'HERO' Soi Lek jumps on conversion bandwagon: SLAMS non-Muslim ministers for cowardice

The MCA welcomes the decision by the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister for withdrawing the Administration of the Religion of Islam (Federal Territories) Bill 2013 which caused uneasiness among the non-Muslims.

The Cabinet has thought that the Bill would affect the non-Muslims hence it was a right move to withdraw the Bill.

The move to withdraw the Bill shows that the Government listens to the people and that it has heeded the people’s aspiration. However, I believe that the Bill was thoroughly deliberated in the Cabinet before tabling it for first reading in the Parliament.

I could not understand how did the non-Muslim Cabinet Ministers not aware about the differences in using the term of “mother or father” and “parents” in the Section 107(b) of the Bill until it was passed by the Cabinet for tabling in the Parliament.

The non-Muslims Cabinet Ministers should give the people an explanation as how could they allow such a sensitive Bill which involves the conversion of minors to be passed unanimously by the Cabinet.

Such a move had triggered many unnecessary controversies and this would also cost the Barisan Nasional Government its image, therefore the non-Muslims Cabinet members have the responsibility to explain to the public on their action.

We also support the call that the Section 95 of the Administration of Islamic Laws (FT) Act 1993, which also uses the same wordings of “mother or father” and other relevant State Enactments should be amended so that a conversion of a minor would need the consent of both parents.

Chua Soi Lek is the MCA president

马华总会长拿督斯里蔡细历医生文告（8-7-2013）

蔡细历：欢迎撤回伊行政法案，非穆斯林部长需解释为何呈国会一读

马华欢迎首相和副首相，撤回引起非穆斯林不安的2013年伊斯兰（联邦直辖区）行政法案。

内阁在考量这项法案对非穆斯林的影响深远，以及对非穆斯林可能带来的冲击后，因此决定撤回此法案，这是非法恰当的做法。

政府撤回该案，也显示国阵政府聆听了人民的心声，并俯顺民意撤回法案，这是让人感到欣慰。无论如何，我相信这项法案在提呈国会一读之前，应该是预先提呈内阁讨论。

令人不解的是，为何内阁里的非穆斯林部长，却没有发现法案第107（b）条文中“父亲或母亲”及“父母亲”的不同之处，以致会在内阁获得通过。

内阁里的非穆斯林部长，必须给予广大人民一个解释和交待，为何关系未成年子女改教的这么敏感的课题，内阁部长们却会达致共识通过，并提呈寻求国会的批准。

就由于内阁这样的举措，导致问题发生后，引发了诸多的争议，对国阵政府的形象也带来负面影响，非穆斯林部长是有责任做出解释。

马华也认同应修改同样使用“母亲或父亲”字眼的1993年伊斯兰（联邦直辖区）行政法案第95条文，以及其它相关的州法律，确保未成年儿女的改教必须获得父母两方的同意。