[UPDATED] PAS’ Dewan Ulamak urges state authorities to allow unilateral conversions

KUALA LUMPUR – A day after single mother Loh Siew Hong was reunited with her three children who are now Muslims, PAS’ Dewan Ulamak has urged all to ensure the children remain in the faith and not be forced into apostasy.

In a statement, it also calls for state religious authorities to amend their respective enactment to allow for unilateral conversions and negate the need to seek approvals from both parents.

“Muslims have long been patient and we do not want the religious harmony guaranteed by the federal constitution to inflame the sentiments and anger of Muslims.

“We urge all parties with personal interests, whether religious or political, respect the right of children to choose Islam as their religion without prejudice. Avoid negative accusations that there was coercion to convert as their conversions were done with the consent of their father.”

The Dewan Ulamak has proposed for the government to establish a Religion Mediation Committee to ensure the welfare of children cared for by non-Muslim mothers or guardians is given priority in terms of nutrition and legitimate education that will see their faith maintained.

In addition, it calls for a constitutional amendment in Schedule 9 of the federal constitution to give shariah courts the power to conduct judicial reviews on conversion cases to avoid future conflict.

The controversy surrounding the conversion of Loh Siew Hong’s children started after it was revealed that the children were converted to Islam by her now ex-husband, and they were later cared for by religious authorities in Perlis.

Perlis mufti Datuk Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin said state Islamic laws do not need both parents to agree to the conversion as it can be done solely by either the father, mother or a legal guardian.

“I want to tell them that in 2016, the Perlis assembly amended the law mentioning ‘both the mother and father’ to ‘either the mother or father’. Any lawyer can refer to this (amendment). In terms of the law in Perlis, there is no breach.”

He said other states may require the consent of both parents, but this is not the case in Perlis.

Meanwhile, Penang mufti Datuk Seri Wan Salim Mohd Noor said the majority of Muslim scholars believe that only children who have reached the age of maturity can be given the freedom to choose the religion they want.

“There are also those who increased the age limit on choosing the religion as the person reaches maturity among other views.

“What needs to be considered in this issue is that the love and family relationship between parents and children remains strong and friendly even though they are of different religions,” he told The Vibes.

In this regard, Wan Salim said, the authorities have the right to instruct the scholars and muftis in the country to review the existing fatwa decision on the issue of freedom to choose religion in the interest of all parties.

“Actually, my view on this matter will forever be that a person’s freedom to choose a religion must be respected as the absolute rights of every individual.

“Let a person choose the religion he wants without being disturbed because that is the right of every individual guaranteed by the constitution.”

Meanwhile, Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, Pengerang MP and head of parliamentary select committee on Women, Children and Social Development, said Loh and her children have the absolute right to be protected under the laws of Malaysia.

“The rule of law is important; no authority is above the law.

“The federal constitution is the supreme law of our country, and interpretations by the Federal Court forms part of the constitution.”

She also warned that disruption will ensue if the rule of law is ignored. – The Vibes, February 22, 2022