Reforms to unilateral conversion to be tabled in next Parliament sitting

KUALA LUMPUR: The government is expected to table the proposed law reforms on the unilateral conversion of minors in the next Parliament sitting, said Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai (pix).
Liow told reporters that the special Cabinet taskforce was making good progress in resolving issues related to the contentious interfaith child custody conflict between Muslim and non-Muslim parents.
"We are making good progress, we are looking forward to having the bill amended," he said after chairing MCA's Presidential Council meeting today.
Liow is a part of the taskforce that was established to find ways to solve interfaith custody conflicts involving the conversion of children. Other members of the taskforce include Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Joseph Kurup, Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam,
Tourism and Cultural Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz and de facto Law Minister Nancy Sukri.
He also stressed that the religion of a child should be jointly determined by both parents, mother and father, just like what has been stated in the Federal Constitution, instead of being determined by a single parent.
On Monday, Jamil Khir said in Parliament that unilateral conversion would not be banned as it would contradict Article 12 (4) of the Federal Constitution, which provides for the religion of a person under the age of 18 years old to be decided by his parents or guardian.