KUALA LUMPUR: Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz has welcomed the proposed amendments to the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act that ends unilateral conversion of a minors to Islam, saying that it is good for the religion.
"As a Muslim I am very happy. This is good for Islam. I don’t want Islam to be used as a tool for people to get out of their responsibility towards their spouses.
"They can’t convert thinking they no longer have to fulfil their responsibilities." he said at the Parliament lobby today.
Earlier, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said tabled the bill which aims to help resolve interfaith custody conflicts between Muslim and non-Muslim parents.
The explanatory notes of the Act mentions amendments in marriage and divorce, and inheritance.
The bill will include a new provision for the religion of the child. Section 88A (1) reads that if a parent converts to Islam, the religion of their children shall remain the same, unless both parents have agreed to the conversion of the children to Islam.
On Aug 25, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the government is looking into resolving conflicts between Muslim converts and their spouses over the religion of their children.
Among such cases were that of Hindu mother M. Indira Ghandi, who has been locked in a seven-year court tussle over the custody of her youngest child, Prasana Diksa, with her ex-husband, Muslim convert Muhammad Ridhuan Abdullah.