MCA Religious Harmony Bureau chairperson Ti Lian Ker yesterday stressed that the party had always been steadfast in opposing unilateral conversion, and it did not approve of the decision by Perlis to pass the amendment to state Syariah law to permit one parent to convert a minor to Islam.
He argued that the walkout of its Perlis assemblyman Khaw Hock Kong was not equivalent to an “abstention”, nor did it even remotely accord approval.
After Khaw’s failure to oppose the unilateral conversion amendment in the Assembly, MCA federal leaders have been trying to salvage the situation by claiming that Khaw’s walkout was a protest.
But the clear fact is that it was recorded in the Assembly record that Khaw had abstained.
MCA leaders like Ti Lian Ker should therefore not try to think that the people will accept their explanations which claimed that Khaw did not abstain.
If MCA is truly steadfast in opposing unilateral conversion, Khaw ought to have taken part in the Assembly debate and make clear MCA’s stand. But this he did not do.
Instead Khaw made a joke of himself by staging a protest walkout which only he knew and claimed as a protest.
How could someone stage a protest walkout without others including Assembly speaker, staff and reporters not knowing that it was a protest walkout?
MCA federal leaders will therefore have to admit that Khaw and the Party have failed the people on the unilateral conversion issue.
Ti Lian Ker has claimed that MCA has never wavered on its stand in opposing unilateral conversion of minors.
There are three issues which MCA should answer when their commitment in standing up for the people on the unilateral conversion issue has been questioned.
Firstly, why when Khaw had failed the people on such an important issue, MCA central leadership had not meted out tough disciplinary action against him?
Secondly, since the 2009 Cabinet decision banning unilateral conversion, what had MCA,MIC ministers been doing to bring about the necessary law changes in Parliament? Instead it has always been the DAP which has pressuring the government to do the necessary inside and outside the Parliament.
Thirdly, why is MCA not thinking of doing anything to correct its stand in the Assembly?
MCA has definitely let down the people and it cannot hope to redeem its image by mere talk and explanations.
If MCA wants to redeem itself, it should get the Mentri Besar of Perils to convene an emergency sitting of the State Assembly to nullify the unilateral conversion amendment. Anything less cannot and will not redeem MCA’S and MIC’s image.