Ka Ting: Non-Muslims are not to be subjected to any form of Syariah law - The Sun

BY Husna Yusop

KUALA LUMPUR (April 30, 3008): Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting (BN-Kulai) suggested in the Dewan Rakyat (Parliament) today several measures to deal with the various messages sent out by the voters in the recent general election.

On the religious rights of non-Muslims, he said the last three years witnessed an unprecedented number of religious matters involving the constitutional rights of non-Muslims with controversial cases like the late M. Moorthy and Gan Eng Gor, Lina Joy, detention of Revathi and the custody battle for the children of S. Shamala and R. Subashini.

“In situations involving non-Muslims who became a Muslim due to marriage, they should be allowed to renounce Islam when the marriage has ended.

“Similarly, if a child who was unilaterally converted to Islam by one parent without the consent of the other parent, the child should be allowed to maintain his or her own religion.

“This is until he or she attains the age of majority by which he or she is free to enter into a religion of his of her choice,” the MCA president said in his speech when debating the Royal Address.

He also brought up incidences whereby statements were made that the proposed legal amendments will affect and protect both Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

Urging the government to be transparent to avoid a repeat of the cases above, Ong said non-Muslims are not to be subjected to any form of Syariah law.

“And, for any disputes or overlapping areas between the jurisdiction of the civil and Syariah courts, civil laws must prevail,” he added.

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