MCA to oppose broadening of syariah court’s powers
(The Malay Mail Online) – The MCA has vowed to fight in Parliament against a proposed law giving the syariah court extensive powers to decide an individual’s Muslim status, after its leaders met with the country’s largest non-Muslim interfaith group here.
MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai (picture) reportedly labelled a few clauses in the Administration of the Religion of Islam (Federal Territories) Bill 2013 as violating freedom of religion.
“Cabinet must amend the Bill or retract the Bill. MCA will oppose the related proviso,” Liow was quoted saying by news portal fz.com.
The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) had in a meeting with the MCA yesterday shared its concerns on section 107 (b), clauses 51(3)(b)(X) and 51(3)(b)(XI) of the Bill.
The two clauses are on the syariah court’s jurisdiction to decide an individual’s religious status.
According to the news portal, clause 51(3)(b)(X) empowers the syariah court to declare that a person is no longer a Muslim, with the other clause giving the syariah court power to decide on whether a deceased person was a Muslim or otherwise at the time of death.
Sardar Jagir Singh, MCCBCHST’s deputy president, said jurisdiction in legal disputes over the religious status of individuals should lie with the civil court instead of the syariah court.
Read more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/mca-to-oppose-conversion-law-on-syariah-courts-powers
