Govt did not want to risk no confidence vote over clause to stop unilateral conversion

KUALA LUMPUR: The government did not want to push through amending the Federal Constitution for the clause to stop unilateral conversion to be implemented as it could have resulted in a vote of no confidence said Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz.
The Tourism and Culture Minister said for the Clause 88A to be implemented the Constitution would need to be amended first.
"It is not that it cannot become part of the law, but we need to amend the Constitution first which requires two third majority in Parliament. And we don't have it, we only have 133 seats. If it is rejected, it can be construed as a vote of no confidence against us," the former law minister explained at Balai Seni Visual Negara today.
"When you put a Bill, and if you can't pass the Bill, it can be considered as vote of no confidence. We are very careful about that. We can sit down with the Opposition and talk and they may promise they will do it. But on the day of voting if we lose, that is a vote of no confidence."
He quipped that once Barisan Nasional had the majority needed then the Constitution can be amended.
"We will wait until we have the majority needed," he said.
The Clause 88A under the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) (Amendment) Bill 2016 which would in effect ban unilateral conversions of minors should a parent decide to convert to Islam, cannot be done as it is deemed to be unconstitutional.
"We all know there has been four cases already which have became a precedent in court when it comes to unilateral conversion, as it is constitutionally accepted. Under the Constitution, parents is defined as either or," he said.
Nazri said the Clause was pulled out because it was deemed to be unconstitutional according to that definition.
He was one of the advocates who was pushing for it to be tabled, but as the Attorney General now has advised that it is unconstitutional, he accepts it.
"Let us just approve the ones we can debate and table to be passed with the majority that we have in the party. We want this to come on quickly. If we sit down and talk (to the opposition) then it may take longer. We may miss this sitting," he added.
"Most importantly, non-Muslim families must get what is due to them. Out of the 10 amendments, nine is beneficial to them. I believe if we pass through this nine, it will be very good for them."
He also denied that this was withdrawn since PAS was against it.