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'Prevent child conversion cases from tarnishing Islam'
Gerakan president Datuk Mah Siew Keong wants a mechanism to be put in place to protect the image of Islam as a religion of compassion from being tarnished by child conversions.
He said child conversion problems had also brought distress to the children, family members and caused societal strain.
“We take note that most cases of conversion to Islam went on without problems, except for a few cases in which the parents were irresponsible and used conversion to escape from their obligations after marital disputes arose.
“Hence, we reiterate our full support for the decision by the Cabinet committee in April 2009 to prohibit unilateral conversion of an underage child by only one parent and priority be given to the original religion of the parents at the point of marriage.
“This is in accordance with the Federal Constitution which requires consent from both parents,” said Mah at a press conference today.
The committee was set up after kindergarten teacher M. Indira Gandhi reported that her children were converted to Islam without her knowledge by her husband when he converted to Islam.
Mah suggested a special bipartisan committee be set up to seek reconciliation and consensus, and handle cases of conversion and custody by amending laws, if necessary.
“The country is a fully functional secular state with constitutional monarchy, with Islam as the official religion, as stated by our first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman.
“But views on Malaysia’s polity status is divergent and ambiguous, given its Constitution and diverse make-up, especially when taken into account the special position of Islam by virtue of Article 11(4) and 12(2) of the Federal Constitution.”
His comments came in the wake of a recent statement by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom in Parliament that the Federal Constitution allowed the religion of a child under 18 to be decided by his or her mother or father.
Jamil Khir had said the government did not plan to amend the provision under Article 12(4) of the Federal Constitution.
He had also previously declared that Malaysia is not a secular state.