Act 164 should be tabled in as it is in Dewan Rakyat's order paper: Jagir

PETALING JAYA: The Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) (Amendment) Act 2016 (Act 164) should be debated and passed as it is as the 11th item on the Dewan Rakyat's order paper.
Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) vice-president Jagir Singh said the Bill's amendment was aimed to overcome injustice which rose from the conversion of a single parent "where the marriage has been solemnised under civil law".
"The cases in point are S. Deepa and M. Indira Gandhi where the unilateral conversion of children had caused anguish to the non-converting spouse," he told theSun when contacted today.
Commenting on the statement by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, he said, "We are of the view that any fatwa, or edict, which is contrary to the Federal Constitution is null and void. The constitution is supreme.
"Since this proposed amendment is to right a wrong, it is definitely constitutional and should have been allowed in this session.
"The Bill's amendments is a result of years of negotiations with stakeholders, and therefore is not necessary to have further discussions on it," he added.