Controversial Bill on conversion of minors withdrawn

UPDATED @ 08:04:51 PM 05-07-2013

BY JENNIFER GOMEZ AND LEE SHI-IAN
JULY 05, 2013

The Cabinet has decided to withdraw the proposal allowing for the conversion of minors to Islam by a single parent.

In a statement today, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the cabinet made the decision to withdraw the proposed Administration of the Religion of Islam (Federal Territories) Bill 2013, to ensure that any religious decision made is fair to all, the New Straits Times reported.

“We also want to give time to the government and all parties to review the bill holistically and will only re-table the bill once we achieve a consensus,” he said.

While welcoming the withdrawal of the controversial unilateral conversion Bill, some quarters hope that the government would not attempt to introduce another Bill with the same clauses.

Malaysian Consultative Council on Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) deputy president Jagir Singh said it was only right to withdraw the Administration of Religion of Islam (Federal Territories) Bill 2013 so that it did not affect the unity of the country.

He, however, hopes that the offending clauses will not resurface in another Bill.

"The efforts of all the stakeholders have not been in vain as the Cabinet has taken all the feedback into consideration in withdrawing the proposal allowing for the conversion of minors to Islam by a single parent," said Jagir who is also the Malaysian Gurdwaras Council president.

In a statement earlier today, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the Cabinet had decided to withdraw the proposed Bill which was tabled for first reading in parliament last week, to ensure that any religious decision made was fair to all.

Muhyiddin said they wanted to give the government and all stakeholders more time to review the bill holistically. It will be retabled once a consensus has been reached.

Catholic Research Centre director Fr. Clarence Devadass said they hoped that the process of consultation could begin now with the involvement of all relevant parties.

"We are very glad that the government has heard the voice of the people," he said.

Former president of the Kuala Lumpur Catholic Lawyers Society Francis Pereira said the Bill had clearly not promoted national unity in any way.

"We are relieved that the government has decided to withdraw the bill as it had caused anxiety among non-Muslims in Malaysia."

MIC president Datuk G. Palanivel expressed his satisfaction at the Cabinet's decision.

He said the Cabinet had deliberated long and hard before deciding to withdraw it.

"It was a fair move taking into consideration the sensitivities of various stakeholders and groups. MIC still stands by its statement that the consent of both parents are needed for the conversion of children to Islam," Palanivel added. - July 5, 2013

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/controversial-bill-on-conversion-of-minors-withdrawn/

Not an act of God, but the folly of zealots - S.Ramakrishnan

JULY 04, 2013

The freedom to practice one's religion is a fundamental liberty enshrined in the Malaysian Constitution. But hardly two months after the 13th general election UMNO is tabling the highly controversial conversion bill despite opposition and reservation from within BN component members. 

The image that the country is trying hard to push, that Malaysia is truly Asia, with a plural and diverse population, is just the diametric opposite of the increased radicalization of UMNO. 

This is truly worrying and the future has a dark horizon looming. 

Umno has once again shown its true colours: that they care two hoots about non-Malays and non-Muslims and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib’s Razak's National Reconciliation effort.

Amending a legislation to legalize the conversion of a minor who has neither free will nor knowledge about the religion he/she has been converted to tantamount to bullying and forcing the issue down the throats of minorities. Under the new legislation, a parent or guardian can convert a minor. 

Allowing even guardians to convert a child is a flagrant abuse of power and is against the free choice option of children. 

Logically, all conversion should be after 18 years old where the person knows and understand what he is going into.

The tabling of the Administration of the Religion of Islam (Federal Territories) Bill 2013 in Parliament last week, which allows only one parent's consent, or that of the guardian, to convert a minor to Islam has been done with no consideration for the feelings and wishes of minorities. 

The consent of both the parents is a must and no two ways about it. 

This is what the cabinet in 2009 decided and why the change now?

Even the Grand Mufti of Egypt Ali Gomaa, one of the most respected Islamic scholars in the world today, wrote under the sub-heading "Freedom of religion in Islam", "The essential question before us is can a person who is Muslim choose a religion other than Islam? The answer is yes, they can, because the Qur'an says, 'Unto you your religion, and unto me my religion,' [Qur'an, 109:6], and, "Whosoever will, let him believe, and whosoever will, let him disbelieve,' [Qur'an, 18:29], and, 'There is no compulsion in religion. 

The right direction is distinct from error' [Qur'an, 2:256]."  But the UMNO leaders with the holier than thou attitude, may not agree with grand mufti of Egypt.

By persisting to table this sensitive and distasteful bill in parliament, UMNO is trying to whip up Malay Muslim chauvinism to instill fear and reprisal on non-Malays for voting Pakatan Rakyat in GE13. 

With large number of young Malays and urban voters supporting Pakatan Rakyat, such tactics by UMNO will only bring their own downfall sooner.

UMNO and their supporters instead of countering fundamentalism are themselves becoming more radicalized. 

The largest and dominant political party is being increasingly insensitive to minorities which does not augur well for the future of Malaysia remaining a land of plural and diverse tolerance or even being truly Asia. 

Malaysians are now turning towards Pakatan Rakyat leaders to bring about the inclusiveness and provide the constitutional guarantees to all citizens. 

Do unto others what you want others do to you.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/sideviews/article/not-an-act-of-god-but-the-folly-of-zealots-s.ramakrishnan/

Hasty laws, nasty consequences - Child Conversion Bill

JULY 02, 2013

Elections can come and go but some things will never change: for one, the deeply flawed and arbitrary manner in which laws are cobbled together in Malaysia.

Take the controversial Section 103 of the Administration of Islamic Law (Federal Territories) Bill. Listening to Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin defend the Bill in the Parliament lobby yesterday was a cringe-worthy experience.

He said that the Cabinet was aware of the objections raised by Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties and non-government organisations and would take it into account in discussions to follow. The Deputy Prime Minister assured all that the Cabinet would be just.

This sounds like a perfect case of putting the cart before the horse. This is how the process of legislation should be done- first a period of consultation and feedback; drawing up a draft of the Bill and circulating it to relevant parties for more feedback and only when there is a consensus of sorts should it be tabled in Parliament.

Muhyiddin and his friends in Cabinet cannot claim to be blind-sided by the furore this amendment has caused.

Upko leader and former Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Bernard Dompok said that he voiced his objections early on the Bill and was surprised that it had made it to Parliament.

Muhyiddin denied that the government was going back on its word by allowing the minor based on the consent of just one parent. This assurance was offered in 2009 by the then de facto Law Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz in the wake of a controversy of body snatching case and the conversion of children by a father who embraced Islam..

The DPM said that the amendment had to be done in line with a recent court case.

Puzzling reasoning when you consider the fact that Parliament is the highest decision-making body in the land. Not the courts.

Despite any court decision, Parliament  can choose to make law based on public or national interest. That is a parliamentary democracy.

Hurrying through ill-advised legislation is bad but taking cover behind a court decision for ill-advised legislation is shocking.

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/sideviews/article/hasty-laws-nasty-consequences-the-malaysian-insider/