KUALA LUMPUR: MIC has requested for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to consider a cabinet decision in 2009 on unilateral conversion, which states that a child will remain in the religion at birth until the age of 18.
MIC president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said the issue of unilateral conversion had yet to be carefully resolved despite going on for several years, adding that it was still a major issue among the Hindu community.
"While we have achieved several amendments to the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 2017 (LRA), it has yet to resolve the problem of unilateral conversion of children.
"This has caused dissatisfaction among the Hindus and non-Muslims who are facing this problem," he said in his presidential address at MIC's 71st general assembly here, today.
He said MIC had raised this matter in several forums and expressed commitment to find a harmonious solution for all.
"I ask for political support and a political decision from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to consider the previous cabinet decision in 2009, where it was decided that a child will remain in the religion of birth until the age of 18," he added.
It was reported that the cabinet's April 2009 decision was that a child "must follow the religion practised at the time of marriage in the event that one of them opts to convert".
Later, Najib in his speech said the government was against forced conversion, adding that there was no such thing is in Islam.
"However, the best way to do this is to amend the constitution and we need a two-thirds majority to do this.
"Give us support so we can do more," he said.
The Parliament passed the amendments to the LRA in August, after long hours of heated debate.
It included the passing of Section 51, which mandates that the divorcing couple must have their marriage dissolved in a civil court, but removed Clause 88A, which stated the religion of a child which is a product of the marriage "shall remain as the religion of the parties to the marriage prior to the conversion".
Clause 88A also provides that the child can, after turning 18 and with the consent of both parents, convert to Islam.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said had explained that the clause would not solve the issue of unilateral conversion and more in-depth discussions were needed in order to find a more comprehensive solution.