MIC has condemned the Perlis state government's amendment of its Islamic enactment to allow for unilateral conversion of a non-Muslim child to Islam by a newly-converted Muslim parent without the consent of the non-converted parent.

Party president Dr S Subramaniam said this particular issue had been the central core of discord in numerous cases, including the Indira Gandhi case and others.

"While the federal cabinet has been trying to find a permanent solution to an issue which has been identified as a major thorn in inter-religious relationship in this country, this act by a BN government is a major step backwards to religious harmony in this country.

"It is going to cause greater disunity among the people of Malaysia," Subramaniam added in a media statement.

Prior to the amendment, the Perlis Islamic Enactment required the consent of the both the father and mother for the conversion of a child and gave equal rights to both parents to determine the religion of a child under the age of 18.

Subramaniam said that right has now been unilaterally and irrevocably removed by the Perlis government.

"The Perlis state government has now opened the door for breast-feeding infants to be snatched from their mothers and be rushed to the religious department for conversion and be deprived of the mother's love and attention.

"MIC considers such acts to be against the fundamental rights of the child. Every child has a right to their mother's love as well as to the mother's milk.

"Why is the Perlis state government digging a grave to this and denying the child the love of both parents?" Subramaniam asked.