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MCA faces flap over child conversion; US court to hear 1MDB seizure case

KINI ROUNDUP Here are the key headlines you may have missed yesterday, in brief.

Child conversion fiasco

MCA will summon its Titi Tinggi assemblyperson Khaw Hock Kong to explain to the party's central committee over his failure to express opposition to an amendment passed by the Perlis State Assembly allowing unilateral consent of one parent to convert minors to Islam.

MCA president Liow Tiong Lai accused the Perlis government of sabotaging Putrajaya's efforts to end unilateral conversion by initiating the amendment to the state Islamic enactment.

The amendment also received flak from another leader in the BN ruling coalition, MIC president S Subramaniam.

Meanwhile, Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin, who is currently overseas, said he would seek clarification over the amendment.

However, Perlis Menteri Besar Azlan Man claimed the amendment had been "spun out of context" insisting that it had no legal effect as it was merely standardising the Malay language version of the law with the English language version.

Gerakan deputy Youth chief Andy Yong said the issue could only be resolved once the definition of "parent" in Article 12(4) of the Federal Constitution is set straight.

According to Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Azalina Othman Said, Putrajaya has agreed to amend the particular constitutional provision to make it clear that the conversion of minors would require consent from both parents.

US court to hear 1MDB seizure case

The US court has rejected the appeal from Penang-born billionaire Jho Low's family to delay proceedings to seize their assets which were allegedly acquired through misappropriated funds from 1MDB.

Former minister Rafidah Aziz decried the disrespect shown to Dr Mahathir Mohamad following the revocation of the invitation to attend the swearing-in ceremony for the 14th Yang di-Pertuan Agong after the former prime minister fell out with the current government over the 1MDB scandal.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Abdul Rahman Dahlan reportedly claimed China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) was not on the World Bank’s blacklist despite the fact an eight-year sanction had been imposed on the company until January 2017.

CCCC has been picked by the Malaysian government to build the RM55 billion East Coast Rail Link.

Disunited opposition

Parti Amanah Negara said PAS must decide by the year-end on whether it would cooperate with Pakatan Harapan.

On its part, PAS issued an ultimatum to Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia to choose between PAS or Harapan.

Meanwhile, the Islamic party said it planned to contest in PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail's seat of Permatang Pauh, as well as the three state seats under the parliamentary constituency which was once held by jailed opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Other Kinibites

Student activist Anis Syafiqah Md Yusof and three other students were found guilty of breaching discipline by Universiti Malaya for their involvement in the ‘Tangkap MO1’ rally.

Serdang MP Ong Kian Ming expressed concern over a surge of over 500,000 new voters in the third quarter of this year, compared to around 90,000 new voters in the previous quarter.

Deputy Home Minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed said Bersih chief Maria Chin Abdullah was treated no different from other prisoners during her 10-day detention under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act.

Locally-produced liquor is expected to be costlier beginning Dec 16, after the government imposed a 150 percent excise tax hike.

Three alleged kidnappers were shot dead by security forces off the waters of Sabah.

Looking ahead

Parti Amanah Negara will kick off its two-day convention at the Shah Alam Convention Centre.

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak is to officiate a socio-economic expo for Indians at Batu Caves.

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