The Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) is disappointed with the withdrawal of Section 88A from the amendments to the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act (LRA), which was passed by the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday.

“Suhakam recognises that some progressive changes are found in the amended Act, particularly regarding the dissolution of a civil marriage and the distribution of matrimonial assets to interested parties.

“However, the core issue of prohibiting unilateral conversion that has affected so many lives and the future of many children, which earlier the government had wanted to remedy, remains without a solution despite indications from the government to deal with the matter,” Suhakam chairperson Razali Ismail said in a statement today.

Section 88A, which was removed from the amendments on Tuesday, was to prohibit the unilateral conversion of children.

Razali described it as an effective solution to the unilateral religious conversion of minors by one parent...