KUALA LUMPUR, July 4- MCA yesterday called for the government to withdraw the Administration of Religion of Islam (Federal Territories) Bill 2013, which allow minors to be converted with the consent of only one parent.
MCA Deputy president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai (photo) said the party also wanted the government to consider more consultation with religious bodies before making a decision on the matter.
“We feel the government should withdraw the bill and consider more consultation with the stakeholders before presenting it,” he told a press conference after a meeting with members of the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) at Wisma MCA here.
Liow said MCA MPs will also present the party views on the matter to the government.
Meanwhile, MCCBCHST president Daozhang Tan Hoe Chieow said Section 107(b) of the bill need to be withdrawn for further consultation especially with the non-Muslims because it concerns the rights of the non Muslims community.
Yesterday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom said the proposal to allow one of the parents to change the religion of their underaged children to Islam was made after studying feedback from various parties.
Jamil Khir added the proposal was also made based on the judgements of the Federal Court and provisions of the Constitution.
– BERNAMA
