MIC Youth today called upon the government to set up a special non-Islamic affairs department to handle the mounting problems arising from conversions to Islam, especially when it comes to the situation of minors and the non-converting spouses.

The movement believed that such a department was necessary to address the sensitive issue so that it would not threaten the peace and harmony of multiracial Malaysia.

At the same time, MIC Youth also wanted the government to establish a think-tank comprising of experts of the various religions to deliberate and come out with a comprehensive solution to overcome this problem.

"We have co-existed peacefully without any problem for so many years and such religious obstacles should not be a hindrance for all Malaysians to respect and live together as one big family.

t mohan "We also want the government to enforce the proposal that the civil courts are the right place to dissolve a marriage in the event of a spouse converting to Islam," said MIC Youth wing national coordinator T Mohan in a statement.

Recently the cabinet proposed a solution to this problem by stating that in the case of a conversion of a spouse to Islam, the children from the marriage would follow the faith which was practiced before the conversion.

Mohan said that MIC Youth fully supported this proposal.

He also said that the MIC Youth wanted the government to ensure that there was no room for abuses by individuals who took the easy way out to convert to Islam as a way out to divorce their non-Muslim spouses.

Pembela wants long-term solution

He said that there were many non-Muslims who have been put in difficult situations after their loved ones secretly converted to Islam.

"We hope the government would consider new rules including a requirement that non-Muslims who converted to Islam must inform their spouse and family first before they are allowed to convert," he said.

He added that this would ensure that the non-converted family would not be taken by surprise and have to battle with the religious authorities to sort out the problem.

hindu indian women and islam and court and judiciary "The ruling would also greatly reduce the incidence of ‘body snatchings' which has become a frequent tussle between the Islamic and non-Islamic groups in the country," he added.

On the same matter, Islamic group Pembela - which is an umbrella body for 87 Muslim organisations - said that a long-term solution was needed to solve the problems arising from conversions.

"In attending to any conflict involving syariah and civil legislations, Pembela suggests that a long-term solution that serves the common good be worked at.

"Any differences in opinion must be channelled through a thorough and intellectual discussion and negotiation involving all the stakeholders.

"In this way any contention can be resolved without affecting the stability of the state," it said in a statement.

Youth wing to help ‘abused' boys

s vellpaari samy vellu son On an unrelated matter, MIC Youth wing advisor S Vell Paari has instructed the wing to immediately look into the welfare of three boys whose father was arrested on Tuesday on suspect of killing his seven-year-old disabled daughter in 2006.

"When I looked at the photographs of the three boys in media reports today, I felt that we should do something for them.

"We don't know if they too were victims of abuse," he told Malaysiakini .

He said that the Penang Youth wing will be in touch with the family to take the boys under its custody and see how they can be helped.

It was reported today that the skeletal remains of the disabled girl was only uncovered yesterday. The police said that the victim could have been beaten to death with a stick.

Her father, an odd-job labourer in his 40s, has been remanded by a magistrate's court while the police are still looking for the mother to assist in the investigations.

Vell Paari said the Youth wing will decide later on what to do with the three boys.