Two bills related to Islam appear to be key issues this session

Two bills revolving around Islam look set to be among the key issues of the first Parliament meeting of 2017, which began yesterday.

These are the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) (Amendment) Bill and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang's bill to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act (Act 355).

The first bill seeks, among others, to resolve problems regarding unilateral conversion.

First tabled in November last year, the bill touches on problems arising from divorce and child custody issues after a spouse has converted to Islam.

The bill seeks to include a new provision that stipulates that the religion of any child of a civil marriage shall maintain the same religion, even if one spouse converts to Islam, with the exception that both parents agree to the conversion...