Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim today skirted questions about Pakatan Rakyat's stand on unilateral conversion and instead criticised the cabinet’s lack of clarity in approving the tabling of the Administration of Religion of Islam (Federal Territories) Bill 2013.

"I have discussed with PAS president Hadi Awang and PKR’s political bureau, and also with DAP secretary general Lim Guan Eng and (DAP parliamentary leader) Lim Kit Siang to find an understanding," he said.

"It's a controversial Bill; we need to discuss it thoroughly," he added, saying that Pakatan Rakyat would need to "continue with discussions".

DAP national chairman Karpal Singh also said that no meetings have taken place between Pakatan parties regarding the conversion issue.

"We don't have a common stand at the moment. But I don't see why we can't reach a unanimous decision on the matter," he said.

Anwar instead turned the heat on the cabinet, saying the ministers should have discussed the Bill prior to tabling it in the August House last week.

“Until now we do not know the status of this Bill, and the dispute in BN is very apparent,” he said.

So far, MIC, MCA and Gerakan, all BN component parties, have come out against the bill, which allows for unilateral conversion of a child to Islam.

“Either this was not thoroughly discussed in the cabinet or there is no understanding in BN,” he said.

Aside from component parties, cabinet members have also objected to the bill - among them being Tourism Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz and Minister in Prime Minister’s Department Paul Low.

Meanwhile, Anwar said that there is an understanding among Pakatan Rakyat parties on the bill, although he did not state what their stand was.