The government's decision in the proposed amendments to the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976 or Act 164, will be based on the country’s interests, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi stressed today.

"As stated by the Dewan Rakyat Speaker, we will see that the country's interests override other interests. 

"We must be open-hearted with any decision made by the government. We respect all religion and we respect the rights of all races," Zahid told reporters in Putrajaya today. 

"In this issue, the government's decision is based on the country's interests as a whole," he added. 

Zahid, who is also the home minister, was responding to Perak mufti Harussani Zakaria, who had yesterday urged the government to withdraw from tabling amendments to Act 164, which includes a new clause banning unilateral conversion of minors. 

Zahid said while he respects the mufti's views, confirmed that he would discuss the matter with Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Azalina Othman Said, who has been tasked with tabling the amendments. 

Harussani, had in objecting the proposed amendments, claimed that it would deny the rights of a Muslim convert and sideline the powers of the Shariah courts. 

Following this, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia was quoted saying in Berita Harian telling non-lawmakers to stop meddling in Parliament's affairs. 

Earlier today, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang had also called for a special committee to review the proposed amendments, which he claimed if passed, would affect the rights of Muslims to practise their religion and defend their faith. 

He further claimed that the amendments would tarnish the integrity of Shariah courts, as well as the harmony between different races in the country. 

The amendment bill was tabled for first reading in November last year and included the new clause which stated that a child's religion shall remain as the religion of the father and mother to the marriage prior to the conversion of either parent.

It also proposed that children shall be allowed to keep their religious affiliations and freely decide on their faith when they reach the age of 18.

Among others, the amendments were proposed as measures to address issues surrounding unilateral conversion of minors in situations where one parent had converted to Islam following a divorce.

The government is expected to table the amendment bill in the current parliamentary sitting.