The cabinet has come up with several suggestions to resolve the issue of unilateral religious conversion of minors, including reviewing the interpretation of Article 12(4) of the Federal Constitution.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said the cabinet had suggested that any legal dispute over the matter filed in the civil courts system should be dealt with in the same system.
He said the cabinet had also asked the Attorney-General's Chambers to come up with proposals over the issue.
"I raised the issue in the cabinet meeting three weeks ago following an incident in Seremban, and we had discussed the matter extensively.
"As far as the cabinet is concerned, we want fairness to be given to all parties concerned and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has agreed on this stand," he said after opening the Penang Free School carnival here yesterday.
Present were state health director Datuk Dr Lailanor Ibrahim, state education director Ahmad Tarmizi Kamaruddin and the school's bicentenary committee chairman, Datuk Abdul Rafique Abdul Karim.
Dr Subramaniam said the issue arose following confusion in the interpretation of Article 12(4) of the Federal Constitution, which states that "the religion of a person under the age of 18 years shall be decided by his parent or guardian".
Dr Subramaniam said apart from the religious conversion issue, the cabinet had also discussed the proposed amendment to the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976, which covers the custody, alimony and protection of children.
"It will be an uphill task and we have to handle the matter delicately as it involves sensitive issues but the cabinet is committed to finding a fair and just solution," he said.
The debate on unilateral conversion had resurfaced after an Indian hair salon operator in Seremban lodged a police report against her estranged husband for allegedly converting their two children without her knowledge and consent.
S. Deepa, 29, claimed that her husband, N. Viran, 30, who had converted to Islam after he was released from jail more than a year ago, took their children Mithan, 5, and Sharmila, 8, from a kindergarten in Jelebu in April and had them converted.
Deepa demanded that the Pusat Dakwah Islamiah Paroi, where the children were converted, should cancel the conversion.
The couple, who are in the process of divorce, were married for nine years and her husband was jailed for four months last year for involvement in a pirated DVD syndicate.
Read more: Govt seeks 'fair solution over conversions' - General - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/govt-seeks-fair-solution-over-conversions-1.310861#ixzz2XlEwtbA6
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