PKR central committee member Latheefa Koya has admonished Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for calling for “Muslim unity” following the Court of Appeal decision allowing Muslim children conceived out of wedlock to bear their father’s name. 

The lawyer said while the government has the right to appeal against the ruling, it should respect the court decision in the meantime and refrain from making ‘inflammatory’ statements. 

“The deputy prime minister calls for Muslim unity over this decision. Against whom? It was a decision made by the Court of Appeal in the proper exercise of its judicial powers! 

“The National Registration Department (NRD) and Home Ministry have a right to appeal the decision if they are dissatisfied. But meanwhile, the NRD and Zahid must respect the decision and do the necessary to comply with it. 

“Instead, Zahid is resorting to making inflammatory and sensational statements about the decision,” she said in a statement today. 

Latheefa said Zahid is clearly trying to score political capital out of the court decision, but this comes at the expense of innocent children’s futures. 

This is because the fatwa prohibiting Muslim children conceived out of wedlock from carrying their father’s name has the effect of publicly shaming children for the sins of their parents, which is unjust. 

It also puts undue pressure on the federal court once the appeal process takes place.

“I have never come across a case of an instance of a deputy prime minister showing such gross disrespect to the judicial process. One would expect such statements from youth leaders, but not the deputy prime minister himself,” Latheefa said. 

The Court of Appeal on Thursday ruled that a National Fatwa Committee edict that Muslim children conceived out of wedlock cannot bear their father's name was not legally binding, and as such, that the NRD need not comply with the edict.

In response to the court ruling, Zahid said last night that Muslims must unite against anyone who challenges the decisions of the National Fatwa Committee.

The NRD meanwhile has said that it will not implement the appellate court ruling just yet, pending an appeal. This is despite the lack of a stay of execution.