MCA's religious harmony bureau has condemned PAS for threatening to derail the legal amendments designed to prevent abuse related to the unilateral religious conversion of minors.

Bureau head Ti Lian Ker said the proposed amendments to the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976 have been long-awaited because these will enable Muslim converts to seek dissolution of marriage in the civil court.

This will ensure that the convert's matrimonial obligations to the ex-spouse, as contracted under the act, are maintained.

"For so long, agonised and abandoned non-Muslim spouses have not received the remedy or protection of the civil courts, or from the police," Ti said in a statement today.

In contrast, he said, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang's private member's bill to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 will place criminal offenders under the jurisdiction of both the syariah and civil courts.

"Muslim criminal offenders (will) face harsher punishments under the hudud enactments (in certain states) as opposed to all suspects being equal before the Penal Code.

"Implementation of the criminal code must apply equally to all perpetrators," Ti said.

Ti was responding the PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan's threat that Muslims will not support amendments to the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act if non-Muslims object to Hadi's bill.

Takiyuddin said non-Muslims must "play fair" and not interfere in the affairs of Muslims.

No 'quid pro quo' in lawmaking

Hadi's bill seeks to increase the penalties that the syariah court can mete out to a maximum fine of RM100,000, 30 years in jail and 100 lashes of the cane. The current cap is RM5,000 fine, three years’ jail and six lashes.

Although Putrajaya has allowed Hadi to table his motion on the bill, MCA, MIC and Gerakan have stated that they would not support Hadi's bill because it goes against the spirit of the Federal Constitution.

Ti said there was no such thing as quid pro quo when it comes to protecting the constitutional rights of all Malaysians.

"Likewise, this tit-for-tat threat against non-Muslims hits below the belt. It is clear that the intended maltreatment and oppression against ethnic and religious minorities and women by PAS will be no different from the likes of the Islamic State.

"PAS must also know that the duties and roles of elected representatives are to serve all Malaysians, irrespective of religion," he said.

Ti also challenged Muslim lawmakers in DAP, PKR, Amanah and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia to publicly declare if they will support PAS' threat against non-Muslims to derail the amendments to the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976.

"Or, will they be bold like MCA to vote against Hadi’s bill?" he asked.