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Jamil Khir contradicts cabinet on unilateral conversion, says DAP MP
Published:  May 24, 2016 5:36 PM
Updated: 9:48 AM

Minister in the Prime Minister Department Jamil Khir Baharom's statement that any law to ban unilateral conversions is unconstitutional, contradicts earlier cabinet decisions on the matter, says a DAP parliamentarian.

In a parliamentary reply yesterday, Jamil Khir, who is in charge of religious affairs, had argued that Article 12 (4) of the Federal Constitution provides for any one parent to convert a child, thus any law to ban unilateral conversion would contradict the highest law of the land.

However, Ipoh Barat MP M Kulasegaran whose question on unilateral conversion laws prompted Jamil Khir's answer, today lambasted the minister for contradicting a 2009 cabinet directive on unilateral conversion.

In a statement, Kulasegaran said that Jamil Khir's answer was unfair, illogical, unreasonable, and has set back progress on promised reforms as well as represents a U-turn on last years cabinet committee on unilateral conversion.

He related that in 2009, the cabinet directive on the issue was that children must follow the practised religion of the parents at the time of marriage in the event that one of them converts.

Though he noted that the directive has no bite of law, it is he argued, an advice with weight and is fair to the interests of all.

Kulasegaran also mentioned that last year's five-member cabinet committee on unilateral conversion has decided that no child can be converted to another religion without the consent of both parents.

The MP, who is also a lawyer, said the word "parent" in the constitutional provision quoted by Jamil Khir should mean "ibubapa" or both parents, as it is literally translated and not "ibu atau bapa" which means either parent.

Najib should stand up and be counted

Kulasegaran also believed that this new stand by Jamil Khir does not reflect the cabinet decision.

"I suspect the committee (on unilateral conversion) would not have agreed to this disturbing and unreasonable interpretation and stand taken by Jamil Khir."

Kulasegaran call upon Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to stand up and be counted, and come out to clear the air over the matter.

"Thus the PM must step in to clear the air and assert that the 2009 cabinet directive on unilateral conversion is very much intact. He should be bold enough to ask Jamil Khir to withdraw the new stand which is unfair, illogical and unreasonable. The U-turn must be shot down immediately," said the MP.

Jamil Khir's statement came as the government is in the midst of drafting laws to prevent unilateral conversion of minors.

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