Selangor Umno gives full support for unilateral conversion amendment

Diyana Ibrahim Diyana Ibrahim Updated 4 years ago · Published on 20 Aug 2019 8:16PM · 5 Comments

Selangor Menteri Besar Amiruddin Shari will face a test in November with the tabling of a controversial amendment bill to allow unilateral conversion of children to Islam by one parent, despite a Federal Court ruling otherwise. Selangor Umno supports the amendment, while DAP says Pakatan Harapan will not. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, August 20, 2019.

SELANGOR Umno will give full support to Menteri Besar Amiruddin Shari on an amendment bill for the unilateral conversion of children by one parent to Islam.

State Umno chief Mat Nadzari Ahmad Dahlan expects the bill to be tabled at the state legislative assembly’s next sitting in November.

“We can only hope that the enactment will be tabled at the next assembly and that freedom will be given for our members (to debate and vote on) as we have no problem supporting the menteri besar,” he told a press conference at Selangor Umno headquarters in Shah Alam.

He said there was no reason why the bill should fail because it was constitutional, in contradiction to previous statements by DAP.

“It does not violate the federal constitution,” he said.

The constitution has not been amended and still states that “a parent or guardian” may convert the religion of a minor.

This is despite a landmark Federal Court decision last year in the case of M. Indira Gandhi, which ruled the mother and father’s consent was required for the conversion her children.

The court also ruled the term “a parent or guardian” in Article 12(4) of the federal constitution shall be read in the plural as prescribed in the 11th Schedule.

Amirudin Shari had previously said the Selangor government would table the unilateral conversion amendment bill again with the aim of standardising state laws on the matter.

He said the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (MAIS) had proposed the amendment, so that there would be uniform laws on the conversion of children to Islam.

The said amendment will allow either parent to convert children below 18 years old to Islam, which would buck court precedent.

The proposed amendment bill has met with resistance from the majority of Pakatan Harapan’s assemblymen.

Selangor DAP chairman Gobind Singh Deo said the PH component parties will not support any bill that will permit the unilateral conversion of minors.

Gobind, who is also Communications and Multimedia Minister, said the Federal Court had ruled that the unilateral conversion of children to Islam was not allowed. – August 20, 2019.

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Comments

  • Of course you would support. Wouldnt expect anything else from a bunch of has-been rogues out to plunder and split this nation apart.

    Posted 4 years ago by Francis Anthony · Reply

  • A thief remains as a thief in mentality and action. Can understand why Dr M insisted to destroy UmNo. This is the only way to save those members from continue been toxicated by a bunch of rich , evil and lazy UmNo leaders. They refuse to work and solely dependent on theirs Umno position to gain benefits. A bunch of rubbish to the country.

    Posted 4 years ago by James Wong · Reply

  • The Federal Court has already clarified with finality what the intent of the Federal Constitution is. So what UMNO is attempting to do is to subvert the Federal Constitution.

    Posted 4 years ago by Arul Inthirarajah · Reply

  • UMNO MAY U ROT IN HELL FOR BULLYING THE MINOR SPEECHLESS KIDS WHO CANT DEFEND THEMSELVES. What n which Religion do u Bully Cats belong to. People with NO HUMANITY SHAME ON U UMNO.

    Posted 4 years ago by Mindy Singh · Reply

  • The Constitution has not been amended, but it has been INTERPRETED by the Federal Court. Thus the Federal Court's interpretation stands, not any other interpretation. The Selangor government's proposal is therefore ultra vires the Constitution. The final authority on interpretation of the Constitution is the Federal Court, not Parliament, and not the State Assembly. So the State Assembly might be in contempt of the Federal Court if it does not respect the interpretation of the Federal Court. Any Constitutional experts out there who can clarify?? It amounts to not having a need for the Federal Court to exist!! Just what is the Selangor Menteri Besar trying to prove?? That when it comes to Islam, even the Federal Court's ruling is of no significance??

    Posted 4 years ago by Ravinder Singh · Reply