PETALING JAYA: The Federal Court's landmark ruling on the M. Indira Gandhi case has validated MCA's long-standing stance on unilateral conversion, said its religious harmony bureau chairman Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker (pic).
"MCA welcomes the decision of the apex court that has vindicated our stand on the interpretation of 'parent' to mean 'ibubapa' (mother and father) or parents and not 'ibu atau bapa' (mother or father) in the singular," he said, adding that the party had been consistent in its stand in this issue.
Ti welcomed the landmark ruling that nullified and voided the unilateral conversion of Indira's three children to Islam, and said that this will set a precedent for similar cases in future.
"MCA is very happy that the Federal Court has made the right decision in the interest of social justice, humanitarianism and family values," he said.
Ti said that Indira's case was a clear example of taking forceful guardianship of minors by shielding behind religious precepts.
"Religion in the correct perspective must be interpreted in the interest of social justice and humanity. We should not allow abuses like this to occur where minors are forced to convert," he added.
Ti also called for more individuals and activists to form platforms to ensure that politicians do not succumb to extreme views perpetuated by certain groups to gain political mileage.
The nine-year legal saga began in April 2009 when Indira's ex-husband Muhammad Riduan Abdullah converted her three children to Islam without her consent.
He later took their youngest child, Prasana Diksa, then 11 months old, from the family home while her two opther children, Tevi Darshiny, then 12, Karan Dinesh, then 11, remained with their mother.
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