Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) supports amendments to the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act to allow a child to decide his or her religious affiliation at the age of 18.

This is in the case of one parent converting to Islam.

"Suhakam welcomes that the proposed amendments shall be applied retrospectively and that both parties in a civil marriage shall give consent for their child to be converted to Islam.

"Suhakam supports the proposal a child shall keep their religious affiliation, so that he or she can freely decide their faith, according to belief, when they attain the age of majority (18 years)," its chairperson Razali Ismail said in a statement.

It added the amendment reconciles the best interests of the child and the parents' constitutional right to freedom of religion.

The amendments, tabled for first reading in Parliament last month, was to overcome the problem of unilateral conversion of children to Islam by a parent who had converted to Islam.

The amendments also stated that a couple who registered their marriage under civil law could seek a divorce in civil court, even if one of them had converted to Islam.

The Muslim Lawyers' Association said while it supported the move to allow couples to file for divorce in civil courts, it opposed the other amendments as it was unconstitutional.

It said the Federal Court had previously interpreted the word "parents" in the Federal Constitution to mean either mother or father or legal guardian.