KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: A study on the right of a child to choose his or her religion by the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) is almost ready.

Commissioner Datuk Dr Raj Abdul Karim said that the study involved religious scholars, academicians and practitioners.

Dr Raj, who is in the commission's Law Reform and International Treaties Working Group in charge of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), said expert opinions would be sought before tabling the results of the study to the commission.

'By the end of the year, we should come up with a clearer stand on the issue. We are meeting some experts. There has to be consensus and opinions of experts,' Dr Raj said, during the launch of a report of the forum on Malaysia's reservations to the CRC here yesterday.

When asked how the issue of conversion with regard to the Syariah Law would be handled, she said: 'I hope that when we table the results of the study, we will be joined by the religious scholars, academicians, practioners and those involved in the issue so that they will explain their positions.'

Dr Raj said the study was conducted because Article 14 of the CRC stated that 'parties shall respect the right of the child to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.'

'We are looking at laws when children reach the level of maturity, when they can decide and how they can be given guidance so that they will be able to make responsible decisions or informed choices,' she added.