KUALA LUMPUR: Wanita MCA chief Datuk Heng Seai Kie has urged the government to reconsider its decision to withdraw Section 88A of the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976.
Heng said the Act was needed to resolve all disputes between divorced couples over their children’s religion, as well as to prevent those who “intend” to misuse religion to take revenge on their spouse.
In her opening address at the Wanita MCA 42nd Annual General Meeting, Heng said to improve the status of women, it is more effective to defend the rights and interest of women through the revision of national policies and laws.
"I would like to express my thanks and congratulations to the government for passing and amending the following Acts in August this year: the enactment of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act, the amendments to the Domestic Violence Act, and the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act, which are deemed to be more in line with current times, and suitable for today’s turn of affairs.
"However, my only regret in all of this is the withdrawal of the intended Section 88A [Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act], which was meant to resolve the issue of unilateral conversion of children by a converted parent.
"Although these issues are a main concern for the people, yet the solution to this has been temporarily set aside.
"A former husband or wife who has converted to Islam now can convert their children without the consent of their spouse," she said.
She added that this is one of the reasons why Wanita MCA has decided to set up the one-stop
Legal Advisory and Women’s Aid Centre (LAWA) centre in Dec 2014.
"By combining the resources and power of several government agencies and non-governmental organisations, LAWA aims to ensure justice for all women victims in Malaysia regardless of race, and to safeguard the rights and interests of Malaysian women.
"An example of this is when LAWA had helped Cheng @ Chuang Chau Yang, a single mother with her infant son who were banned to leave China after her divorce with his former Chinese husband in Shanghai, China.
"With the assistance of LAWA and the China Embassy in Malaysia, Cheng and her infant son had reunited with her ailing grandmother residing in Malaysia, when their travel bans were finally lifted after being stranded for four years." she said.
