Since the Cabinet made the decision to ban the unilateral conversion of minors in 2009, more than one committee was set up to study the necessary law changes required to put into real effect the Cabinet’s decision, he recalled.

But till today, pointed out Kulasegaran, and despite the high profile Indira Gandhi and S Deepa cases, and the trauma and pain that they had to go through and the extreme injustice that they have to suffer, the government has shown its lack of political will in putting into real effect the 2009 Cabinet decision.

Last February, reminded the MP, Negeri Sembilan Mentri Besar Mohamad Hassan said that the state would implement the “divorce first, then convert” ruling to prevent legal tussles and to protect the sanctity of Islam. “The heartless Federal Government did not respond to or follow Negeri Sembilan’s move.”

The government must not delay any more and must give a firm date as to when the necessary law reforms will be presented in Parliament, pleaded Kulasegaran.

The MP was commenting on de facto Law Minister Nancy Sukri informing Parliament on Wednesday that the government’s draft for law reforms was “ready”. “However, the minister in charge of Islamic affairs was still collecting feedback on the proposed legal changes.”

“Nancy was answering a Parliament question, on law reforms to ban unilateral conversion of minors, posed by Batu Kawan MP Kasturi Patto.”

Kulasegaran noted that Nancy gave her personal commitment to carry out law reforms. “She said that she does not want her religion to be misused by individuals for their own ends.”

However, her answer was most disappointing and is in fact a big cause for worry, lamented the MP. “Her answer may just mean that there will be further delays with probably no solution and no concrete action like what has happened over the last seven years.”