Selangor’s unilateral conversion bill may be tabled after all
SHAH ALAM: The controversial proposed amendments that allows unilateral conversion may still be tabled in the Selangor state legislative assembly, confirmed Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari.
The state chief noted that Selangor, Penang and Sabah have different interpretations on the laws related to conversion of minors.
“So that was among the reasons to standardise it. But that is only one side of the argument,” he said after attending a closed-door dinner with Selangor PKR members and Economic Affairs Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali in Shah Alam last night.
Amirudin noted, however, that there are other arguments against the proposed amendments, including in ongoing legal challenges.
The present Selangor enactment reads hat those below 18 must obtain the consent of the “mother and father” before embracing Islam. The amendment seeks to change this to “mother or father”, similar to the Bahasa Malaysia version of the Federal Constitution.
In a landmark ruling last year the Federal Court said that the constitution cannot be interpreted literally and as such the consent of both parents are needed.
Amirudin also confirmed that the bill was proposed by the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais).
The attempt to push through the bill had previously put the menteri besar at odds with Selangor state assembly speaker Ng Suee Lim.
He also has denied that his administration is on shaky ground over the issue.
