Unilateral conversions: LDP lauds amendment
Published on: Friday, November 25, 2016
Kota Kinabalu: Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) welcomed the tabling of a Bill to amend the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976 that will put an end to unilateral conversions of children as the amended provision requires both parents' consent.Its President Datuk Teo Chee Kang said the Bill will give legal force to the Federal Cabinet's decision in April 2009 that a child will continue to profess the religion practised by his or her parents at the time of the marriage should one of them opt to convert to the Islamic faith."By inserting a clear provision that in the event of conversion of a spouse under a civil marriage, divorce and all related matters are to be adjudicated in the civil courts, certainty in the jurisdictional boundary between civil and Syariah Courts is enhanced.
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"As a result, it will prevent one from avoiding obligations to his spouse under a civil marriage by converting to the Islamic faith," he said in a statement.Teo was commenting on the Bill tabled by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said in Parliament on Nov 21.It was reported that the new clause seeks to provide for the status of the religion of the child if either of the parents converts to Islam.It was also reported that the new clause means when a party to a marriage has converted to Islam, the religion of any child of the marriage "shall remain as the religion of the parties to the marriage prior to the conversion."
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On PAS President Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang's Private Member's Bill, Teo said LDP was firm that it should not be allowed to proceed further in the Parliament. "The extent of sentencing power that Hadi seeks to enhance for the Syariah Court is not justifiable as the Syariah Court jurisdiction is only limited to family and succession laws as provided for in the Federal Constitution.
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"The gravity of the offences within the jurisdiction of the Syariah Court does not warrant enhancement of its punitive power to such extent, unless there is a hidden agenda to bring in Hudud laws from the back door."Religion was a major issue in Sabah and Sarawak when the idea of the Federation of Malaysia was mooted before 1963. Had our forefathers know that this is the direction Malaysia would be heading, Sabah and Sarawak would not have agreed to be part of the Federation," he said.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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