UNC: No flip flopping on marriage bill

The Opposition abstained in the Senate when the vote for the Miscellaneous (Marriages) Bill was taken in January, he said, “because the Attorney General (Faris Al Rawi) removed the clause for the three fifths majority to a simple majority at the 99th hour when winding up his speech on the debate.” On criticisms for appointing two members of the Muslim and Hindu communities as Temporary Senators, Lee said, the United National Congress took that decision to allow them to voice their concerns in the Parliament “given that the Attorney General did not have proper consultations.” He said the two religious leaders were not representing the UNC but were representing the views of their faith .

“We allowed them for democracy and fairness. They would not have gotten that from the Independent or Government benches,” he said .

In the Senate and the House of Representatives, Lee said, all members, including permanent senators, who spoke were against child marriage. However, he said that what the Opposition wanted was equity when it called for an exception for girls between 16 and 18 years based on calls from the Hindu Women’s Organisation and the Network of NGOs .

The exception was proposed as an amendment at the Committee Stage of the bill but it was not allowed by the Attorney General .

“For the record we fought for the Network of NGOs who wanted that to be considered,” Lee said .

In the House of Representatives, all Opposition MPs voted for the bill, he said, “because it is a progressive step for the country.” The removal of the three fifths majority might be an issue, he said .

Based on discussions with some Hindu organisations and the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha, Lee said, “they are saying it could be challenged. That is now left in the Attorney General hands.” In his contribution, Lee said, he questioned the removal of the three fifths majority when the Attorney General said he was comfortable and sure about the bill being good law .

“The Opposition was always against, and still is, on the removal of the three fifths clause,” he said .

However, he said, if the Children’s Acts says that under 18 years is a minor, then the marriage bill has to harmonise with it .

“So, it was based on principle that we supported the bill,” he said .