The party’s deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the objectives of the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) (Amendment) Bill 2016 were inconsistent with the stand taken by the National Fatwa Council.
“Whatever legislation tabled in Parliament must take into consideration Islamic strictures to avoid polemics,” he said at a press conference.
Earlier today, the government withdrew the bill, presented last November, which was expected to be debated at the current Dewan Rakyat meeting.
The amendments include a provision, Clause 88A, stating that if a parent converted to Islam, the religion of his children would remain the same unless both parents agreed to their conversion.
Putrajaya will now table new amendments to the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) (Amendment) Bill 2016 tomorrow morning.
However, the new bill will be tabled without Clause 88A which stipulates that the religion of the child should remain the same despite the conversion of one of the parents.
PAS leaders had previously voiced their concern with the proposed amendments, with the party’s former Youth chief Nik Mohamad Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz claiming it would affect the individual’s faith and prevent Muslims from practising shariah law.
Party president Abdul Hadi Awang had previously said the bill must be studied comprehensively by a committee to ensure it was more inclusive and just.