Interfaith divorce: Issues from civil marriage must be resolved in civil courts - PM

The Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today said any issues arising from civil marriages must be resolved in civil courts.

He said the move is in view of the Cabinet's approval to table a Bill to amend the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976 in Parliament in October, after taking into consideration issues involving interfaith divorces.

In Dec last year, the Court of Appeal in a 2-1 majority decision ruled that matters relating to Islam, religious issues and whether a person is Muslim, fell exclusively under the Syariah Court.

Speaking at the government' Women's Day Celebration here today, he said the government realised there were many complications that arose when one of the partner in a marriage converts to Islam.

“Deputy prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and I and other Cabinet members have agreed to amend the Act,” he said

READ: Court of Appeal rules Syariah Court has exclusive jurisdiction over conversion issues

The ruling was made in the case of M. Indira Gandhi, a kindergarten teacher who took up to the courts questioning the validity of her three children' conversion to Islam seven years ago by her former husband who had converted.