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Saturday, 10 September 2011

Fatwa needed on 'Abdullah' rule change

The New Straits Times
By Baharom Bakar

KUALA BERANG: The state government's proposal for Muslim children born less than six months after their parents' marriage to carry their fathers' name may come into effect much sooner as no amendment to the National Registration Act 1960 is needed.

A state National Registration Department (NRD) spokesperson said there was no need to amend Section 13 of the act as this could be implemented if the National Fatwa Council were to give its green light.

Hulu Terengganu member of parliament Mohd Nor Othman said he supported the state government initiative and had contacted the NRD and the Home Ministry about the possibility of implementing it.

Information gathered showed that the council approval was needed before it could be implemented.

"The approval is needed as the father's name in the identity card will also affect other procedures like inheritance and marriage under Islamic laws," he said.

Nor was commenting on the state government's proposal to the NRD that would enable Muslim children born less than six months after their parents' marriage to carry their fathers' name in their identity card, with an additional "Section 13" note as reported in the New Straits Times yesterday.

Currently, the NRD will state "Abdullah" as their father's in their identity card.

The proposal was formulated during a special meeting between the Terengganu Islamic Affairs Department (JHEAT), the state NRD, the state Mufti Department and the Terengganu Syariah Judiciary Department last Monday.

State religion and information committee chairman Khazan Che Mat, who chaired the meeting, said it was to prevent such children from facing an emotional trauma due to the social stigma of not having their father's name on their identity cards.

Nor said he would bring up the matter during the next parliamentary session next month.

"I am all for the proposal as it is understood that there are more than 300,000 children in the country facing such a predicament," he said.

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