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Monday, July 8, 2013

Jamil Khir: No pressure to withdraw conversion bill


There was no pressure from cabinet members to withdraw the bill to amend to the Administration of Islamic Law (Federal Territories) Act, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom said.

Jamil told reporters at a function today that the withdrawal of the bill, dubbed the ‘unilateral conversion bill', was done through consensus.

"No, no there was no pressure. The cabinet decided that the bill be withdrawn through consensus."

In parliament earlier today, Jamil, who is the minister in charge of Islamic affairs, withdrew the bill and two other bills related to Islamic administration.
"It is as if we are wearing another shirt on the present one, but we decided to remove the new one. It is still good law," he said.

No time-frame for a new bill

Quizzed whether there is a time frame for a new bill to be sent back to Parliament, Jamil said there was none.

"We will see as soon as there are further consultations on the bill at the various levels and with concerned parties, after which we will table it once again," he said.

"We will improve the bill further. The withdrawal is made in the interests of all parties.”

Various religious groups have said they were not consulted on the bill before it was drafted.

Asked whether the ministry was making any effort to stop Islamic issues from being criticised by various quarters, Jamil said it was up to the various state religious councils.

"As religion is a state matter, such action falls within the respective states and its rulers," he said.

Asked about the views or suggestions of some religious scholars that any portion of the Federal Constitution that is inconsistent with syariah laws should be amended, Jamil said the matter needed further study.

The Bar Council has said unilateral conversion of a child’s religion goes against the spirit of the constitution as the definition of a parent in it means that permission had to be gained from the mother and father if they are still alive.

NONEThe confusion has come about because the Bahasa Malaysia version of the bill says “either the mother or father”.

Jamil also left it to the various state Islamic councils on how to tackle the alleged spread of the Shi’ite practice.

"The state level can take action as it is within their powers, as in Malaysia we recognise the ahli sunnah wal jamaah," he said.

Earlier, the minister handed out excellence awards to primary and religious school students and to teachers as well at a function in a hotel in Kuala Lumpur.

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