The New Straits Times
"In most cases, it is the family members of converts who are experiencing legal consequences rather than the converts themselves."
He added that the regulations seemed to favour the convert in that the convert seemed to have the power to direct his children to be converted to Islam without the consent of his non-Muslim family members or spouse.
"This can be seen in the numerous news reports on several cases."
The council was responding to a New Straits Times front-page report on Friday, over the government's proposal to review the regulations pertaining to the registration of Muslim converts.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom had said that the government was in the process of reviewing the regulations so that there would be no legal or religious repercussions over the status of converts.
He had said that, for the time being, the Islamic Development Department Malaysia (Jakim) and other state religious departments would continue to use existing laws as it would take some time before any new regulation could be implemented.
Subsequently, the then Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Dr Abdullah Md Zin, had said that upon conversion, Jakim and the National Registration Department would automatically document the particulars of the person so that the information would be made available to interested parties.
The council also urged the authorities to initiate legislation for a conversion bill, which would address the vital issues related to Muslim converts as it adversely affects their non-Muslim family members.
Philips said roundtable discussions should be held on the matter to avoid a convert's family from being victimised, especially when it concerned wealth distribution and inheritance.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Sikhism and Taoism wants the authorities to come up with fairer regulations with regard to the family members of Muslim converts.
In a statement yesterday, its president, Reverend Dr Thomas Philips, said the move by the government to review regulations on the registration of Muslim converts would make no difference to the convert's family members.
"The fact remains that if the family members of the convert were given no reason whatsoever to suspect that the person had changed religion, why would they check that person's religious status.
In a statement yesterday, its president, Reverend Dr Thomas Philips, said the move by the government to review regulations on the registration of Muslim converts would make no difference to the convert's family members.
"The fact remains that if the family members of the convert were given no reason whatsoever to suspect that the person had changed religion, why would they check that person's religious status.
"In most cases, it is the family members of converts who are experiencing legal consequences rather than the converts themselves."
He added that the regulations seemed to favour the convert in that the convert seemed to have the power to direct his children to be converted to Islam without the consent of his non-Muslim family members or spouse.
"This can be seen in the numerous news reports on several cases."
The council was responding to a New Straits Times front-page report on Friday, over the government's proposal to review the regulations pertaining to the registration of Muslim converts.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom had said that the government was in the process of reviewing the regulations so that there would be no legal or religious repercussions over the status of converts.
He had said that, for the time being, the Islamic Development Department Malaysia (Jakim) and other state religious departments would continue to use existing laws as it would take some time before any new regulation could be implemented.
Subsequently, the then Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Dr Abdullah Md Zin, had said that upon conversion, Jakim and the National Registration Department would automatically document the particulars of the person so that the information would be made available to interested parties.
The council also urged the authorities to initiate legislation for a conversion bill, which would address the vital issues related to Muslim converts as it adversely affects their non-Muslim family members.
Philips said roundtable discussions should be held on the matter to avoid a convert's family from being victimised, especially when it concerned wealth distribution and inheritance.
No comments:
Post a Comment