You better be very very worried for yourselves and your children!

You better be very very worried for yourselves and your children!
This blog is specially created for Christians who are apolitical or just
unaware. For Christians who couldn't care less what happens outside their
church. For Christians who do not know that this country could end up being an
Islamic State. For Christians who are not aware of our 'actual' position as
non-Malay/non-Muslim Malaysians. "ONE OF THE PENALTIES FOR REFUSING TO
PARTICIPATE IN POLITICS IS THAT YOU END UP BEING GOVERNED BY YOUR INFERIORS".
PLATO
Sunday, November 4, 2007
They never respect other faiths, do they?
Cabinet should halt all temple demolitions - set up RCI on Kampung Rimba Jaya
Sri Maha Mariaman Temple demolition
The Cabinet on Wednesday should issue a directive for a total halt to all temple
demolitions in the country and set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry into
Tuesday?s Kampung Rimba Jaya Sri Maha Mariaman Temple demolition in Shah Alam
and to draw up national guidelines for all future demolitions to ensure they do
not trample on religious and cultural sensitivities.
All temple demolitions should stop until the Royal Commission of Inquiry has
come out with its report and recommendations for national guidelines for all
future demolitions of places of worship which take fully into account the
Merdeka social contract 50 years ago which assured all religions a rightful
place in the country, the first Rukunegara principle of ?Belief in God? as well
as the religious and cultural sensitivities of a multi-religious and
multi-racial Malaysia.
What happened at Kampung Rimba Jaya on Tuesday, where brute and naked force was
displayed by the Shah Alam City Hall (MBSA) enforcement authorities in utter
disregard of proper procedures, religious and cultural sensitivities in the
demolition of the 40-year-old Sri Maha Mariaman Temple, resulting in many
injured, 20 people including four lawyers arrested, has caused great damage to
Malaysian nation-building and is most shameful especially in a year when the
country is celebrating 50 years of independent nationhood.
The highhanded and reckless manner in which the Sri Maha Mariaman Temple was
demolished had raised the question, not only in Malaysia but internationally,
whether Malaysia really respects the fundamental and constitutional rights of
Malaysians to ?freedom of religion? as enshrined in Article 11 of the Federal
Constitution.
It is no exaggeration to say that to a significant section of the Malaysian
population, the 50th Merdeka anniversary celebrations have been rendered
meaningless by such arbitrary actions by those in authority which are completely
contemptuous of the legitimate rights and sensitivities of different communities
and religions in the country.
This is why SUHAKAM, the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism,
Christianity, Hinduism, Sikkhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST), Malaysia Hindu Sangam
and various organizations including political parties had deplored and condemned
the MBSA demolition actions.
This was also why DAP MP for Ipoh Barat and National Vice Chairman M.
Kulasegaran had sought to have an emergency debate in Parliament on the temple
demolition on Thursday but his motion was rejected by the Deputy Speaker, Datuk
Lim Si Cheng on completely unacceptable grounds.
The Cabinet can go a long way to make amends for the great harm done to
Malaysian nation-building and the country?s reputation of respect for all
religions by Tuesday?s temple demolition by issuing a directive on Wednesday for
an immediate halt to all demolitions of temples and places of worship, as well
as establishing a Royal Commission of Inquiry tasked with two terms of
reference:
? To inquire into Tuesday?s high-handed demolition of the Sri Maha Mariaman
temple in Kampung Rimba Jaya near Shah Alam and to identify the state and local
authority officials responsible for abuses and excesses of power; and
? To draw up national guidelines for all future demolitions of places of worship
which do not trample on religious and cultural sensitivities by taking fully
into account the fundamental right of ?freedom of religion? assured to all
Malaysians.
If the Cabinet on Wednesday can issue such a directive and set up such a Royal
Commission of Inquiry, it will be the best Deepavali gift of the Malaysian
government.
Let all Cabinet Ministers, whether MIC, MCA, Gerakan, UMNO or from the Sabah and
Sarawak Barisan Nasional parties, prove that they can act in unison in the
larger Malaysian interest on the occasion of the nation?s 50th Merdeka
anniversary to lay a firm basis for a plural nation by ending all high-handed
demolitions of temples and places of worship which trample on religious and
cultural sensitivities, and in so doing, making a magnificent Deepavali present
not only to Malaysian Hindus but to all Malaysians as well.
Posted by ANTHONY JOSEPH at 9:08 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Resting
I am resting since Christians don't seem to be interested in what I write.
Neither do they post any comments or their thoughts.
Posted by ANTHONY JOSEPH at 3:48 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Reforms proposed by chief justice to introduce Islamic law
Malaysia
Switching to Islamic law
Reforms proposed by chief justice to introduce Islamic law across the land.
Daily Telegraph.
Sept 4, 2007
Hardline Islamic law could be introduced across Malaysia under reforms proposed
by the country?s chief justice.
As the nation in south-east Asia celebrated 50 years of independence from
Britain yesterday, its government was preparing to discuss a plan that would
revolutionise the legal system put in place by its former colonial
administrators.
As Kuala Lumpur witnessed celebrations that included parades, fireworks and a
fighter-jet fly-by attended by the Duke of York, the proposal pointed to the
deep differences which locals say are poisoning social relations beyond the
glitter and skyscrapers of Malaysia?s modern capital city.
Ahmad Fairuz, the chief justice, told an Islamic conference in Kuala Lumpur that
50 years of independence had failed to free Malaysia from the ?clutches of
colonialism?.
Sharia law should be ?infused? into the gaps created by abolishing common law,
he said.
Malaysia?s non-Muslim Chinese and Indian communities, who form 40 per cent of
the population, are alarmed at creeping Islamisation.
Abdul Badawi, the prime minister, this month joined other leaders for the first
time in denying what the British-authored constitution has said for 50 years -
that Malaysia is a secular state.
Sharia law already operates in some Malaysian states and is occasionally applied
to non-Muslims, as in July when Islamic officials forcibly separated a
Hindu-Muslim couple with six children after 21 years of marriage.
The majority ethnic Malays are defined as Muslim by law and forbidden from
converting.Racial tensions are already high due to official discrimination in
favour of Malays, who enjoy better employment opportunities, preferential loans
and lower house prices.
Dr Mohd Hatta, of the Islamic Party, welcomed the latest proposal in principle,
but said: ?The chief justice should be enforcing laws, not making them.?
Meanwhile, dissent is increasingly harshly repressed. Journalists and bloggers
say they are tailed by police and their phones are tapped. (Daily Telegraph)
Posted by ANTHONY JOSEPH at 7:04 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Saturday, September 1, 2007
They Have Taken Our Malaysia From Us
They Have Taken Our Malaysia From Us PDF Print E-mail
Written by Farish A. Noor
Friday, 17 August 2007
(NOTE: This article first appeared in Off The Edge, Issue 32, August 2007)
This being the August issue, I felt compelled to write a laudatory paean to
Malaysia and all things Malaysian. Marooned as I am in rainy Berlin at the
moment, my heart-strings were pulled by the warmer climes of Malaysia, where
indeed the grass is greener (even if the air is hazier). But as I sat down to
type these words, I could not help but reflect on the loss of so many things I
cherish and hold dear.
I am an academic who delves in history and political science. Apart from that I
happen to nurse a penchant for antiques related to Malaysia. Over the past
twenty years that I have spent in Europe, I have trawled around all the great
antique bazaars and flea markets of Europe in a desperate attempt to recover the
country I left, only to find that my Sisiphean efforts have come to naught. Like
that ill-fated Corinthian; every map I found, every postcard I retrieved, every
little artefact I discovered was soon overwhelmed by the tide of bilious poison
that passes as political discourse in this country. What was the point of trying
my darnest to piece together pieces of Baba-Nyonya peranakan art, when racist
ethno-nationalists continue to harp on and on about racial purity and the
dominance of their tribe? What was the point of emphasising the marginal voices
of hybrid individuals when the dominant politics of the country remained fixed
by the hegemonising discourse of racial difference?
The forlorn outcome of this impossible quest was brought home to me during my
recent visit to Lembah Bujang in the company of Lois Lane who thankfully did the
driving, thereby ensuring that we did not end up in Thailand by accident. As we
walked amongst the ruins of these once-great monuments of our ancient past, we
wondered how many Malaysians have even heard of the place or visited it.
Furthermore the re-location of all these pre-Islamic monuments from their
original habitus to one fixed and confined space seemed to suggest the feverish
need to somehow corral our history, as if the Hindu-Buddhist era of the
Malaysian Peninsula can be compressed into a space no bigger than a hockey
field.
Is this what Malaysia has become? Has the compartmentalising logic of racial and
religious politics finally succeeded in dividing Malaysian society once and for
all; and what will be the fate of those who dare to transgress these ideological
frontiers? We have all witnessed the sad fate of Lina Joy and Massosai Revathi,
who have been caught up in the legal imbroglio that is the direct result of
Malaysia?s twin legal systems and the attempts to impose Islamic law on them.
When I cast a glance at my collection of Malaysiana, I wonder to myself: Where
is this country? Does it still exist? Who took Malaysia away from us?
They have robbed us of our country, that country called Malaysia. It began in
the late 1960s when Tunku Abdul Rahman upped the stakes in the Islamisation race
after UMNO?s poor showing at the 1969 elections. Then in the 1970s Malaysia was
reduced even more when Anwar Ibrahim and his gang began to harp on about Malay
rights and the Malay language, while furthering their own exclusive
religio-political agenda. This was the time when the hotbloods of the Islamist
camp began their own ?moral policing? on campus, breaking into dormitories and
warning Malay-Muslim students not to behave immorally in the company of the
dreaded kafirs. Then it was further intensified in the 1980s when Mahathir
stepped on the accelerator and Malaysia?s Islamisation programme took off in
earnest, leading to the introduction of ?Islamic values? at work, the rise of
the Shariah courts and the emergence of the ?faith rehabilitation centres? where
fellow citizens like Revathi have been interned. Today we witness the pathetic
spectacle of yet another attempt to smuggle religion into the public political
domain, under the cloak of a ?civilisational Islam? that oddly enough has no
problems living with repressive laws like the Internal Security Act?
But perhaps the most worrying thing of all is the evident intolerance that has
become so dangerously normalised in this country of ours: The Youth Wing of UMNO
have no worries about putting up banners warning others ?Not to try our
patience?; oblivious of the fact that for five decades it is we Malaysians who
have had to be patient with the amateur theatricals of UMNO Youth in the first
place. Non-Muslims have been warned not to ?try the patience? of Muslim
demagogues, despite the fact that for half a century now it is they, the Muslim
conservatives, who have been trying our patience by imposing their sectarian and
exclusive worldview on the nation as a whole. Malaysians have been told not to
keep dogs as pets, not to play music too loud, not to serve pork in public
restaurants, not to dress provocatively, not to question or demand ? by those
whose comfort zone is inviolable and for whom the agenda of Ketuanan
Melayu-Islam is sacrosanct. Where is the Malaysian Constitution in the midst of
all this, and whatever happened to the idea that this nation-state is the common
home of all Malaysians, of all races and creeds?
Lest we forget ? and we should not ? this is our homeland, our nation, our
country. It belongs to all of us, all Malaysians, on the basis of a shared
common universal citizenship that makes us equal. The concessions that were made
to the ethno-nationalists in the past have borne fruit and we now see the
disastrous impact on nation-building: After decades of promoting an exclusive
communitarian approach to the national language issue, we have finally come to
realise that our national language is Bahasa Malaysia, and not Bahasa Melayu
after all.
How much more damage can this young nation take, before the Malaysian project
unravels before our eyes? Already reports indicate that the liberal sector of
the country is abandoning ship in droves, seeking other lands where the freedom
to think and speak is granted without fear of a racist backlash in turn. Yet the
soap-box orators and jaguh kampungs we count as our leaders in this country
continue to speak a language of blood and belonging that is essentialist,
divisive and ultimately detrimental to the idea of Malaysia itself.
With all this in mind, I cannot for the life of me find reason to celebrate the
50th anniversary of Malaysia, for in all honestly I do not even recognise my
Malaysia any longer. Worst still, I cannot even answer the question of whether
Malaysia will still exist in 50 years time. They, the politicians, have robbed
our country from us, and they continue to do so, still. Damn them, all.
Posted by ANTHONY JOSEPH at 8:17 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Friday, August 31, 2007
Do we have reasons to worry?
The approaching twilight at 50
Category: General
Posted by: Raja Petra
by Seven Members of the Malaysian Diaspora
As Malaysia celebrates its Golden jubilee, its citizens should take a step back
and reflect on the present situation and consider where this country may be
heading towards in the near future. A few of us now living abroad, varying in
age and from the three main cultural backgrounds of Malaysia, decided to focus
on one troubling aspect of Malaysia today and what it bodes for the future; that
of religious extremism.
The recent controversies pivoted upon Islamic issues are an indication of the
state of emergency that Malaysia is facing right now. The long list of religious
conflicts, the unilateral declaration of Malaysia being an Islamic State (by
both current and former executives), the judiciary pandering to the Shariah
system culminating in the asinine statement by the present Chief Justice on
scrapping the Common Law system in favor of Shariah, are but a few of the many
examples of the impending disaster unfolding in Malaysia. As if that weren't
enough, we have witnessed the emergence of the Malaysian chapter of an
international extremist organization, Hizb ut-Tahrir, that recently held a
convention in Malaysia. Those not familiar with Hizb ut-Tahrir need only to
Google some images or videos of their protests in the United Kingdom and observe
their ranting and raving along with the statements written on the placards
displayed during their protests.
It is a commonly held perception that the present UMNO-led government has
overseen the rapid politicization of Islam merely to distract from various
governance issues. While this may certainly be true, the main reasons or
motivation behind this Islamization process may have a much more darker aspect
behind it. The Islamization process isn't a primary policy initiative in and of
itself so much as it is really a consequence, or response, to a certain
malignancy plaguing certain segments of Malaysian Muslims. Our very own local
end-products of this malignancy include such 'notables' as the late Azahari
Hussein (Bali bomber), his accomplice Noordin Top (presently on the run),
Zulkifli bin Hir (Kumpulan Mujahidin Malaysia, and also among the list of most
wanted terrorists), as well as two Malaysians who were recently detained at
Guantanamo Bay for terrorism-related activities. Certainly not something to be
proud of for the Malaysia Boleh Book of Records.
This government-sanctioned Islamization process we are witnessing in Malaysia
then has the purpose of not only countering the political challengers (the PAS
and Hizb ut-Tahrir types) but also to pull the wind out of the sails of the
violent extremists (KMM / JI / al-Qaeda offshoot types). This modus operandi
should be very familiar to all. Just look at the Middle East and Pakistan, to
see how governments there pander to Islamist extremists and the forced
imposition of ultra-conservative Arab cultural norms (masquerading as religion)
to forestall or prevent violent revolution or serious political challenges.
But both routes of Islamization (government facilitation vs. terrorism/violent
revolution) ultimately lead to the same outcome: a failed-state of gargantuan
proportions in terms of economic, political and sociocultural aspects, akin to
every other nation who has taken the so-called "Islamic State" route.
That Malaysia is or isn't presently an "Islamic State" is irrelevant. Neither
are any arguments on whether Malaysia may or may not become an "Islamic State"
in the near future. The only thing that matters is the stark reality that we
have been witnessing a series of successive approximation toward a totalitarian
fascist state operating on the basis of what a few religious extremists think
the rest of the population should adhere to. Not to mention the corrupt
politicians who acquiesce to the extremists in return for little interference
while they rob the nation blind.
Given the present trajectory, a failed-state will be Malaysia's ultimate and
rather unavoidable fate. It doesn't matter if BN and UMNO are voted out tomorrow
--- any realistically inevitable Malay-dominated alternative government
(including PKR and Anwar Ibrahim) will have to pander to the Islamist extremists
to maintain a relatively stable hold on power. In fact, as ironic as it may
seem, BN and UMNO remaining in power will actually result in more time and
wiggle room (simply by virtue of incumbent stagnation) before Malaysia as we
know it collapses under the strain of religious extremism --- helped along, of
course, by corruption, race-based politics, ineptitude, and the general malaise
brought about by the synergistic interaction of the "tidak-apa" mentality and
the "katak bawah tempurung" outlook in life.
But there is an alternative for those who do not wish to sink with this country
over questionable religious ideals they do not share. This is an alternative
path that has been traversed by many Malaysians from all walks of life before,
more often than not, resulting in much success and happier lives. Those who have
the means to and who have been toying with the idea, should prepare to emigrate
immediately. Those who do not have the immediate means, should start planning
ahead for alternatives....and keep in mind that migrating to the West is not the
only available option. Those of you who are students abroad should work hard and
come out tops in your graduating class, acquire internships, jobs, and get
involved in professional networks that may help you on your way towards
establishing the roots of residency in your adopted countries. Those who are
stuck have our best wishes, cold as it may initially seem, but perhaps a
Malaysian diaspora who may find their unity while abroad rather than at home may
someday be able to provide emigration opportunities for some of those not
fortunate enough to leave on their own accord or resources.
But before we wrap up, we'd like to stress on two important points that should
be kept in mind.
Firstly, this malignancy of religious extremism coursing through the lifeblood
of Malaysia is in no way a negative reflection upon the vast majority of
Malaysian Muslims. Like their Muslim brothers and sisters elsewhere in the
world, they are perfectly ordinary law-abiding folks who have the misfortune of
bankrupt politicians and religious zealots playing pucks with their faith. Like
their fellow Muslims elsewhere, the Malaysian Muslims will ultimately become the
first victims of religious extremism (and some might say they are already being
victimized). Therefore, is anybody really surprised that Malay-Muslims make up
the majority of those relinquishing their Malaysian citizenship for foreign
lands, as recently reported (and then defensively retracted) by the government?
Secondly, potential Malaysian emigrants should keep in mind that it does not
make you a lesser person to abandon a sinking ship or to decide not to remain
and "fight" for a better future in Malaysia. The modern era of the "global
village", not to mention the recognition of merit almost everywhere else except
in Malaysia, makes such a "fight" irrelevant.
So, to fellow Malaysians who may soon be joining the diaspora, we wish you bon
voyage and best of luck. And may you find your true Merdeka!
Best Regards,
Seven Members of the Malaysian Diaspora
Posted by ANTHONY JOSEPH at 11:41 AM 1 comments Links to this post
Thursday, August 30, 2007
50 YEARS OF ISLAMISATION
50 YEARS OF ISLAMISATION
Compiled by Aneel David Kannabhiran
1957: The Reid Commission drafted the Federal Constitution, and at the behest of
one of the Commission members, Mr. Justice Abdul Hamid of West Pakistan High
Court, Article 3 (1) was formulated as such: ?Islam is the religion of the
Federation ??
1966: Restrictions were placed on the employment, entry and residence of priests
and religious personnel. This led to the reduction of religious personnel in
mission schools.
1974: The Red Cross Society was re-named Red Crescent Society.
1974 to present: The airing of Islamic television and radio programmes began
increasing. From 1974 onwards, prime time television programmes were paused to
air the Azans [Muslim prayer]. In 1982 Islamic content on TV stood at 10 per
cent; in 1988 it rose to 17.5 per cent.
In 2007, new station TV9 was launched, which features mainly Islamic
programming. There is no coverage of non-Muslim religious programmes, save for
during the respective festivals.
Songs that contain the word ?Jesus? have been banned [eg: ?Jesus to a Child? by
George Michael], as well as movies depicting prophets [eg: ?Prince of Egypt?, a
film about the life of Moses].
1979: The Islamic Revolution and revivalism in Iran had a direct effect on
Muslims here. Muslim clerics began exhorting their faithful to return to the
fundamentals of the faith. The Angkatan Budaya Islam Malaysia [Malaysian Islamic
Cultural Force] (ABIM) led by Anwar Ibrahim started the dakwah [the call]
movement mainly among government college and university students.
Muslim women, for the first time, were seen donning the tudung [head covering].
Over the years, wearing of the tudung has become the norm amongst Muslim women.
1981: The Indonesian translation of the Bible ? ?Alkitab? was banned under the
Internal Security Act. The ban was later lifted on condition the books were
restricted to Christian use.
In 2000, the Bahasa Malaysia translation of ?Alkitab? was confiscated by the
Special Branch from the Daughters of St. Paul bookstore in Petaling Jaya. The
then Deputy PM Abdullah Badawi later released the books on condition that the
words ?for Christians only? were printed on the cover.
1984: It became illegal for non-Muslims to use 49 ?Islamic? words including
Allah [God], Alhamdulilah [Praise be to God] and Insya Allah [God willing].
1985: The then Deputy Prime Minister [PM] Datuk Musa Hitam said, ?The government
has set up a committee to co-ordinate the various aspects of Islamic Syariah and
civil laws in line with efforts to infuse Islamic values into the
Administration.? [New Straits Times (NST) 9 March ?85]
Aug 1986: ABIM proposes to government that, ?Islamic laws be the basis of
legislation in Malaysia.? [NST 25 Aug ?86]
Sep 1986: The Federal and State governments agreed to the integration of Syariah
and Civil Courts. The then Lord President Tun Salleh Abas said this integration
was a first step toward the Islamisation of laws in the country. He also said
that changes should not be made drastically ? the best changes are those which
are imperceptible. [The Star 25 Sep ?86]
The above situation led to a written protest by the Malaysian Consultative
Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Sikhism [MCCBCHS], and a
nationwide church and temple signature campaign denouncing the plans.
1988: The then Minister of Education Anwar Ibrahim, directed all Principals,
aged fifty-five and above who were religious, to stop service with immediate
effect. The Principals who took over were mostly Muslim.
Subsequently,
* Moral Education replaced Christian religious education in these schools. The
majority of Moral Education teachers were Muslim.
* Crucifixes in mission schools were removed.
* School history textbooks glorified Islam and Islamic civilisation over other
religions.
* ?Islamic Civilisation? was introduced as a compulsory subject for all
university students.
1988: Article 121 of the Federal Constitution was amended by Art. 121 (1A), to
state that, the Civil Courts ?shall have no jurisdiction in respect of any
matter within the jurisdiction of the Syariah Courts.?
The result of this amendment led to the Civil Courts being unable to adjudicate
in cases where the Islamic ingredient is present notwithstanding the fact the
person seeking judicial relief or remedy is a non-Muslim, especially in matters
related to conversion, matrimony, children?s custody and burial.
Over the years, case law has shown:
* a person who converts to Islam can get his/her civil marriage dissolved by the
Syariah court, automatically gains custody of children and is allowed to convert
them without the non-Muslim parent?s consent [Subashini v Saravanan].
* a person who converts out of Islam cannot change religious status on his/her
Identity Card without permission from the Syariah Court [Lina Joy case].
* a person who applies to the Syariah Court to convert away from Islam is forced
into rehabilitative detention [Revathi Masoosai case ].
* State Islamic authorities are given power by the Syariah Courts to claim,
exhume and bury deceased persons who they deem as Muslims, regardless of the
insistence of family members to the contrary [Moorthy Marian and Rayappan
Anthony cases].
1980s: In line with Article 11 (4) of the Federal Constitution: ?State and
federal law may restrict the propagation of any other religious doctrine among
Muslims?, the Control and Restriction of the Propagation of Non-Islamic
Religions Enactment was passed in six states. The penalties for such violations
are a maximum RM10,000 fine or one year?s jail, or both.
Five persons including a former Muslim were detained without trial under the ISA
for allegedly performing missionary work amongst Muslims.
During the 80s the print media attempted to portray that Christian evangelism
was a threat to the Muslim faith. As an example, on 9 Oct ?87, the NST reported
that, ?Christians attempted to convert Muslims with bribe money?. On 5 Oct ?87
Mingguan Islam alleged that US$100bil was provided by the ?World Federation of
Churches? for the Christianisation of Muslims. The Malaysian Consultative
Council on Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Sikhism [MCCBCHS] asserted that
both these stories were false. Furthermore, there is no such body as the ?World
Federation of Churches?
1980s to present: Approvals for building of non-Muslim places of worship became
increasingly difficult. Unusual conditions were imposed ? height restrictions on
steeples, design restrictions temple domes ? Sikh gurdwaras are barred from
building their traditional domes for fear that it may cause confusion for
looking too mosque-like.
The Church of the Divine Mercy in Shah Alam took no less than 28 years to be
approved and built due to vexatious bureaucratic delays and protests from
residents.
To date, over 10 Hindu temples have been demolished by local councils on grounds
that the structures were illegal.
1980s to present: Muslims by virtue of paying their tithes [zakat] are allowed a
tax rebate of the amount tithed. This has resulted in Muslims having a lower
effective tax rate, while non-Muslims with the same level of income are taxed a
higher percentage.
1993: Banks and finance companies were allowed to offer Islamic banking
services.
1993: Kelantan State Legislative Assembly, which is under the control of
opposition Parti Islam SeMalaysia [PAS], passed the Syariah Criminal Code [II]
Bill, which included Hudud laws that call for stoning to death and chopping of
limbs ? these laws could be applied to those from any religion. [As the Federal
Government does not recognise these laws, to date, they have not yet been
enforced.]
1999: The ruling Barisan Nasional [BN] party suffered its biggest setback in its
history when apart from Kelantan, also lost the state of Terengganu to PAS in
the General Elections.
PAS, with its vision of setting up a Syariah-based Islamic State, replaced the
Democratic Action Party [DAP] as the main opposition party in Parliament.
This led to a race between the BN and PAS to try and ?out-Islamise? each other
by posturing themselves to appear more ?Islamic?.
2001: In an apparent attempt to thwart support for PAS? plans of an Islamic
State should it come into power, the then PM Mahathir Mohamed declared that
Malaysia was already a ?model Islamic Country?. Despite public outcry from the
non-Muslim population, the non-Malay component parties within the ruling
coalition were either compliant or silent on the issue.
2002: The policy ?Absorption of Islamic Values? into government administration
was launched. According to the booklet, ?Malaysia is an Islamic Country?, the
?policy will be implemented on a continuous basis until the goal of entrenching
Islam into the nation?s system is fully achieved.? The booklet was later
withdrawn but the policy is arguably still in force.
2004: PAS was ousted by the DAP as main opposition party in Parliament when it
lost Terengganu to the BN and retained Kelantan by the narrowest of margins in
the General Election. The BN, helmed by new PM Abdullah Badawi, experienced its
biggest victory to date winning nine tenths of the contested Parliamentary
seats.
Badawi then introduced the new concept of Islam Hadhari [Civilisational Islam].
2005: Plans to set up an Interfaith Commission, a statutory non-adjudicative
body to assist the government in shaping coherent policy pertaining to religious
harmony, were scuttled by widespread protests from Muslim activists who alleged
the Commission would ?interfere with the holiness of Islam?.
2005: City Hall enforcement officers arrested a non-Muslim couple for hugging
and kissing in a public park. The couple appealed to the Federal Court, which
ruled that City Hall was correct. The decision has now empowered local council
authorities to act as morality police.
2006: An elderly American couple on holiday in Langkawi were harassed and
humiliated by State religious enforcement officers who raided their apartment on
suspicion they were Muslims committing khalwat [close proximity] ? an offence
under Syariah law.
2006: A coalition of non-governmental organisations [NGOs] formed ?Article 11?
[named after the constitutional provision which enshrines freedom of religion],
with the intention of reminding the government to defend the Federal
Constitution and reaffirm the country?s secular nature. Their nationwide fora
were repeatedly disrupted by Islamist activists. The PM stepped in and assuaged
the protestors by putting a halt ?Article 11?s? activities.
2006: The Attorney General?s Chambers now has a Syariah unit whose functions,
inter alia, are to ?take steps toward the realisation of a set of laws and
specific body that will be responsible for the harmonisation of civil law and
syarak [laws of Islam]?.
This could be seen as a resumption of the 1985-1988 initiative towards the
integration of Syariah and Civil Courts.
2007: Islamic authorities have been observed to have grown more tyrannical in
their enforcement, as evidenced by the recent Revathi Masoosai case where they
forcibly took away her child on the grounds that she was a Muslim who illegally
practised Hinduism, despite her claim that she had been a practising Hindu since
childhood.
A ?Building Bridges? seminar of prominent Muslim and Christian scholars under
the auspice of the Archbishop of Canterbury scheduled for 7-11 May 2007 was
abruptly postponed by officials of the Prime Minister?s Department. No new date
has been yet fixed.
July 17 2007: Deputy PM Najib Abdul Razak said Malaysia has never been a secular
state as the government has always been driven by the fundamentals of Islam,
according to state Bernama news agency.
Sources:
?Hudud Laws, The Constitution and the Penal Code? by O.C. Lim, SJ.
?Islamisation of Malaysian Laws? by Paul Tan Chee Ing, SJ.
?Why the MCCBCHS Rejects the Application of the Syariah on Non-Muslims? by
Malaysian Consultative Council on Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Sikhism
[MCCBCHS].
?Journey of the Catholic Church in Malaysia? by Maureen Chew, IJ.
?Unity Threatened by Continuing Infringements of Religious Freedom? by Malaysian
Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism
[MCCBCHST]
MalaysiaKini.com
Catholic Asian News : March, May, July, Sept 2006, May 2007.
* For further reading, download the booklet ?Report on the State of Religious
Liberty in Malaysia for the Year 2006? by the National Evangelical Christian
Fellowship [NECF] http://www.necf.org.my/
* The booklet, ?Unity Threatened by Continuing Infringements of Religious
Freedom? by Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism,
Sikhism and Taoism [MCCBCHST] is available free from MCCBCHST, Buddhist Maha
Vihara, 123, Jalan Berhala, Brickfields, 50470, Kuala Lumpur. Tel: 03-22739304
Posted by ANTHONY JOSEPH at 1:37 PM 1 comments Links to this post
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Replacing Common Law with Islamic Law?
MALAYSIAN CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL OF BUDDHISM, CHRISTIANITY, HINDUISM, SIKHISM AND
TAOISM
PRESS STATEMENT
The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism
and Taoism is distressed at the statements made by the Chief Justice and the
Attorney General of Malaysia which seem to advocate the wholesale replacement of
50 years of legal tradition in Malaysia.
On 22nd August, 2007 (The Star) the Chief Justice was reported to have called
for the abolition of the use of English common law and impliedly advocated its
replacement with syariah and customary laws. The attorney general was reported
on 23rd August, 2007 (Utusan Malaysia) to have supported the view of the Chief
Justice and said that syariah laws are best as they emphasize justice and equal
distribution of rights. The editorial of Utusan Malaysia of the same day called
for a repeal of section 3 of the Civil Law Act, 1956 to be replaced with a
mixture of syariah and customary laws to form the basis of a Malaysian common
law.
We are also concerned at the subsequent statements by Ministers in the Prime
Minister?s Department Dato? Seri Nazri Aziz and Datuk Dr Abdullah Md Zin who
both seem to welcome such a reappraisal. Of particular concern are the
statements of Datuk Dr Abdullah Md Zin who has welcomed the suggestion to
implement syariah to replace the common law and advocated that it be done in
stages (Utusan, 24/8/2007).
The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism
and Taoism wishes to emphasize that all our religions teach justice, equality
and fairness. We remind ourselves that the use of the common law, a body of
judge-made law originally derived from England and now a part of the law in most
of the Commonwealth, applies only where there is no Malaysian Statutes to deal
with the case. As distinguished from syariah law, the common law is administered
by secular courts, i.e. our Civil Courts.
For 50 years the common law system has served Malaysia well and has not had any
negative effect and in fact has strengthened Malaysia?s credibility
internationally. The common law links us to the rest of this increasingly
globalised world.
Although the majority of Malaysians are persons professing Islam, a sizable
minority of its people (approximately 45%) profess other religions. Hence we
would find it objectionable for syariah laws to be imposed on and applied to
non-Muslim through our laws and the Civil Courts. Malaysia is a secular state
and ?the law in this country is still what it is today, secular law? (Che Omar
bin Che Soh v Public Prosecutor (1988)). Therefore we wish to remind the Chief
Justice, the Attorney General and Ministers of Government that their oaths of
office are to ?preserve, protect and defend? our Constitution and the rights of
all Malaysians, whether Muslims or non Muslims.
It is wholly unacceptable for any theological law to replace the system of law
we have in Malaysia today. We should be concentrating on making the necessary
reforms to our Constitution and to our statute laws so that the rights and
freedoms of all Malaysians are enhanced and the integrity of our Constitutional
institutions are enhanced. We need more effective checks and balances to ensure
that efforts to subvert our Constitution and turn Malaysia into a theocracy are
thwarted.
We applaud the recent suggestion by another cabinet minister, Tan Sri
Muhiyuddin, for greater dialogue amongst religious communities within a
controlled environment. In particular, the suggestion that the ruling coailition
as a whole meet with the various civil society groups is a novel and innovative
idea, and one which we hope will be urgently implemented.
In our Press Statement of 17th July 2007 showing the historical basis affirming
Malaysia?s position as a secular State, the MCCBCHST had urged the Government,
the Judiciary and all Malaysians to respect the social contract which was
formulated in 1957 and reaffirmed in 1963 embodied in the Federal Constitution.
We have voiced our very strong objections to attempts by the Government and the
Judiciary to now change the status quo surreptitiously thereby jeopardizing the
democratic freedoms of all Malaysians. We repeat those sentiments today as they
seem to have fallen on some deaf ears.
All persons who hold Constitutional office must act fairly in safeguarding the
interests of all Malaysians in accordance with universal values of justice and
equality embodied in our social contract - the Federal Constitution. They must
be able to distinguish their personal religious sentiments from their public
office.
Datuk A. Vaithilingam
President
Note:
This Statement is issued on behalf of the MCCBCHST by its President. The
MCCBCHST is a registered society dedicated to the promotion of goodwill, harmony
and unity through genuine dialogue. It comprises the national organisations of
the five religions, namely Malaysian Buddhist Association, Buddhist Missionary
Society of Malaysia & Sasana Abhiwurdhi Wardhana Society; Christian Federation
of Malaysia comprising theCatholic Bishops' Conference, Council of Churches
Malaysia & National Evangelical Christian Fellowship; Malaysian Gurdwara
Council, Sikh Naujawan Sabha Malaysia & Khalsa Diwan Malaysia; Malaysia Hindu
Sangam and Federation of Taoist Associations, Malaysia.
Contact:
Correspondence address: 123 Jalan Berhala, Brickfields, 50470 Kuala Lumpur;
Telephone: 603-22739304; Fax: 22739307; Email:
Posted by ANTHONY JOSEPH at 8:43 PM 0 comments Links to this post
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CATHOLIC ASIAN NEWS
Blog Archive
? 2007 (36)
? November (2)
They never respect other faiths, do they?
Resting
? September (2)
Reforms proposed by chief justice to introduce Isl...
They Have Taken Our Malaysia From Us
? August (5)
Do we have reasons to worry?
50 YEARS OF ISLAMISATION
Replacing Common Law with Islamic Law?
Malaysia: International Religious Freedom Report 2...
Malaysia: Islamic Authorities Destroy More Hindu T...
? July (10)
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Is Malaysia going to be a Pakistan?
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Church destroyed, so Christians pray under the sun...
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Wither, religious freedom in Malaysia
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? June (6)
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BAPA MALAYSIA WILL BE VERY DISTRESSED
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A LETTER FROM A VERY FRIGHTENED MALAYSIAN ABROAD
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NO RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN MALAYSIA
? May (10)
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What's going on?
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? April (1)
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About Me
ANTHONY JOSEPH
A young old man who is very concerned about my fellow Christians who are "fast
asleep"
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