PETALING JAYA: MCA’s long-standing stance on unilateral conversion has been validated by the Federal Court’s landmark ruling on the M. Indira Gandhi case, 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 ‘ibu bapa’ (mother and father) or parents and not ‘ibu atau bapa’ (mother or father) in the singular,” he said, adding that the party has 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.
He added that religion in the correct perspective must be interpreted in the interest of social justice and humanity, and that abuses where minors are forced to convert should not be allowed.
MIC president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said the important decision by the Federal Court will stop cases of parents using the legal loophole in custody disputes.
Subramaniam also commended the court for confirming the interpretation of the Federal Constitution, which was previously used by proponents of unilateral conversion to defend the practice.
“This landmark decision has brought to an end the confusion and uncertainty caused to the families faced by the problems of unilateral conversion,” he said in a statement yesterday.
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