Federal Court’s decision resounding victory for Malaysians — Kurup
KUCHING: The landmark decision by the Federal Court on Monday which ruled that one of the spouses who embraced Islam and the nonconverting partner must both give their consent for converting a minor to Islam, is a resounding victory to all Malaysians as it reflect the multi-racial composition of the country, says Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Joseph Kurup.
The five-man bench comprising Court of Appeal president Tan Sri Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin, Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Richard Malanjum and Federal Court judges Tan Sri Zainun Ali, Tan Sri Abu Samah Nordin and Tan Sri Ramly Ali set aside the unilateral conversion of kindergarten teacher M Indira Gandhi’s three children by her Muslim convert ex- husband Muhammad Riduan Abdullah ( K Pathmanathan).
Kurup, who is Minister- incharge of National Integration, said the case which he described as ‘a long drawn case of such a nature and propensity is the goodness of a fair judgment that the law stands above us all’.
“I trust that this is indeed the way forward for Malaysia as a moderate Muslim majority country. My sympathies goes out to M. Indira and family for the turmoil she and her family were undergoing and have endured. This matter can only be finally laid to rest when her daughter is found and reunited with the mother.
“I am certain that the judges in this case have dispensed the law in accordance with the tenets of humanity,” Kurup said when contacted yesterday.
He said now was the time to heal the wounds of different religious ideologies for both parties.
“It is timely to heal the wounds of divisive ideologies. A family is exposed to all sorts of obstacles and challenges but in instances such as these no single parent has the right to unilaterally convert a child and to deny the other parent the rights to a child.
“It is re- assuring to note that no parent has the right to unilaterally convert their child or children to any belief system or religion without the expressed knowledge of both the parents,” added Kurup.
He commended the Federal Court decision as it finally dispelled any ambiguity or misinterpretation in this respect.
“We believe that the police will enforce their magnanimity to help trace and reunite the missing child who has been forcibly taken away,” added Kurup, who is also Pensiangan (Sabah) MP.
M. Indira Gandhi’s children, two girls and a boy, now aged 20, 19, and nine years old were converted to Islam by their father Muhammad Riduan, 47, in April, 2009 without her (Indira Gandhi’s) consent after his conversion to Islam.
The children were then aged 12 and 11 years, and 11 months. The youngest daughter is with Muhammad Riduan while the two elder children are with their mother.