirmed that the two children, aged six and eight, who were from Shah Alam, Selangor, had drowned after being trapped in the vehicle.

Yesterday, Alzafny also reported that a 46-year-old man, believed to be the children’s father, and his 41-year-old girlfriend have been remanded for seven days to assist in the investigation into the children’s deaths under Section 302 of the Penal Code.

The media also reported that no family members or next of kin were present at the Port Dickson Hospital during the post-mortem procedures yesterday.