P Ramasamy said the piece of legislation, which was vital to non-Muslims, was also likely removed so as not to offend Barisan Nasional’s (BN) “newfound friend”, PAS.
He also slammed the silence of BN’s component parties, saying their support of the bill’s withdrawal was unacceptable.
“These parties are saying that it is better to ‘pluck the low-hanging fruits’ first.
“This is complete nonsense and a total betrayal of non-Muslims by political parties such as MCA, Gerakan, MIC and other mosquito parties.
“Having contemplated and discussed the bill for some time, the government cannot turn around and give the lame excuse that the bill might not get the support of the opposition.
“It is not about getting support or non-support. The BN government facing the next general election is afraid to offend Muslims in the country, particularly its newfound friend, PAS,” Ramasamy said in a statement today.
He was referring to the amendment to the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) (Amendment) Act 2016, which was supposed to be debated at this parliamentary sitting.
The bill aimed to resolve conflicts arising from interfaith custody battles between Muslim and non-Muslim parents.
A new provision in the law under Section 88A(1) states that if a parent converts to Islam, the religion of the children remains the same unless both parents have agreed to the conversion of their children.
However, the bill was withdrawn after the government said Section 88A(1) might go against the spirit of the Federal Constitution.
A new bill, minus the clause preventing the unilateral conversion of children, is expected to be debated tonight in the Dewan Rakyat.
Ramasamy said DAP’s 36 MPs would vote in support of the act if Section 88A(1) was included.
“Taking out this very relevant section from the bill makes no sense. Without Section 88A(1), it would be pointless to bring relief and comfort to families affected by the conversion of one spouse and the subsequent conversion of the children.
“The key issue in the bill is the issue of unilateral conversion by one of the spouses,” he said.
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