Change the Constitution too, says Hindraf

Hindu rights movement calls on Malay rulers to follow Negeri example.

KUALA LUMPUR: The federal government should amend the Constitution to clear up an ambiguity about the meaning of the word parent, the Hindu-based movement Hindraf said today.

Hindraf chairman P. Waythamoorthy said the ambiguity in Article 12 and Article 121.1.A allowed any parent who converted to Islam to forcefully convert their children also without the consent of the other spouse.

Judges had not been willing to give a logical interpretation to the meaning of “parent”, he said.

Waythamoorthy applauded an initiative of Negeri Sembilan to require would-be Muslim converts to first obtain a divorce before conversion, and urged other Malay Rulers to follow the bold steps of fellow ruler in Negeri Sembilan “who acted in the interest of all his subjects”.

Hindraf Makkal Sakthi began more than 10 years ago as the Hindu Rights Action Force, a coalition of Hindu-based NGOs, to counter the demolition of Hindu temples and shrines across the country, and came to prominence in 2008 with a massive public protest on the streets of Kuala Lumpur. Its leaders were accused of terrorism and detained under the Internal Security Act.