"The stand of the cabinet then as it is now in cases of custodial issues that have been raised because of conversion.
"We will have to respect the original religion of the parents at the point of marriage," the youth and sports minister told reporters.
However, he said there have been issues with the federal constitution concerning this matter that is still being clarified.
His statement comes just one day after Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom (right) stated in a parliamentary reply that consent from either one parent is enough for such a conversion, under Article 12 (4) of the federal constitution.
This pertains to the provision under the constitution that empowers parents to choose the religion of their children, but the wording uses the word 'parent' in its singular form.
He said the cabinet has directed Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail and relevant agencies to find a solution to this issue, and is still waiting for him to weigh in on it.
Asked if there is a deadline to resolve the issue, Khairy replied, "That has to be cleared up quite soon, otherwise there is a grey area now on what 'parent' means, is it 'parent' or 'parents'?”
However, a week earlier Jamil Khir had told the parliament that the government is still studying a mechanism to resolve unilateral conversions and interfaith custody battles.
On another matter, Khairy said that a cabinet reshuffle remains a speculation until Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak makes a decision.
He also added that Umno leaders remain supportive of Najib and his deputy Muhyiddin Yassin's leadership.
Msiakini
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