[NEW UPDATE] Controversial Child Conversion Bill Withdrawn From Parliament
The parliament is in chaos over the tabling of a new bill - the child conversion law allows one parent to convert a child to Islam without the consent of the other has created quite a controversy. If this is passed, will it create social injustice or is it just a formalization of a standard practice?
By Mei Mei Chu — 03 Jul 2013, 06:25 PM — Updated about 11 years ago
Child conversion bill withdrawn from Parliament
The controversial Administration of the Religion of Islam (Federal Territories) Bill 2013 has been officially withdrawn from Parliament for its second reading.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom tabled the motion to withdraw the bill, which allows only one parent to convert children to Islam.
The two other withdrawn bills include the Syariah Court Civil Procedure (Federal Territories) (Amendment) Bill 2013 and Syariah Criminal Procedures (Federal Territories) (Amendment) Bill 2013.
On Friday, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the Bill would be withdrawn until an agreement was reached with all stakeholders.
thestar.com.myDeputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the Cabinet decided to withdraw the Bill from the current Dewan Rakyat meeting following concerns from various quarters, including Barisan Nasional’s (BN) component party members.
themalaysiantimes.com.my
The controversial child conversion law states that the consent of one parent is enough to convert a child's religion
Malaysia's new bill that says the consent of one parent is enough for the religious conversion of a child has drawn opposition from various groups of the country.
ibtimes.co.inThe amendment will made to Section 107(b) of the Administration of Islamic Law (Federal Territories) Act to allow one parent to convert an underaged child to Islam.
yahoo.comBut amendments put forward in parliament this week retain a provision that a minor below 18 can convert to Islam if "his parent or guardian" consents.
The Bill applies to divorces where one of the parents had converted to Islam and wanted the children to be considered as a Muslim.
Former UPKO lawmaker says the bill was previously withdrawn but now it is approved by Cabinet for tabling at Parliament
Former UPKO lawmaker says the bill was previously withdrawn but now it is approved by Cabinet for tabling at Parliament
Image via 123rf.comThe Administration of the Religion of Islam (Federal Territories) Bill 2013 which was tabled in Parliament last Wednesday has shocked former Upko lawmaker, Bernard Dompok.
“A few months ago I asked for the withdrawal of a paper on this Bill from Cabinet discussion as I felt that an earlier cabinet decision on the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976 should instead be implemented."
thestar.com.my“The cabinet paper was withdrawn and I am therefore surprised that it is now in Parliament,” added Dompok.
thestar.com.myMuftis say this is based on Islamic law that is already practiced and cannot be disputed
The government today stood firm on its decision to allow only one parent to decide on the conversion of children to Islam, citing the Federal Constitution and a Federal Court ruling to shore up its case.
"In terms of custody law, young children fall under the care of the mother. But in cases where there are different religions, the child should follow the religion of Muslim parent,” Selangor Mufti Datuk Tamyes Abd Wahid.
“The issue of religion cannot be disputed. These laws should be maintained to ensure the dignity of Islam in the proper position,” he said in the report.
Perak Mufti Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria said the Bill was only formalising a standard practice. “Single-parent consent for the conversion of minors to Islam has always been the practice. Why dispute it now? This is based on Islamic law and cannot be contested.”
The opposition, human rights and religious groups say this creates social injustice and is unconstitutional
The opposition, some UMNO MPs and religious groups are against it because it creates social injustice
Image via 123rf.com"It will be a national disaster if the 13th Parliament starts off with a provision which splits the country down the middle," warned Lim Kit Siang.
"The Cabinet should withdraw this bill to give time for Malaysians to achieve a national consensus on the conversion of minor children to Islam in keeping with the Constitution and to promote family integrity, freedom of religion and national harmony," he said.
The Malaysian Consultative Council Of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) in a statement, objected to some of the provisions, saying it affected the rights of non-Muslims, created social injustice and went against the spirit of the Federal Constitution.
thestar.com.myHuman rights bureau chief Baljit Singh said such a law, could be abused as it was not fair to allow one parent to decide the faith of a child when both parents are responsible for the child's welfare.
yahoo.comPAS MP Khalid Samad acknowledged the public's concern that the clause may be open to "misuse", where conversion of religion is merely done for "expediency" by a parent to keep the children in his or her custody.
“This is not like choosing a meal, but more like buying a car. It has to be discussed first and agreed by both the parents. We cannot force anyone to convert. And if the parents have converted to Islam, they have to expose their children to Islam first,” Dr Abd Rani said.
yahoo.comIn 2009, the government said they would ban the conversion of a child's religion by a single parent
In 2009, the government said existing legislation would be amended so that children's conversion required the consent of both parents.
But cases since, such as that of a Hindu mother in Negri Sembilan who discovered in April her estranged husband had converted their two underage children to Islam after he had done so a year earlier without her knowledge, illustrate the lack of adherence to the ruling.
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