Its publicity secretary Kasthuri Patto said bringing back the bill which deals with unilateral child conversion would be a “priceless birthday present” for M Indira Gandhi whose former husband had converted their three children to Islam without her consent and without the children’s knowledge and presence.
The bill had been withdrawn from the Dewan Rakyat on Aug 7 although it was expected to be debated during the sitting after having been tabled in the house in Nov 2015.
“Let Najib Razak be reminded of his pledge in celebrating 2018 as the year for women empowerment,” said Kasthuri, who is Batu Kawan MP, in a statement today.
“What sort of women empowerment is the prime minister talking about when he did not assist in ensuring the needed amendments in Section 88A of the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) bill that was tabled in the Dewan Rakyat last August when he had the power to do so?”
“Is the prime minister afraid that he will lose support from right-wing groups if he steps up to do the right thing to ensure that with the right amendments to the law, both parents need to provide consent, neither father nor mother can pursue converting their children to Islam?”
She claimed that by failing Indira, whose birthday falls tomorrow, the government would fail all women in Malaysia in ensuring their rights, access to justice and equal respect are protected.
The amendments included a new provision in regard to the religion of the child, with Section 88A(1) stating that if a parent converts to Islam, the religion of the child remains the same unless both parents agree to the conversion of their child.
Indira’s former husband, K Pathmanathan, converted to Islam on March 11, 2009, taking the name of Muhammad Riduan Abdullah, and converted the children on April 2, 2009.
He also left the house with their youngest child, Prasana Diksa, who is now 9 and whose location remains unknown.
Indira’s eldest daughter Tevi Darsiny is 20 and son Karan Dinish is 19.
In August last year, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Rohani Abdul Karim announced the declaration of 2018 as the year of women empowerment to reduce poverty and improve the well-being of the family.
It was announced again by Najib during the tabling of Budget 2018 on Oct 27.