Consent from the Conference of Rulers will only be an issue if proposed legal amendments to address unilateral conversion issues are passed by the Senate, a constitutional expert says.

Law professor Shad Saleem Faruqi said while Article 159(5) of the Federal Constitution allows the Conference of Rulers to withhold consent and prevent passing of certain laws, the powers can only be exercised once a Bill has been passed by the Dewan Negara.

"In 2009, I knew there were objections from their majesties (on the proposed amendments). As head of religion, they have the right and veto power to object.

"At the same time, this veto power does not prevent any Bill from being tabled. The Conference of Rulers does not have contraceptive powers," he told Malaysiakini .

Shad Saleem was asked to comment on the latest cabinet committee set up to look into the judgment in M Indira Gandhi's case (read the majority and minority judgments below).

The members of the new committee - Tourism Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz, Health Minister Dr S Subramaniam and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Jamil Khir Baharom - were previously involved in a 2009 committee that also looked into Indira's case.

Contacted for comment with regard to these latest developments, Nazri told Malaysiakini that he is currently overseas. Jamil Khir is similarly attending a conference in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

The Malay Mail today quoted Subramaniam as saying that he is confident that the latest committee would provide solutions in ensuring such cases will be a thing of the past.

“We had solutions then (in 2009) and presented them, but it did not materialise due to certain issues.

“I can't get into details but we are looking at every aspect, including civil law, religious sensitivities and also consent from the Rulers who are the guardians of Islam," said Subramaniam, who is also MIC president.

Shad Saleem said the cabinet committee is a sign that the government is taking steps to address the issue, but he believes amendments should be tabled in Parliament at the earliest opportunity possible.

Indira's three children were converted to Islam without her knowledge by her ex-husband, with the conversions quashed by the Ipoh High Court in July 2013.

On Dec 30 last year, the Court of Appeal panel headed by Justice Balia Yusof Wahi in a majority ruling held that the validity of conversion of Indira's three children by their Muslim father could only be determined by the syariah court.

The two elder children, Tevi Darsiny and Karan Dinish, are in Indira's custody while the youngest, Prasana Diksa, is with her ex-husband Muhammad Riduan Abdullah, despite a High Court ruling in 2011 awarding custody to the mother.

Majority judgment:

Minority judgment:

Related reports

Kula: Cabinet panel on conversions will amount to nothing

Rerun of cabinet conversions committee blasted

In conversions bind, did judges abdicate duty to heed precedents?