Unlikely for Selangor to retable unilateral conversion bill, says Liu

Selangor State Legislative Assembly which will commence its two-weeks sitting on Nov 1, is unlikely to push for the comeback of a unilateral conversion bill on minors.

This is according to Selangor DAP secretary Ronnie Liu (above) who said Selangor Pakatan Harapan had arrived a consensus not to table the amendment to a state enactment on Aug 8.

The Selangor Pakatan Harapan meeting chaired by the state menteri besar Amirudin Shari himself had agreed that the unilateral conversion bill is unconstitutional based on an apex court decision on the M Indira Gandhi's interfaith custody case, he said.

"Since the Federal Court ruled the word 'parent' in the relevant provision in Federal Constitution refers to both father and mother, we felt that it is unconstitutional to push for unilateral conversion in the state legislative assembly," Liu told Malaysiakini.

"The matter will not be pursued again (in the state legislative assembly)," he said.

Liu was referring to the landmark decision where Federal Court ruled that any conversion of non-Muslim must get the consent of both parents in January 2018.

Back then, the apex court also set aside the unilateral conversion of Indira's three children to Islam.

Liu, however declined to divulge if Amirudin explained to Selangor Harapan of his reason to attempt to push for the conversion bill.

Selangor speaker Ng Suee Lim was said to cut short the state legislative assembly sitting just after two days on July 31.

The sitting was scheduled to run from July 29 to Aug 9.

On Aug 8, Amirudin (above) said he did not rule out the possibility to retable again the unilateral conversion bill.

That was on the same night after Amirudin chaired the Selangor Harapan meeting which agreed in consensus not to push for the unilateral conversion bill.

When asked to comment, Liu believed that Amirudin will stick to the consensus of Selangor Harapan.

"I saw the video clip. The menteri besar was merely responded to a question of the journalist. I don't think he has intention to do so," said Liu, who is also the Sungai Pelek state assemblyperson.

A source told Malaysiakini that the Selangor speaker office has not received any notice from the menteri besar or state government to push for the unilatateral conversion bill or motion.

"There is no such bill sent to the Selangor speaker's office," said a source who is close to Selangor speaker's office on the condition of anonymity.

"Normally, it needs a two-week notice to notify the speaker on the new bill (or amendment of bill) before the state assembly commence.

A new bill can also be tabled in the state legislative branch during the sitting after securing the speaker sign the bill, the source said.

Both Ng and the Selangor deputy speaker Daroyah Alwi declined to comment when contacted.

The state legislative assembly sitting will be held between Nov 1 and Nov 14. It is expected Amirudin to table the state budget on the first day of the sitting.  - Mkini