In a statement, Sivarraajh took Jamil to task over the latter’s written parliamentary reply yesterday, in which the minister said a law banning unilateral conversions would be unconstitutional.

Sivarraajh however argued that the Federal Constitution was clear when it stated in Article 12(4) that parents, not a parent, should determine the religion of their kids.

“Parents” in Malay means Ibu Bapa and not Ibu dan Bapa, to say otherwise is wrong.”

Sivarraajh said in 1970, the Attorney-General had interpreted in finality that the term was plural.

He said the Federal Constitution sought to balance the needs of all the races and all the religions that make up multiracial Malaysia, and that certain quarters should not try to interpret the Constitution to suit their own interests.

He opined that a child’s religion should remain as at birth and both parents must consent to change it, or at least until the child reaches the age of 18, whereupon the child could decide on his or her own religion.

Jamil’s statement that banning unilateral conversion was unconstitutional, comes two months after de facto Law Minister Nancy Shukri said Putajaya had drafted new laws to address the controversial issue of unilateral religious conversion of children.

She said, however, the government was awaiting feedback on Shariah issues as Islamic issues came under each states’ purview.

Nancy added that the respective views needed to be taken into account before changes could be pushed through at the federal level.