Child conversion issue settled

No, I’m sorry it is not settled.  What if the future cabinet overturns this decision? How about the laws in place or not in place? What about the mindsets of religious leaders and enthusiastic followers? How about the ethics in relation to conversion? It’s not settled, it’s a short term solution, there’s more work to be done for ALL of us!

The Cabinet has decided that a child’s religion must be in accordance with the common religion at the time of marriage between the parents in the event that one of them opts to convert.

In announcing the cabinet’s decision at a press conference today, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said: "Conversion must not be used as a ground to automatically dissolve a marriage or to get custody of children."

He said any individual who wanted to convert to another religion must resolve all problems regarding his responsibilities before converting, to avoid innocent parties, especially the children, becoming victims.

He said the cabinet also decided that if a marriage was done under the civil court, it could only be dissolved under the civil law.

These were among the long-term solutions discussed by the Cabinet today in the wake of the latest case of Mohd Ridzuan Abdullah and his wife, M. Indira Gandhi, and several other similar cases before them.

Council of religions to appeal to rulers over ‘forced conversions’

I missed this press conference because I was at the Lutheran Jedi Council Meeting on that day. But we did have a brief comment on the importance of “conversions” of children in relation to our practice of infant baptism.

Unnecessary deaths in detention

I wonder too Alice, we all wonder . . .

I wonder how many deaths in detention could have been prevented, how much suffering avoided, if the government had invested all the resources it used in prosecuting Fernandez to monitor and reform immigration detention?

Why I am absent in court today

Now RPK goes missing.  Self-exiled, of course!

BERSIH: Abdul Aziz should resign as EC Chief

BERSIH proposes, any seconders?  All who agree say “Aye”, not “aiyo” okay?

EC Chairperson Abdul Aziz met representatives from both the BN and PR. However, no substantial issues on electoral reform have been discussed. It was very much a waste of time.

This was BERSIH’s press statement issued on April 22, which was not reported by many media, the exceptions are The Nut Graph, Malaysiakini and Merdeka Review:

The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (BERSIH) warns the Election Commission (EC) Chairperson Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof that his position would be untenable if he continues to act like a Barisan Nasional (BN) election agent.