The much anticipated legislative amendments to the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976 was postponed for further refinement, said Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Speaking to reporters in Putrajaya today, Ahmad Zahid this was necessary following feedback received on the bill.
"The attorney-general has been asked to study the feedback and look into the proposed amendments together with religious experts.
"This is to ensure the amendments will not be against Islamic fatwa or the Federal Constitution," said Ahmad Zahid, according to StarOnline.
He added that this does not mean that Putrajaya was back-tracking on its promise to protect non-Muslim interests.
The bill was on the order paper for the Dewan Rakyat sitting that just ended today, but was eventually skipped.
Putrajaya had sought the amendments to prevent abuse by Muslim convert spouses who convert their children to Islam without the knowledge of the partner.
This bill drew scorn from several Muslim NGOs as well as Perak mufti Harussani Zakaria.
Harussani argued that the bill was unconstitutional and an insult to Islam. He claimed that the bill was against a fatwa in 2009 which stated that underaged children would automatically be a Muslim convert if either of their parents embraced Islam.
In a related development, MCA Wanita head Heng Seai Kie urged Putrajaya to stop delaying the bill because it would embolden more irresponsible people to abuse the law.
"Further delays to table the bill will embolden more irresponsible convert husbands to thumb their noses at the civil courts and take advantage of the Syariah Court to gain an upper hand in custody battles.
"To realise the ideals of 1Malaysia where the interests of all religions are represented and protected, especially for spouses whose children were snatched away and kept separated by their muallaf spouse, we need a government with a steely resolve to not cave in to pressure by ultra conservatives."- Mkini
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