The government is still in talks to implement the 2009 cabinet decision on unilateral conversion of minors Health Minister Dr S Subramaniam said today.

"We are still trying to find options how this can be done. The process is still continuing.

"(There is) re-engagement with the relevant parties to consider it. There are ministers in the cabinet who have been given this task," Subramaniam told a press conference in Putrajaya.

He did not name the parties involved in the discussion, or the ministers in charge. Nor did he know of a timeline to resolve the issue.

"I don't know. I think that is all on this topic I will answer," he said when asked for a timeline for the implementation of the 2009 cabinet decision.

In a separate statement later today, Subramaniam said MIC believes that the Syariah Court should not infringe on the rights of non-Muslims in its judgments.

“We are guided by the principles that the jurisdiction of the Syariah Court is applicable only when both parties are Muslims.

“In exercising its powers, the Syariah Court should not deny the unconverted spouse of his or her constitutional right and liberties,” the party deputy president said.

In 2009, Subramaniam was a member of the cabinet committee to study the issue of unilateral conversion of minors.

It was decided then that custodial and conversion issues arising from civil marriages (as opposed to Islamic marriages) should be resolved in the civil court system.

The three-member committee was led by then minister in the Prime Minister’s Department for National Unity and Key Performance Index Koh Tsu Koon ( right ), with the other member being Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department for Religious Affairs Jamil Khir Baharom.

Subramaniam was human resources minister at that time.

He said the proposal in 2009 was to amend the Federal Territories Islamic Enactment, which required consent from the Council of Rulers.

"So the proposal was put forward to them and they wanted to study it and give their approval.

"Since then, there have been discussions going on among various authorities," he said.

Like Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar's statement yesterday,  Subramaniam said the 2009 cabinet decision still stands .

Khairy had said the cabinet had directed attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail to study a solution to the matter and was still waiting for his opinion.

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