At the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday it is now revealed that three Ministers have been tasked to resolve the on going interfaith religious conversion case of Indira Gandhi.
The 3 Ministers are Subramaniam, Mohd. Nazri and Jamil Khir.
In 2009 Indira’s husband one Pathmanathan converted to Islam and later converted all the three minor children to Islam also. The children’s conversion was done without the knowledge of consent of Indira. This led to Indira filing and obtaining custody of the 3 children while her husband obtained a similar order from the Syariah court.
A Indira succeeded in cancelling the certificates of conversion issued by the Perak religious Department in 2013 in the High court of Ipoh. On appeal by 2-1 majority the Court of Appeal said this is a Islamic matter as such the civil court cannot cancel(nullify) the conversion certificates.
This decision has touched the ordinary Malaysians and is been discussed at all levels in our country.
Thus the Cabinet has now reacted by getting the 3 Ministers( or Mouseketeers) to resolve the matter and apparently met up with the AG.
In 2009 and later in 2013 a similar Cabinet committee we formed. Only in 2009 the Cabinet issued a non legally binding directive namely that when only one spouse converts the children shall be brought up in the faith there were before the conversion. This directive been advisory as such no one followed it.Nothing else materialise to date from the committees. Forming toothless committee is useless.
The public is asking why it’s so urgent to resolve this interfaith tussle now although this issue has been in the publics domain like a sore thump since 7 years ago that’s in 2009.
I have been consistently raising this issue in Parliament for a quick and a “win win” situation for all since 2009.
Going by previous conduct I doubt any thing drastic will take place to resolve those who are caught in religious conversion matters like Indira.
“The three Cabinet ministers had met the attorney-general on Thursday. Its hope they would reveal what was discussed to the public as many have expressed their concerns on the recent Court of Appeal decision which declared that unilateral conversions were not unconstitutional.”
If the Government is serious on this issue the PM should himself take the lead and resolve this sensitive and touchy issue. Only the PM himself may find a road map for a permanent solution.
The PM seems to dragging his feet on this controversial issue and without a finality. It very clearly shows he lacks real commitment and the political will to resolve the issue.
Today’s is Indira’s 41st birthday. Hope her wish will come true soon for her to be united with her 3rd and last child who was snatched way by the convert husband when the toddler was only 11months old and was breast fed by Indira.