By P. Ramakrishnan
How could Muhyiddin in all honesty claim that “We haven’t taken any position yet (on unilateral conversion).”
Muhyiddin, stop bul115h1tt1ng! Are you for or against unilateral conversion?
What about Pas and Umno, are you any better?
It must have come as a great shock to many when Perikatan Nasional chairman, Muhyiddin Yassin, declared, “We haven’t taken any position yet (on unilateral conversion for children). We will have to really look into every aspect from the point of view of the Federal Constitution, the law and what not,” he told reporters after meeting members of the Chinese community in Bukit Gambir town on March 2, 2022.
Muhyiddin, the Bersatu president, acknowledged that it was “a sensitive matter” and said the PN leadership needed to “properly” discuss what position the coalition should take.
The controversial issue of unilateral conversion for childrenis not something new but has been raging for many years even before 2018, ever since 2009 when the recalcitrant former husband of Indira Gandhi unilaterally converted his children after embracing Islam.
There has been a lot of debate and discussion inthe last 13 years, including an appalling High Court decision that gave custody of the three children to her husband in spite of Indira Gandhi not consenting to the conversion.
In 2018, after nine agonizing years, the Federal Court in a landmark ruling put an end to this unfair and unjust conversion by upholding that the consent of both parents was needed for the conversion of any child under 18 to another religion. This was in line with the Federal Constitution.
The Federal Court – the highest court in the land – had settled this issue once and for all. Following this ruling, the government policy is that there be no more unilateral conversion of children. The rule has clearly stated that unilateral conversion is null and void and unquestionably wrong.
With all this having taken place, how could Muhyiddin in all honesty claim that “We haven’t taken any position yet (on unilateral conversion).”
His ridiculous position: “We will have to really look into every aspect from the point of view of the Federal Constitution, the law and what not” has the stench of prevarication.
What nonsense is he talking about? What point of the Federal constitution, the law and what-not does he have to study before stating his stand on unilateral conversion?
Is he that dumb that it had not sunk into him that the Federal Court had cited the Federal Constitution to rule that such conversion without the consent of the other spouse is legally and morally wrong. The law is clear on this: No more unilateral conversion. So no more bul115h1tt1ng, Muhyiddin!
So what is there for Muhyiddin to ponder over and look into in order to arrive at a decision on this matter? At this point in time, the only option left to him is either to agree with the decision of the highest court in the land or side with the mufti of Perlis and ignore this decision. There is no other choice for him!
Now what about Pas and Umno? What is your position on this controversial issue? Do you accept the Federal Court’sdecision or not? You are required to state your position in Johore so that the voters will know what you stand for.
Will Pas and Umno have the courage and the integrity to state your stands clearly?
Dear Johoreans, you must demand for their stand on this issue – though settled by the court, there are elements which stubbornly refuse to face reality – to the point of dishonestly prevaricating or equivocating!
(The views expressed are those of the contributor and do not necessarily reflect the views of Rebuilding Malaysia.)
8 March 2022
