Gov’t responsible to resolve conversion issues

S Pathmawathy (Malaysiakini)

The government is the only party that can act to resolve outstanding matters of conversion and religion, said the Bar Council yesterday.
In addition, Bar Council president Ragunath Kesavan (right) told Malaysiakini that only a strong display of political will could bring about any progress to the stalemated issue.

He said this as the long-drawn six-year case between S Shamala and Dr M Jeyagandesh over the unilateral conversion to Islam by one parent, again took centre stage last week.

“It’s the government’s duty to approach the Conference of Rulers. Although a Federal Court judgement would have set a better precedent, since the courts have abdicated their role, it’s all back to the government,” said Ragunath.

A question in Parliament over the unresolved conversion issues had prompted Minister in Prime Minister Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz to suggest last week that non-Muslim groups should seek the Conference of Rulers to discuss the long-standing matter of conversion law reforms, that the government had withdrawn at the eleventh hour before it was tabled for a first reading as the rulers have yet indicate their approval.

Ragunath however said that passing the responsibility to non-Muslim groups was not viable, as it was the government who had drawn up the proposed amendments and the former have not been briefed on the matter.

“We don’t know what is in the contents of the draft that was given (to the rulers on the law reforms).

"Secondly, we don’t know which content the rulers are unhappy with,” said Ragunath.
Last year, the government attempted to table amendments to the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976, Administration of Islamic Law (Federal Territories) Act 1993 and Islamic Family Law (Federal Territories) Act 1984.

Among the key changes proposed were those concerning the dissolution of marriage, right to custody of children, maintenance of children and wife and division of matrimonial assets, so that laws under the Syariah system will be in tandem with those provided under civil laws.
Prior to the proposed amendments the cabinet issued a directive last April to stop parents from secretly converting their children, in an attempt to calm strained race relations in the country.

Every PM’s empty promise
Similarly, a veteran community leader also voiced that being unaware of the what is provided in amendments hampers their efforts to resolve impending issues related to conversion laws.
“We have spoken to every relevant authority, the inter-religious council, the Sultans in the states and the government.

“Our views are already with them. Over the last ten years we have approached everyone,” said A Vaithilingam (left), the former president of the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST).

He said that every prime minister of the country from Mahathir Mohamad, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Najib Abdul Razak had repeatedly assured that the matter was close to resolution.
“But we are still waiting,” said Vaithilingam.