| Alor Setar, Malaysia | 28 April 2017 | Asia Samachar |
PAS, an Islamic political party which controls one state in Malaysia, views the proposed amendments to the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act, prevents unilateral conversion, as being against Islam.
Party ulama chief Datuk Dr Mahfodz Mohamed said the rise of “liberal Islam” among Muslims and some leaders had led to such proposals being made, report The Star (Party ulama chief: Changes to Marriage Act against Islam, 27 April 2017).
“The proposed amendments are against Islam and Article 12(4) of the Federal Constitution, which allows a parent to convert a child below 18 to Islam,” he was quoted when speaking at the party’s annual general meeting in Alor Setar yesterday.
There was a fatwa (edict) and Federal Court decision, which allowed a Muslim parent to convert his child, he added.
The proposed amendments, which were tabled in November last year, were aimed at resolving inter-faith child custody battles between Muslim and non-Muslim parents. However, its second reading, which was slated earlier this month, was postponed.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi explained that the Attorney-General had been told to study the feedback and to re-examine the matter with religious and legal experts, the newspaper reported.
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PAS ulama chief, Datuk Dr Mahfodz Mohamed should be told it is not against Islam. You are giving custody of a child on a silver platter to the parent who converts to Islam. How more unfair can you be to the other parent? Is that what Islam is about ? I don’t think so.
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