Solution for conversion issue

PUTRAJAYA: Divorce matters involving civil marriages must be settled in a civil court even if one of the spouses converts to Islam under legal reforms to be tabled in Parliament in October.

“The amendments are meant to resolve any dispute between civil and syariah courts when a spouse embraces Islam,” Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.

In announcing changes to the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act to mark the national Women’s Day celebration yesterday, the Prime Minister said: “Any vacuum or overlap in existing laws can be resolved once changes are made to the Act.”

The amendments will be tabled by the Home Ministry.

The announcement yesterday followed Najib’s assurance in May that the Cabinet was finding ways to resolve inter-faith child custody conflicts between Muslim and non-Muslim parents.

These amendments were to ensure any party making claims to child custody and financial support was protected.

“Based on the principle of universal justice, the amendments to the Act will provide the opportunity for both parties to resolve their civil marriage issues in civil courts.

“This will allow both parties to carry on with their lives (after the divorce) including to remarry,” he said to the applause from a hall packed with women decked in pink to mark the celebration.

Also present were Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim, her deputies Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun and Datuk Azizah Mat Dun as well as prominent women personalities.

Najib said the changes made were based on the need to look after the interests, welfare and well-being of women and children.

The Cabinet, he said, had agreed to the amendments several months ago and he was waiting for the opportune time to announce it.

“This initiative proves that the Government is not only responsible to uphold Islam as the religion of the Federation but is also responsible to ensure the rights of other races and religions are protected.

“In fact, what the Government is doing is very much in line with Islamic principles which emphasise justice and the need to look after the interest of all parties,” he said.

Najib, who voiced concerns over cases of children being abused and raped, announced the setting up of a task force to look into this.

One of the Ministers in the Prime Minister’s Department would lead a group of agencies to see how this problem could be dealt with.

He said for a family, organisation and even for a nation to succeed, the women folk must be accomplished.

“The Government has lined up many initiatives for women through Budgets, Malaysia Plans. We even have a dedicated ministry for women, which not many countries can boast of. We are always thinking of how we can continue to empower and enrich women for when a woman is successful, we will also be successful,” he said.

Najib said in the public sector, 34% of those who held high management positions in the Government were women.

The private sector recorded 26%, which is lower than the 30% target set.