Minister at the Prime Minister Department Nancy Shukri says Putrajaya has drafted new laws on unilateral conversion of children and is awaiting feedback from state religious departments. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, March 9, 2016.A series of discussions and consultations with the states have already been held, Minister at the Prime Minister Department Nancy Shukri said today, after Putrajaya drafted new laws to address the controversial unilateral religious conversion of children.
She said action has been taken to bring forward the motion to amend the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976 which included talks with Islamic religious bodies nationwide.
“Several states have already given us official replies. My colleagues at the Islamic departments are now actively engaging with the state religious bodies. The process is still on going,” she said in response to question asked by Batu Kawan MP Kasthuriraani Patto in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Kasthuriraani wanted to find out if the government intended to stop unilateral conversion and initiatives taken so far by the attorney-general to amend the Law Reform Act.
She said Putrajaya was dragging its feet on the matter with little progress to show for it.
“YB said it has been seven years. I am also worried and it is my duty to solve this problem. I am a Muslim I also do not want my religion to be misused to achieve other people’s agenda.
"If there is a good suggestion we are ready to discuss. We have taken action,” said Nancy.
She said the government had also completed a draft on the Reform Law and that it was unfair to say that the government was not doing anything.
On whether there should be a committee set up in Parliament to discuss and tackle the issues, Nancy said it would need to wait as the process of consultation was still ongoing.
Last month, Nancy told Bernama that Putrajaya had planned to amend three acts concerning child custody and property rights in case there was a change in religion by the husband or wife.
Nancy said the acts concerned were the Act 164 Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976, Act 505 Administration of Islamic Law (Federal Territories) 1993, and the Act 303 Islamic Family Law (Federal Territories) 1984. – March 9, 2016.
Comments
Please refrain from nicknames or comments of a racist, sexist, personal, vulgar or derogatory nature, or you may risk being blocked from commenting in our website. We encourage commenters to use their real names as their username. As comments are moderated, they may not appear immediately or even on the same day you posted them. We also reserve the right to delete off-topic comments