IN A FLASH 24 APRIL 2009

IN A FLASH 24 APRIL 2009

GOOD AFTERNOON AND SALAM MUHIBAH.

IT IS NOW TIME FOR IN A FLASH.

MCA said it is pleased to see positive developments in resolving the dispute on the religion of minors should one parent converts to Islam.

This step is in line with the 1Malaysia concept mooted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to harness harmony.

Gan Ping Sieu, MCA spokesperson and political education bureau chief, said in a statement Thursday that the Cabinet decision will resolve a long-standing issue which has taken a toll on the religious harmony of the country.

He was responding to the cabinet decision that where one parent converted to Islam, the children of the divorced parents had to be raised in the common religion at the time of marriage.

Gan said the MCA reaffirmed its position that if the religion of minor children cannot be agreed upon by both parents in the event that one parent embraced Islam, then the religion of the minor children should remain as status quo until the children attained the age of majority or 18 years old.

However, he said that the MCA observed that the Cabinet decision applied to cases where parents had divorced and one spouse had become a "mualaf" or convert.

Gan said questions remained for cases of civil marriages which had not been terminated by civil laws, for example, separation although one spouse had embraced Islam.

He added MCA is of the view that the Cabinet decision should apply to such cases even though the civil marriage has not been dissolved.

Gan said the same Cabinet directive should be implemented by state Islamic Affairs Departments and religious councils so that no attempt was made in any occasion to contravene the consensus which was reached by the leaders in the Cabinet.

He also stressed that such a Cabinet directive must be further consolidated through legislative reforms or by passing Acts in Parliament or amending the Federal Constitution.

This, he said, would prevent unnecessary confusion when families were torn apart with no amicable solution and some parties unfairly taking advantage of the court to gain custody and determine the child's faith.

The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Taoism also welcomed the cabinet decision.

Its president Datuk A. Vaithilingam, who is also the Malaysian Hindu Sangam president, described the decision as a wise move and a good beginning in resolving disputes among spouses.

He said the council is open to more discussions on this matter and will ensure full cooperation on the issue of conversion, particularly the conversion of non-Muslims to Islam.

He said the society also look forward to have discussions and dialogues with Muslims leaders on the matter.

/ENDS-BERNAMA


The grave of Sarawakian Lance Corporal Unggok Jugam, an Iban who was killed by the communists 54 years ago and buried by a roadside at Kilometre 4, Jalan Langgar in Alor Setar, will be relocated to a Christian cemetery at Jalan Sultanah.

Malaysian Armed Forces Veteran Affairs department public relations officer Mohd Yusrizal Abdul Razak said Unggok, a tracker with the British army, was killed on Feb 13, 1955 and buried at the site he was shot, which was then a forest area.

His grave would be relocated to the Christian cemetery following a request from family members, he added.

He said the disinterment would be conducted at 9am on Tuesday after the Iban "Miring" ceremony.
Mohd Yusrizal told BERNAMA that the reason for the relocation of the grave is to give proper interment to the warrior in appreciation of his deeds to the nation.

He said the exhumation of the grave would be carried out in the presence of Unggoh's next of kin.


//ENDS-BERNAMA

THAT’S THE END OF IN A FLASH FOR TODAY.

SALAM MUHIBAH.