By Baru Bian
The sudden removal of s 88A of the bill to amend the Law
Reform (Marriage & Divorce) Act, which had been scheduled to be read a
second time, is another slap in the face for people of non-Muslim faiths.
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| Baru Bian |
There had been hope at the end of a dark tunnel for many
that this Bill would see an end to the unilateral conversion of minor children
of other faiths to Islam, but true to BN practice, there has been yet another
major flip-flop on this Bill.
The de facto Law Minister Azalina Othman Said was
reported to have expressed hope that this development would be seen in a
positive light to preserve harmony in Malaysia's multi-ethnic and
multi-religious society.
How is it possible
that this last minute flip-flop by the BN can be seen in a positive light?
In September last year, Tourism and Culture Minister
Nazri Aziz had said that the Bill to be tabled in the October Parliamentary
sitting would bring the issue in line with the Cabinet’s decision in April 2009
to require both parents’ consent for the conversion of a child under the age of
18.
Nazri Aziz had said then (in 2009) that the cabinet had
decided that in the event of any dispute, a child must be raised in the faith
professed by both parents at the time of marriage, and “A child’s religion must
be in accordance to the common religion at the time of marriage between the
parents.”
The Bill was opposed by PAS and some Muslim groups, and
this about turn by the BN government is seen to be a political decision taken
in the fear of the loss of support by the Muslims.
Once again, non-Muslims are faced with the prospect of
the unilateral conversions of minor children by the converting parent and we
can expect more cases like the one of Indira Gandhi’s, with the hope of a
solution now gone.
This change of mind by the BN government shows that the
PM and his BN ministers driven by the fear of losing the GE14, and place no
importance on protecting the rights of all citizens to freedom of religion and
equal rights.
The question is whether the BN coalition partners MCA,
MIC, Gerakan and the other BN component parties in Sarawak and Sabah were
consulted about the withdrawal of this Bill.
How can they in good conscience continue to support and
prop up this government that has shown no respect and regards for the rights of
people of other races and religions. What is their response to the withdrawal
of the Bill?
Are they going to betray their own party members by
continuing to support the BN government?
It is high time Najib and his BN/UMNO people be voted out
as they have shown once again that they are incompetent and incapable of good
governance. - August 8, 2017
Note: The writer is PKR Sarawak chairman and
Ba'Kelalan state assemblyman
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