Given the many intractable problems and issues that arise from religious conversions, the government should revive the initiative to put in place a ‘conversion bill’ to redress some of the adverse effects that such conversions have on family members of the converts.

This is because the mere plugging of loopholes in the current regulations for the registration of Muslim converts does not ensure their family members are adequately informed and their welfare taken care of.

Raising this issue today, the Malaysian Consultative Council for Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) urged the government to revive the initiative for a conversion bill announced previously.

“The current move by government authorities who oversee the administration of Islamic religion in Malaysia to plug loopholes in regulations on the registration of Muslim converts [...] may seem a big deal to those same authorities,” said MCCBCHST president Thomas Philips.

Philips was referring to a New Straits Times report that said loopholes in regulations on the registration of Muslim converts will be plugged soon to prevent any dispute over their religious status upon their deaths.

Don't just tweak

“But what effect would it in fact have on the affected non-Muslim spouses, children and parents?” asked Philips.

“How would it be a source of comfort and relief for the loved ones of the converts who often only find out their change of religion upon their deaths as was the case with the Malaysian hero, M Moorthy ?” he said, citing the case of the former army commando whose wife only found out he had converted to Islam when officials appeared after his death to bury him as a Muslim.

“The fact remains that if family members were given no reason to even remotely suspect their change of religion, how would they think it was necessary to make a check on the Islamic register of conversions?

“As was with the case of Moorthy, the family testified that he was a practising Hindu till the day he died, even observing penance at Thaipusam.

“That being the case, why would a non-Muslim family peacefully practising their own religion in Malaysia have any reason to check if any member of their family had converted to Islam unbeknownst to them?” said Philips.

Rather than merely tweaking registration regulations pertaining to Muslim conversions, a conversion bill should be introduced that addresses - among other matters - the legal, emotional and welfare concerns of non-Muslim family members, said Philips.

Along these lines, Philips said the MCCBCHST welcomes the call by Muslim welfare and converts organisation Perkim’s secretary-general Abdul Hamid Othman to address the distribution of a Muslim convert’s wealth to family members.

“Sometimes, the issue following a convert's death isn't so much about religion but inheritance,” Abdul Hamid was quoted as saying.

Since Islamic law bars a convert's non-Muslim family members from receiving any of his property, the religious authorities should advise and help new converts to distribute their wealth to their beneficiaries before the conversion takes place, added Abdul Hamid.

Sudden changes

Commenting on this, Philips said such suggestions are well-taken.

“Any discussion along these lines will surely make room for a just solution,” he added.

Philips also made reference to the odds stacked against non-Muslims when a family member - especially a parent - converts to Islam.

“The new convert seems to have unilateral powers to direct that his or her chldren be converted to Islam without the necessity of the consent of the other parent of the child/children.

“Laws and regulations governing the civil marriage are immediately replaced by Islamic law and practice among which are those pertaining to inheritance, divorce and alimony.

"Furthermore, it would seem that the civil courts are reluctant to hear such cases when one party of the marriage has become a Muslim.

“Under such blatantly unfair circumstances, why and how should non-Muslims accept these sudden changes that have come upon their lives?”