A still from the video
released on Wednesday by al-Shabaab, which seemingly features a
British man calling on Muslims to ‘cut the necks of the disbelievers’
Photograph: Guardian
Friday 18 October 2013
Prominent UK Muslims under police protection after al-Shabaab threats
Islamist terror group singles out specific British Muslims in video that incites people to 'cut the necks of the disbelievers'
A prominent British Muslim commentator is being protected by police following concerns over his safety following the release of a video by Somali-based terror group, al-Shabaab, which singled out several British Muslims for having criticised jihadists in the aftermath of the Woolwich murder.
Mohammed Ansar, a filmmaker and journalist who has spoken out against extremism in Islam and the far right, said police visited his home at midnight on Wednesday, concerned for his safety after Shabaab released an hour-long film, The Woolwich Attack: It's an Eye for an Eye.
Other British Muslims named in the film have also been contacted by police and offered security advice since the video's release, the Guardian has learned.
Narrated by a man with a British accent, wearing a black mask and a camouflage jacket, the Shabaab production praises those behind the murder of Drummer Lee Rigby, describes the Woolwich killings as "a new and terrifying reality" and incites others to carry out attacks in the UK.
In the film, the jihadist group, which has also claimed responsibility for the bloody Kenyan Westgate mall attack, singles out specific British Muslims, including Ansar, who have distanced "themselves from the mujahideen who carried out these attacks" as having "mutilated the teachings of Islam".
Holding an automatic weapon in his hands, the narrator tells people to purchase knives: "Do not waste your time trying to reinvent the wheel. If you can't afford to get hold of one of these then certainly a simple knife from your local B&Q will do the job."
At the end, the narrator encourages others to follow the example of the Woolwich killers and not to let the security services put them off.
Released to coincide with the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha, which ended on Tuesday, the film also identifies 11 British "martyrs" who have died fighting for al-Shabaab.
One British man, named as Talha from Tower Hamlets in east London is shown calling on others to follow him: "I call upon you today all the Muslim men in Britain, especially the people of Tower Hamlets who are in the city I was born in … I call upon you to come to jihad, and raise the banner, humiliate the disbelievers, cut the necks of the disbelievers."
The video appears to have been made before the attack on the Westgate shopping centre in Nairobi, Kenya, as there is only one brief mention of the "suffering of Muslims in Kenya."
Ansar, 39, who has four young children living with him at his home said police were now regularly patrolling his residence and were making contact by phone every hour.
The filmmaker, who has made a documentary about the former EDL leader Tommy Robinson that will air later this month on BBC2, became a prominent figure after condemning Rigby's murder the day after his death but says he has never been the subject of an explicit threat before.
Ansar said he was alerted to the video before a plain clothes inspector and a uniformed officer arrived at his home in the small hours. "If they [jihadists] are going to start targeting British Muslims and set fanatical extremists against them then that is a frightening new dimension," he said.
Usama Hasan, a senior researcher with the anti-extremist Quilliam Foundation, was another of those that featured in the video. He said he had seen the film on Wednesday when it was released and was not surprised when police turned up at his home at 9.30pm, warning him he could be in danger. "The video is idiotic but also chilling in many ways. This guy has a British accent and he is using the language of fascism about the deaths of kuffar [non-believers]."
The imam and broadcaster Ajmal Masroor said the authorities had also made contact with him after he was also named in the film. "Extremism in all its forms is nasty and has a self destructive property … the truth is moderation will always prevail," he said.
Scotland Yard said: "We are aware of the video and we are assessing its contents and looking into it."
Mohammed Ansar, a filmmaker and journalist who has spoken out against extremism in Islam and the far right, said police visited his home at midnight on Wednesday, concerned for his safety after Shabaab released an hour-long film, The Woolwich Attack: It's an Eye for an Eye.
Other British Muslims named in the film have also been contacted by police and offered security advice since the video's release, the Guardian has learned.
Narrated by a man with a British accent, wearing a black mask and a camouflage jacket, the Shabaab production praises those behind the murder of Drummer Lee Rigby, describes the Woolwich killings as "a new and terrifying reality" and incites others to carry out attacks in the UK.
In the film, the jihadist group, which has also claimed responsibility for the bloody Kenyan Westgate mall attack, singles out specific British Muslims, including Ansar, who have distanced "themselves from the mujahideen who carried out these attacks" as having "mutilated the teachings of Islam".
Holding an automatic weapon in his hands, the narrator tells people to purchase knives: "Do not waste your time trying to reinvent the wheel. If you can't afford to get hold of one of these then certainly a simple knife from your local B&Q will do the job."
At the end, the narrator encourages others to follow the example of the Woolwich killers and not to let the security services put them off.
Released to coincide with the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha, which ended on Tuesday, the film also identifies 11 British "martyrs" who have died fighting for al-Shabaab.
One British man, named as Talha from Tower Hamlets in east London is shown calling on others to follow him: "I call upon you today all the Muslim men in Britain, especially the people of Tower Hamlets who are in the city I was born in … I call upon you to come to jihad, and raise the banner, humiliate the disbelievers, cut the necks of the disbelievers."
The video appears to have been made before the attack on the Westgate shopping centre in Nairobi, Kenya, as there is only one brief mention of the "suffering of Muslims in Kenya."
Ansar, 39, who has four young children living with him at his home said police were now regularly patrolling his residence and were making contact by phone every hour.
The filmmaker, who has made a documentary about the former EDL leader Tommy Robinson that will air later this month on BBC2, became a prominent figure after condemning Rigby's murder the day after his death but says he has never been the subject of an explicit threat before.
Ansar said he was alerted to the video before a plain clothes inspector and a uniformed officer arrived at his home in the small hours. "If they [jihadists] are going to start targeting British Muslims and set fanatical extremists against them then that is a frightening new dimension," he said.
Usama Hasan, a senior researcher with the anti-extremist Quilliam Foundation, was another of those that featured in the video. He said he had seen the film on Wednesday when it was released and was not surprised when police turned up at his home at 9.30pm, warning him he could be in danger. "The video is idiotic but also chilling in many ways. This guy has a British accent and he is using the language of fascism about the deaths of kuffar [non-believers]."
The imam and broadcaster Ajmal Masroor said the authorities had also made contact with him after he was also named in the film. "Extremism in all its forms is nasty and has a self destructive property … the truth is moderation will always prevail," he said.
Scotland Yard said: "We are aware of the video and we are assessing its contents and looking into it."
Yemenite Girl Who Fled Forced Marriage Debates Cleric on TV
10-year old Nada al-Ahdal became famous through an internet video she made fleeing a forced marriage. The video went viral.
A 10-year old girl from Yemen who managed to flee to her uncle to avoid a forced marriage with a 26-year old man appeared on Lebanese TV in a debate with a Muslim cleric.
Nada al-Ahdal became famous through an internet video she made as she was fleeing. The video was published in July by MEMRI (Middle East Media Research Institute) and has since gone viral with more than eight and a half million views.
On the TV debate, which aired on Al-Jadid, Nada tells of how her parents presented marriage to her as a game, but in reality, she says, “It isn’t. It turns you into a servant and places a burden on you greater than you can bear on your shoulders.”
Nada explains she didn’t just flee because of the prospect of getting marriage, but rather because she wanted to continue her education, an activity impossible after a girl marries in Yemen. (See below a video report about the tragic consequennces of child marriage on girls in Yemen.)
Nada’s uncle, who appeared with her on the show, relates how Nada had been living him for the past two years, even spending vacations with him, so that more time could be devoted to her education. “If she had been living with them [her parents],” he said, “she would have ended up just like her sisters,” 12 and 14 years old, who were married last month.
A Muslim cleric appearing on the show explained, “From the moment a baby girl is born … her guardian, who is her father only – and there is a consensus about this in the Muslim world – is allowed to marry her off. This is an accepted custom.” The cleric said the marriage, which begins as a contract only, could be consummated at soon as the girl “could bear it,” which according to him could be as young as age nine. The cleric declared that if he had a daughter who reached puberty at the age of nine, he would surely marry her off.
Nada directed her final words to the “Arab world,” making a plea to other girls. “I hope that all the girls will do what I did,” she said. However, realistically, she acknowledges that until there is an organization set up to help girls escape such a fate, “there is nobody to help them.”
Nada al-Ahdal, a 10-year old girl from Yemen who fled a forced marriage, appears on Leabonese TV debating a Muslim cleric.
Nada al-Ahdal became famous through an internet video she made as she was fleeing. The video was published in July by MEMRI (Middle East Media Research Institute) and has since gone viral with more than eight and a half million views.
On the TV debate, which aired on Al-Jadid, Nada tells of how her parents presented marriage to her as a game, but in reality, she says, “It isn’t. It turns you into a servant and places a burden on you greater than you can bear on your shoulders.”
Nada explains she didn’t just flee because of the prospect of getting marriage, but rather because she wanted to continue her education, an activity impossible after a girl marries in Yemen. (See below a video report about the tragic consequennces of child marriage on girls in Yemen.)
Nada’s uncle, who appeared with her on the show, relates how Nada had been living him for the past two years, even spending vacations with him, so that more time could be devoted to her education. “If she had been living with them [her parents],” he said, “she would have ended up just like her sisters,” 12 and 14 years old, who were married last month.
A Muslim cleric appearing on the show explained, “From the moment a baby girl is born … her guardian, who is her father only – and there is a consensus about this in the Muslim world – is allowed to marry her off. This is an accepted custom.” The cleric said the marriage, which begins as a contract only, could be consummated at soon as the girl “could bear it,” which according to him could be as young as age nine. The cleric declared that if he had a daughter who reached puberty at the age of nine, he would surely marry her off.
Nada directed her final words to the “Arab world,” making a plea to other girls. “I hope that all the girls will do what I did,” she said. However, realistically, she acknowledges that until there is an organization set up to help girls escape such a fate, “there is nobody to help them.”
Hindu masuk Islam
Seorang
India masuk lslam meniggal d hospital lpoh. Keluarga bawa ke rumahnya untuk upacara terakhir. Jemaah masjid datang beritahu mendiang telah
masuk lslam dan ingin buat tahalil. Kami dibenarkan buat tahalil. Anaknya
janji hantar balik hospital besok untuk kebumikan cara lslam. Baru tadi
pegawai hospital talipon kata hospital akan uruskn mandi n sembahyang dan
kebumikan di Gurap. Semua perbelanjaan telah dibayar anaknya ke hospital. Mari kita ramai-ramai ke perkuburan Gurap bertelkin dan tahlil jam 3 petang esok Rabu. Wassalam.
Shamsuddin
S/U Masjid Al Ittiahadiah.
Tg Husin Ipoh.
Innalillahi Wainna Ilaihi Roji'un ..
Ada yg lahir islam..matinya kafir.. Ada yg lahirnya belum Islam..matinya Islam...
No blanket ban on ‘Allah’, says lawyer
There is no blanket ban as per the judgment of the Court of Appeal but it must be applied in context when used, says a counsel for the Selangor Islamic Religious Council
PETALING JAYA: Lawyer Haniff Khatri Abdulla said that the Appeals Court’s judgment does not infringe on the rights of other publications to use the term ‘Allah’. However the usage of ‘Allah’ as done by Catholic weekly, The Herald must be avoided.
“The judgment does not relate to other publications and people. There is no blanket ban on the ‘Allah’ word,” he said when asked whether other publications can use the term Allah.
Haniff who was also a counsel for the Selangor Islamic Religious Council elaborated on the judgment of the Appeals Court that disallowed the Herald from using ‘Allah’ in their Bahasa Malaysia version.
The court ruled that the Home Minister acted within his jurisdiction in prohibiting the Herald from using the word ‘Allah’. The appeal judges said the ruling was done to avoid confusion among Muslims and Christians, and ‘Allah’ was not integral to the faith of the Christians.
“Until a case is brought up to the court there is no blanket prohibition on the use of Allah,” said Haniff today.
He added that there were state enactments which can be used to curb the usage of Allah in the Control and Restriction of the Propagation of Non Islamic Religions 1981 enactment; prohibiting non-Muslims from using ‘Allah’.
The enactment, among others, does not allow non-Muslims from using terms such as ‘Allah’, ‘Baitullah’ and ‘Kaabah’ and about 30 other words.
“In Islam, Allah is for all, so to utter Allah in the context of Islam is fine. In Christianity there is a concept of Trinity, which is against the concept of Oneness of Allah in Islam. This is against the theology of Islam,” he said.
He also called upon the public to look at the problem from a linguistic and translation perspective.
“It is not a battle of the scriptures. Jesus son of Allah is blasphemy for Muslims. In Sabah and Sarawak, they know that Allah is the pronoun for Muslims. It may confuse the Christians there too,” he said.
“Allah is a specific name where-else God is a general term,” he added.
Causing disharmony
He also said that the Bible was originally written in the Aramaic language, not English.
“Is it not disrespectful of the faith when you don’t translate properly? In Aramaic the word was Elohim and Yahweh. Why not use the word Lord and God instead of Allah?” asked Haniff.
He also pointed that the ruling to avoid confusion was not about confusion on matters of the faith.
“Confusion refers to using hatred of one group of people against another. It can create disharmony,” he said, adding that there was a cause for concern over possible confusion arising among the young.
Haniff also said that the authorities can take action against the publications or persons that misuse of the word ‘Allah’ via the Internet; when made accessible here as it would be touching the courts judgment made inland.
“The authorities can act against those who download publications from the Internet and distribute them to the public,” he said, when asked on the possibility of a publication based in a foreign country and owned by a foreigner using the term ‘Allah’.
There has been much debate and to an extent confusion among the public on the use of the word ‘Allah’ as the court’s decision seem to have been interpreted from various angles.
PETALING JAYA: Lawyer Haniff Khatri Abdulla said that the Appeals Court’s judgment does not infringe on the rights of other publications to use the term ‘Allah’. However the usage of ‘Allah’ as done by Catholic weekly, The Herald must be avoided.“The judgment does not relate to other publications and people. There is no blanket ban on the ‘Allah’ word,” he said when asked whether other publications can use the term Allah.
Haniff who was also a counsel for the Selangor Islamic Religious Council elaborated on the judgment of the Appeals Court that disallowed the Herald from using ‘Allah’ in their Bahasa Malaysia version.
The court ruled that the Home Minister acted within his jurisdiction in prohibiting the Herald from using the word ‘Allah’. The appeal judges said the ruling was done to avoid confusion among Muslims and Christians, and ‘Allah’ was not integral to the faith of the Christians.
“Until a case is brought up to the court there is no blanket prohibition on the use of Allah,” said Haniff today.
He added that there were state enactments which can be used to curb the usage of Allah in the Control and Restriction of the Propagation of Non Islamic Religions 1981 enactment; prohibiting non-Muslims from using ‘Allah’.
The enactment, among others, does not allow non-Muslims from using terms such as ‘Allah’, ‘Baitullah’ and ‘Kaabah’ and about 30 other words.
“In Islam, Allah is for all, so to utter Allah in the context of Islam is fine. In Christianity there is a concept of Trinity, which is against the concept of Oneness of Allah in Islam. This is against the theology of Islam,” he said.
He also called upon the public to look at the problem from a linguistic and translation perspective.
“It is not a battle of the scriptures. Jesus son of Allah is blasphemy for Muslims. In Sabah and Sarawak, they know that Allah is the pronoun for Muslims. It may confuse the Christians there too,” he said.
“Allah is a specific name where-else God is a general term,” he added.
Causing disharmony
He also said that the Bible was originally written in the Aramaic language, not English.
“Is it not disrespectful of the faith when you don’t translate properly? In Aramaic the word was Elohim and Yahweh. Why not use the word Lord and God instead of Allah?” asked Haniff.
He also pointed that the ruling to avoid confusion was not about confusion on matters of the faith.
“Confusion refers to using hatred of one group of people against another. It can create disharmony,” he said, adding that there was a cause for concern over possible confusion arising among the young.
Haniff also said that the authorities can take action against the publications or persons that misuse of the word ‘Allah’ via the Internet; when made accessible here as it would be touching the courts judgment made inland.
“The authorities can act against those who download publications from the Internet and distribute them to the public,” he said, when asked on the possibility of a publication based in a foreign country and owned by a foreigner using the term ‘Allah’.
There has been much debate and to an extent confusion among the public on the use of the word ‘Allah’ as the court’s decision seem to have been interpreted from various angles.
Cabinet allows ‘Allah’ for East Malaysians?
We are supposed to be 1Malaysia but now have two sets of laws governing the same religion for East and West Malaysia, says an opposition MP.
PETALING JAYA: DAP national publicity secretary Tony Pua today claimed that the cabinet on Wednesday has decided that the term ‘Allah’ can be used by Christians in Sabah and Sarawak in their worship, including in the Malay-language bible al-Kitab.
In a press statement, the Petaling Jaya Utara MP said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Joseph Kurup had revealed the cabinet’s stance on the issue.
Attempts by FMT to confirm the cabinet’s stand did not bear fruit.
Pua said Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s administration had created the most untenable situation in the country where “we are supposed to be 1Malaysia but now have two sets of laws governing the same religion for East and West Malaysia.”
“The prime minister who is supposed to be the champion of moderation has made a complete mockery of Article 3 of the Federal Constitution which enshrines the freedom of religion,” Pua added.
On Monday, the Court of Appeal allowed an appeal from the government to not allow Christian publication The Herald from using the word ‘Allah’.
The court found that there was no infringement of constitutional rights as claimed by the respondents (Herald publishers) and set aside an order of the High Court which had earlier allowed the Herald to use the word ‘Allah’.
Pua said the cabinet’s decision, as revealed by Kurup, meant that Christians in Sabah and Sarawak were allowed to use ‘Allah’ but those in West Malaysia were not, even if their ‘native tongue’ is Bahasa Malayu.
“But what happens when East Malaysians come over the West Malaysia for work or travel, can they pray to “Allah?”
“If the government allows to use ‘Allah’ in East Malaysia it shows an endorsement that the judgment of the Court of Appeal is flawed and misguided,” he added.
Pua said allowing the use of the word ‘Allah’ in Sabah and Sarawak shows that the government was in fact agreeing that ‘Allah’ was an integral part of the Christian community.
He said the leeway given to East Malaysians will only split the country and create widespread confusion.
He said to avoid all the hassle, the Attorney-General (AG) should file for a revision of the Court of Appeal judgment.
PETALING JAYA: DAP national publicity secretary Tony Pua today claimed that the cabinet on Wednesday has decided that the term ‘Allah’ can be used by Christians in Sabah and Sarawak in their worship, including in the Malay-language bible al-Kitab.In a press statement, the Petaling Jaya Utara MP said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Joseph Kurup had revealed the cabinet’s stance on the issue.
Attempts by FMT to confirm the cabinet’s stand did not bear fruit.
Pua said Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s administration had created the most untenable situation in the country where “we are supposed to be 1Malaysia but now have two sets of laws governing the same religion for East and West Malaysia.”
“The prime minister who is supposed to be the champion of moderation has made a complete mockery of Article 3 of the Federal Constitution which enshrines the freedom of religion,” Pua added.
On Monday, the Court of Appeal allowed an appeal from the government to not allow Christian publication The Herald from using the word ‘Allah’.
The court found that there was no infringement of constitutional rights as claimed by the respondents (Herald publishers) and set aside an order of the High Court which had earlier allowed the Herald to use the word ‘Allah’.
Pua said the cabinet’s decision, as revealed by Kurup, meant that Christians in Sabah and Sarawak were allowed to use ‘Allah’ but those in West Malaysia were not, even if their ‘native tongue’ is Bahasa Malayu.
“But what happens when East Malaysians come over the West Malaysia for work or travel, can they pray to “Allah?”
“If the government allows to use ‘Allah’ in East Malaysia it shows an endorsement that the judgment of the Court of Appeal is flawed and misguided,” he added.
Pua said allowing the use of the word ‘Allah’ in Sabah and Sarawak shows that the government was in fact agreeing that ‘Allah’ was an integral part of the Christian community.
He said the leeway given to East Malaysians will only split the country and create widespread confusion.
He said to avoid all the hassle, the Attorney-General (AG) should file for a revision of the Court of Appeal judgment.
MIC man claims discrepancies in Palani’s division
A MIC branch member alleges that there were discrepancies at a divisional election which was previously headed by the party president.
PETALING JAYA: Ladang Serendah MIC branch chairman K Suresh has lodged a report to the party headquarters over alleged irregularities in the Hulu Selangor division election. Party president G Palanivel used to head this division.
Suresh wants the party leadership to order fresh polls for the division as ineligible members had allegedly voted in picking the division leaders on Oct 6.
Although Palanivel stepped down from the division chief post, he is still member of the division.
In a letter to Palanivel, MIC deputy president, vice-presidents and all central working committee members, Suresh alleged that 22 delegates from 17 defunct MIC branches were allowed to vote in the Hulu Selangor division election.
The 17 branches are Taman Sri Asa, Taman Sungai Choh Utara, Ulu Yam Division, Ulu Yam Lama, Air Panas Kerling, Bandar Baru Bukit Sentosa, Belata River, Bukit Beruntong, Kampong Sri Keledang, Kampung Sejantang, Kampung Toh Pinang, Kilang Getah Ulu Bernam, Lima Belas Estate Baru, Sungai Buaya, Taman Bunga Raya, Taman Rasa Jaya and Taman Samudra.
In the letter, Suresh claimed these 17 branches have been defunct for many years and were “fraudulently revived” for the purposes of the division election.
“I have also been made to understand from reliable sources that these 17 branches did not hold their annual general meeting for the last one year. Therefore these branches are not entitled to send delegates to attend the division meeting,” he added.
Suresh, who contested to the division vice chairman’s post in the polls, lost to his opponent C Raja Gopal by 22 votes.
He also questioned the election returning officers’ decision to allow two delegates from the Taman Ehsan Baru branch, which had only 98 members, to vote in the polls.
“According to the party constitution, only a branch with more than 120 members can send two delegates. Why did they allow this branch to have two delegates?,” he queried.
He said a proper investigation must be conducted to unearth irregularities during the election.
Hulu Selangor is one of the largest MIC divisions in the country. Palanivel, who was chairman of the division since 1995, did not seek re-election this time around.
Palanivel is the chairman of Bandar Bukit Beruntung branch since 1990, and the branch comes under the Hulu Selangor division.
PETALING JAYA: Ladang Serendah MIC branch chairman K Suresh has lodged a report to the party headquarters over alleged irregularities in the Hulu Selangor division election. Party president G Palanivel used to head this division.Suresh wants the party leadership to order fresh polls for the division as ineligible members had allegedly voted in picking the division leaders on Oct 6.
Although Palanivel stepped down from the division chief post, he is still member of the division.
In a letter to Palanivel, MIC deputy president, vice-presidents and all central working committee members, Suresh alleged that 22 delegates from 17 defunct MIC branches were allowed to vote in the Hulu Selangor division election.
The 17 branches are Taman Sri Asa, Taman Sungai Choh Utara, Ulu Yam Division, Ulu Yam Lama, Air Panas Kerling, Bandar Baru Bukit Sentosa, Belata River, Bukit Beruntong, Kampong Sri Keledang, Kampung Sejantang, Kampung Toh Pinang, Kilang Getah Ulu Bernam, Lima Belas Estate Baru, Sungai Buaya, Taman Bunga Raya, Taman Rasa Jaya and Taman Samudra.
In the letter, Suresh claimed these 17 branches have been defunct for many years and were “fraudulently revived” for the purposes of the division election.
“I have also been made to understand from reliable sources that these 17 branches did not hold their annual general meeting for the last one year. Therefore these branches are not entitled to send delegates to attend the division meeting,” he added.
Suresh, who contested to the division vice chairman’s post in the polls, lost to his opponent C Raja Gopal by 22 votes.
He also questioned the election returning officers’ decision to allow two delegates from the Taman Ehsan Baru branch, which had only 98 members, to vote in the polls.
“According to the party constitution, only a branch with more than 120 members can send two delegates. Why did they allow this branch to have two delegates?,” he queried.
He said a proper investigation must be conducted to unearth irregularities during the election.
Hulu Selangor is one of the largest MIC divisions in the country. Palanivel, who was chairman of the division since 1995, did not seek re-election this time around.
Palanivel is the chairman of Bandar Bukit Beruntung branch since 1990, and the branch comes under the Hulu Selangor division.
School no place for slaughtering cows
While we respect the religious customs and beliefs of all people, there must be some level of understanding that some practices such as slaughtering cows are offensive to certain religions and as such should not be allowed to be carried out in public places such as schools.
I have received many complaints from distressed residents in Puchong who have complained that cows were slaughtered in school compounds before students, both Muslims and non-Muslims.
This is totally insensitive to the Indian community especially.
Why is there a need for this to be done in a national school during school hours? Is this part of the syllabus, part of the activities that are today celebrated in our national schools?
I urge the education minister to put a stop to this.
A school is most certainly not a place where such activities should be allowed to take place, more so during school hours and in the presence of students.
GOBIND SINGH DEO is member of parliament for Puchong.
Parents fume over cow slaughter in school
One parent, S Dineswary told Malaysiakini that according to her daughter, an adult cow and a calf were ceremonially slaughtered in the morning for a feast later that day in conjunction with Aidiladha celebrations.
She said non-Muslim students were asked to avoid the area whereas Muslim students were invited, but she believed some non-Muslim students might have inadvertently witnessed the slaughtering.
"It is not supposed to (happen) because this is a national school, not a religious school. That is why we were shocked, there are Hindus and Chinese (students) there.
"It is not only about religious issues, but also because there are children around. Some may be distressed by the slaughter," she said when contacted.
She added that she was taken aback by the cow sacrifice because Aidiladha was several days ago and there had been no prior notice.
(Muslims celebrate Aidiladha for four days, including three days of tasyrik.)
When she and her daughter arrived at school yesterday and saw the cows in the compound, they thought they were lost and somehow found their way into the school.
"When the kids saw the cows, initially there were just excited about them, but they had no idea what was going to happen to them," she said.
Malaysiakini is withholding the name of the school pending their response.
Keep religion separate
Another individual, who is a grandparent to a student of the same school, claimed that the slaughter caused some panic amongst the students, while some teachers at the school who were Hindus objected.
"The cows started making noises and there were children there. By right, they shouldn't slaughter cows there - it shows no respect for the Hindus and the Chinese," he said.
He had requested anonymity, fearing that he would be targeted for harassment.
The grandparent stressed he was not seeking to get anyone in trouble, but hoped such incidents would not be repeated.
Meanwhile, a Malaysiakini reader writing under the name ‘Saravanan Forever' said there were many such incidents in schools nationwide during Aidiladha.
"In Malaysia, the sekolah kebangsaan are national schools where multiracial children are studying and we should respect all races and religions...," he said.
Saravanan said school activities should be education-related, which slaughtering cows is not. He called on the Education Ministry to take action against the schools involved, and elected representatives to raise the matter in Parliament.
He also pointed out that slaughtering animals in schools is unhygienic and that cows are venerated by Hindus.
Recurring issue
A similar controversy took place at the Aidiladha celebrations two years ago, when the Malaysian Consultative Council for Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taosim (MCCBCHST) urged authorities to put a stop to the slaughtering in at least two schools.
The slaughter was cancelled due to inadequate facilities at the schools, but not before drawing flak from Perlis mufti Juanda Jaya and several Muslim NGOs.
"This is clearly directing the rituals of other religions. It is better not to interfere," said Juanda.
"If there is any unhappiness or disturbance, it is better to resolve it behind closed doors. Malaysians have achieved independence and lived peacefully for so long, so don't make it an issue," he said in a statement in November 2011.
Ritual slaughter normally takes place on mosque grounds, but sometimes is done at other locations due to lack of facilities, such as neighbourhood fields.
Syria: Reported fatwa allows the hungry to eat cats and dogs
Their plight has been highlighted by Arabic media reports that cite a fatwa, or religious ruling, by a local imam that allows people who are desperately hungry to eat dogs and cats.
Eating dog, cat or donkey is forbidden under Islamic dietary laws.
The imam in the Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp in the capital, Damascus, reportedly said at a mosque Friday that dog, cat and donkey meat could be eaten "after reaching a desperate need and the stores of food were inadequate to feed the population under the siege."
Yarmouk has been besieged for months by Syrian government forces seeking to flush out rebel fighters.
During the Eid al-Adha holiday, one of Islam's most revered observances, Muslims around the world sacrifice sheep and share the meat with the poor. It corresponds with the height of the Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia that annually draws 2 million Muslims.
A YouTube video purports to show a group of religious leaders outside Damascus issuing a fatwa permitting the eating of cats, kittens, donkeys, and animals killed in shelling.
The man reading the statement appeals to the world, and particularly to Muslims who are completing the Hajj pilgrimage, to think of the Syrian children "dying of hunger" while the viewers' stomachs are full.
"How can't they just stand for us, for our children?" the sheikh asks. "Do they want us to get to the point when we are forced to eat the flesh of our dead martyrs and our beloved just to survive?"
CNN cannot independently confirm the authenticity of the video.
Syria's war: CNN's Nick Paton Walsh reflects on front line reports
'We are living in despair'
At the Atmeh refugee camp in Idlib province in northern Syria, some refugees set up improvised vendor stands for the celebration -- but drew few customers who could afford their goods.
"Before the crisis, during Eid, we used to go to the shops and buy items, we were happy," said Suad Zein. "Eid was a wonderful holiday here. Now these days I can't even buy my boy a pair of trousers, or shoes, or even a loaf of bread.
"I have eight children. I can't support them all. We are living in despair."
Said another: "We have nothing to celebrate. We used to celebrate with food, drink, desserts. We used to make pastries. ... Now there's nothing."
Some refugees in Aleppo, Syria, were more fortunate. A benefactor donated sheep for the traditional animal sacrifice, which were to be slaughtered and distributed among families in need, a man in charge of the slaughter said.
The U.N. food agency, the World Food Programme, warned last month that the violence in Syria was making it hard to get aid to those in need. It estimated that 4 million people in the country were unable to produce or buy enough food.
Eid al-Adha commemorates when God appeared in a dream to Abraham -- known as Ibrahim to Muslims -- and asked him to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience. As Abraham was about to perform the sacrifice, God stopped him and gave him a sheep to kill in place of his son. Versions of the story also appear in the Torah and in the Bible's Old Testament.
The four-day celebration is also known as the Feast of Sacrifice, or Greater Eid. It is the longer of two Eid holidays observed by Muslims. Eid al-Fitr, or Little Eid, follows the holy month of Ramadan.
Asma al-Assad makes rare appearance
A rare interview with Asma al-Assad, wife of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, aired Tuesday on Syrian state TV, showing her as she visited the Daughters of Martyrs' school in Damascus.
The first lady, wearing a gray sweater with the Syrian flag in the center, is shown being greeted with applause from dozens of Syrian girls and planting olive trees with them.
The olive tree is a symbol of giving and peace, she says, as well as "a symbol of life and endurance, those who sacrificed and are sacrificing for this homeland are doing that for us so we can live and prosper in this land."
The interviewer asks Asma al-Assad, who lived in Britain before her marriage to Syria's president, about past rumors that she had left the war-torn country for Russia, Lebanon or Britain.
Smiling, she replies, "I am here, I exist here. My husband and my children are present here in Syria. It is quite rational for me to be here with them. And just like the majority of the Syrians, I was raised to love the homeland and I grew up with that notion that wherever I'd travel or lived before, and no matter how long people stay away, there is nothing more precious than the homeland."
The first lady has also been a star of the recently established Instagram account of the Syrian presidency, where she is seen smiling, showing off her volunteer work and attending social events with her husband.
Activists: Truck carrying civilians hit
Syria's descent into civil war began in March 2011, when Bashar al-Assad's regime cracked down on peaceful anti-government protesters.
That conflict spiraled into an armed uprising and a crisis that the United Nations says has claimed more than 100,000 lives.
On Wednesday, at least 53 people -- including 13 children and four women -- were killed nationwide, the opposition Local Coordination Committees of Syria reported.
Four children and six women were among the fatalities in a blast in Daraa, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
At least 21 people died when their truck was hit by an explosive device in southern Syria, opposition activists said.
The truck carrying civilians was hit as it passed through an area controlled by troops loyal to the Syrian government, the group said. Government officials did not immediately respond to the allegation.
Two suicide bombers from the al Qaeda-linked Jabhat al-Nusra rebel group detonated themselves Wednesday afternoon inside the gates of Aleppo Central Prison, killing seven regime forces, the opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
Meanwhile, the Turkish army has reinforced its positions near a strategic border gate between Turkey and opposition-controlled northern Syria, where ISIS fighters have been active. Last month, ISIS fighters pushed more moderate Syrian rebels out of the nearby Syrian town of Azaz.
Weapons inspectors
As the war rages, international inspectors continue their mission to inventory and eliminate Syria's chemical weapons arsenal.
Experts from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, supported by the United Nations, have conducted verification activities at 11 sites identified by Syrian authorities, the OPCW said Wednesday.
They have overseen the destruction of "critical equipment" at six sites, as well as the destruction of some unloaded chemical weapons munitions, it said.
On Monday, Syria became bound by the international treaty banning chemical arms, the Chemical Weapons Convention, which is implemented by the OPCW.
A team of OPCW inspectors entered the country on October 1. The joint mission is tasked by a U.N. Security Council resolution with ridding the country of chemical weapons by mid-2014.
Pensioner Guilty Of Raping Trafficked Girl
A pensioner who trafficked a deaf and mute girl into the UK, using her to milk the benefits system, has been found guilty of repeatedly raping her.
Ilyas Ashar, 84, sexually abused his vulnerable victim again and again, Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard.Two female jurors wept as guilty verdicts were delivered on 13 counts of rape.
The girl, from Pakistan, who is profoundly deaf and cannot speak, was beaten and slapped and forced to work for Ashar and his family as a domestic servant.
While Ashar used his victim to satisfy his sexual desires, the girl was also used to steal more than £30,000 in benefits.
The youngster was even taught enough sign language by the family so she could agree to the benefit money being handed over to the Ashars.
For almost a decade the girl had to work and sleep in the cellar at the family's substantial home in Cromwell Road in the Eccles area of Salford.
Ashar had been convicted at an earlier trial of two counts of trafficking a person into the UK for exploitation, two counts of furnishing false information to obtain a benefit and one of permitting furnishing of false information to obtain a benefit.
His wife, Tallat Ashar, 68, was found guilty of two counts of trafficking a person into the UK for exploitation and four counts of furnishing false information to obtain a benefit.
His daughter, Faaiza Ashar, 46, was found guilty at an earlier trial of two counts of furnishing false information to obtain a benefit and one count of permitting furnishing of false information to obtain a benefit.
All three were convicted at the earlier trial, where the jury was unable to reach verdicts on the allegations of rape, so Ashar was re-tried.
Reporting on the second trial was banned until the verdicts on the rape charges were in.
Jurors were not told about the guilty verdicts at the earlier trial, where the court heard the girl was made to cook, clean, do the washing and ironing for the Ashars, and clean the houses and cars of their family and friends.
She also spent her days in the cellar packing football shirts, clothes and mobile phone covers.
The girl had no family or friends in the UK and had never been to school in Pakistan or Britain.
She could not read or write and the only people she knew in Britain were the Ashars, who told her both her parents were dead.
She was, however, taught to write her signature - so her name could be used to claim benefits.
Judge Peter Lakin excused the panel of six men and six women of sitting as jurors again for 10 years and thanked them for their public duty in what he described as a "difficult" case.
Ashar's lawyer asked for bail to be continued, but the judge refused.
He was remanded into custody to be sentenced next week along with his wife and daughter, who sat in the public gallery grim-faced.
Salford divisional commander Chief Superintendent Mary Doyle, said: "This was a dreadful case where the girl endured years of domestic exploitation at the hands of the Ashar family.
"They have exploited her disability and made it appear to the authorities that she was responsible for their own fraudulent behaviour. She was essentially kept in domestic servitude.
"What is remarkable - and the most important aspect of this unusual case - is that the victim has emerged a confident, well-adjusted and determined young woman.
"At no stage have the defendants shown any remorse, or admitted to what they did to a girl, who was only as young as 10 years old when this began."
Gripping his Qur'an, jihad terror mastermind Abu Anas al-Libi appears in Manhattan court
He was gripping a Qur'an? But isn't he one of those Muslims who aren't really Muslims at all, and who have twisted and hijacked the Religion of Peace? Why is it that they almost invariably appear to be the most devout and observant of Muslims? No one in the public square dares to ask such a question.
On the travesty of this man appearing in federal court and how it represents more denial of the nature and magnitude of the jihad threat, see here. "Gripping His Koran, Anas al-Liby Has His Day in Court," by Michael Daly for the Guardian, October 16:
In beige socks and black flip-flops, the man accused of bombing two U.S. embassies faced a judge in Manhattan. Michael Daly reports from the arraignment of Anas al-Liby. To have called Nazih Abdul-Hamed al-Ruqai an enemy combatant and consigned him to Guantanamo Bay would have only glorified him—while demeaning us.
Instead, he was brought into a 24th-floor courtroom in Manhattan Federal Court on Tuesday and arraigned just like any other accused killer.
He is tall, with a prominent nose, and generally bears enough resemblance to Osama bin Laden that it makes immediate sense he reportedly served as a decoy during the al Qaeda leader’s pre-9/11 travels.
Al-Ruqai, whose nom de jihad is Anas al-Liby, could also have just been dispatched with a bullet in the way of Zero Dark Thirty. But the U.S. Delta Force soldiers who swooped down on him outside his house in Tripoli, Libya on October 5 instead whisked him off to a Navy warship. He arrived in New York over the weekend and now here he was, shuffling up to the defense table in beige socks and black flip-flops.
He was wearing a black sweatshirt and light grey sweatpants with an elastic waist. One feature that distinguished him from bin Laden was his beard, which had an auburn tint in the lower extreme where grey had not yet encroached.
As would be any accused killer, he was rear cuffed, so he had not been able to bring the Koran that he is permitted to have in lock-up. One of the two public defenders detailed for the arraignment had offered to carry the green covered book and arrived in the courtroom shortly before him. The holy words with which al Qaeda has sought to justify the most unholy deeds were waiting on the table as he was uncuffed and directed to sit. He was presented with a set of earphones through which an Arabic interpreter would translate.
“All rise!” a court clerk called out.
The former decoy did as bid as Federal Judge Lewis Kaplan entered. You almost had to wish that bin Laden himself had survived just so he could face such a moment. He surely would have been helped to his feet if he had refused to obey the command.
“United Sates versus Anas al-Liby,” the clerk announced.
The judge began by asking the public defenders how their client wished to be addressed, and they replied that he preferred his given name. The judge posed his next question directly to al-Ruqai.
“Do you speak and understand English?” the judge asked.
“No, I do not,” al-Ruqai replied in Arabic after waiting for the translation.
If true, that would mean he spent nearly five years living in England—for a time working in a pizzeria—without learning English. He had fled shortly before indictment S (10) 98 CR 1023 of 1998 was unsealed, accusing him and 20 other suspected al Qaeda members of bombing two U.S. embassies in Africa, killing hundreds.
The judge took al-Ruqai at his word about his supposed lack of English and asked his age. Al-Ruqai again waited for the translator and answered in Arabic.
“I’m 49,” he said.
He looked more like a tired and worn 60, perhaps because he is said to be suffering from hepatitis. He also may be suffering the lingering effects of his years of detention in Iran, where he enjoyed none of the rights to legal representation that the judge now spelled out.
“Do you understand what I’ve said?“ the judge asked.
“Naam,” al-Ruqai replied, that being Arabic for yes.
The judge asked if the case carries the death penalty, and the prosecutor said it does not. The proceedings then came to the point where a defendant is asked to enter a plea. Al-Ruqai is specifically charged with surveilling the U.S. embassy in Nairobi in preparation for the attack.
“Not guilty,” one of the public defenders said.
The judge ordered al-Ruqai remanded.
"There are no conditions under which he could be released before trial without endangering the safety of the community," the judge said.
The proceedings done, al-Ruqai was again rear cuffed. That raised the question of what do to with the Koran. One of the public defenders handed it to a marshal, who hesitated for just an instant before taking it. The marshal held the book in one hand as he helped guide al-Ruqai back toward his cell with the other.
Along with the proceeding itself, that seemingly minor deed constituted a small but important defeat for al Qaeda. It made all the more clear that we are not waging a war on a religion, no matter how desperately the bad guys have sought to goad us into doing so....
IGP rules out presence of journalists 'for now'
Responding to a question on this, the police chief replied: "Not for now."
He stressed that the invitation to Surendran was not to seek publicity but to expose the true facts and reality of such encounters between the police and armed criminals.
Khalid
was commenting on a Twitter posting by Lawyers for Liberty asking if
journalists could be present during the ‘PDRM/Surendran vs Suspected
Criminals great shootout?'Failing which, LFL asked, "What is the point?"
Meanwhile, Khalid reiterated that he had never challenged Surendran to participate in such police operations but merely extended an "invitation" to the lawmaker, which the latter accepted.
"This invitation is not meant for him to partake in the ops (operation) but as a mere observer for him to get the 'feel' of what we enforcement officers feel in life-threatening situations.
"Even then the CPC (Criminal Procedure Code) allows us to seek assistance from members of the public and I believe I have not broken any law in the invitation.
"However, there are still risks that Surendran has to face and we still need him to sign the indemnity documents so as to absolve us of any prosecution and blame later on," he told Malaysiakini.
Don't jump the gun
Furthermore, Khalid said that he wouldn't know whether the next confrontation with armed criminals would culminate in a shootout.
"That was why I invited Surendran to our operation involving 'armed criminals'. And never did I say anything about inviting him to a 'shootout'," he added.
Khalid also advised detractors not to jump the gun in thinking that "all confrontations ended in a bloodbath.""This is our last resort, when fired upon, we return fire. And given that our men are trained in the use of firearms and the skills of armed confrontations, the death toll is always higher among criminals. This is the same all over the world," he added.
Khalid's invitation to Surendran (left), a staunch critic of the police force with regard to the use of excessive force, came amid the raging controversy surrounding Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's "shoot first" remark.
The minister's remark suggested that the police carried out summary executions of suspected criminals.
Zahid had since denied calling for extrajudicial killings, while Khalid also refuted allegations of the police being trigger-happy.
Move to name disabled person as senator lauded
We, representatives of the disabled community, are pleased that Women, Family and Community Development Minister Rohani Abdul Karim had revealed recently that a disabled person will be selected as a senator into Parliament soon.
It is high-time that the new senator will be someone who is physically disabled and in a wheelchair compared to the previous senator - Malaysia’s first - who was a blind person.
Malaysians with physical handicaps especially those on wheelchairs are one of the most neglected of disabled persons. The lack of mobility and access to public transport as well as into buildings is one of the biggest barriers towards successful living.
That is why the physically disabled remain one of the least educated and employed persons compared to the deaf and blind in our society.
The first challenge will be to make our Parliament House fully and properly wheelchair-friendly to disabled persons.
We urge that key disabled persons and organisations for the disabled be involved in the selection process of the disabled senator. That would only be right.
We suggest that academic qualifications should never be the qualifications of a suitable candidate.
Rather, an ideal senator should be someone who has truly experienced hardships and sufferings in order to serve the many wheelchair users and those with walking difficulties who have yet to be reached in order to improve their living conditions.
Having said that, the senator should at the same time, have the same passion in reaching out to the many other categories of persons with disabilities too from those living with Multiple Sclerosis to stroke and mental illness.
The senator in a wheelchair should also be given the necessary support systems like personal assistant care, a wheelchair-friendly transport vehicle and other services to help him carry out his duties.
For further information, please contact: Anthony Siva Balan, The Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association (Petpositive), H/P: 012-220 3146, or G Francis Siva, The Independent Living and Training Centre Malaysia (ILTC Malaysia), H/P: 019-338 5959.
G FRANCIS SILVA is president of Ihe Independent Living and Training Centre Malaysia (ILTC Malaysia).
Allah issue: Anwar calls for calm
The Pakatan Rakyat supremo calls for reasoned discourse on the subject following the ban on the use of the word in Catholic weekly, The Herald.
PETALING JAYA: Pakatan Rakyat supremo Anwar Ibrahim has called for calm following the Court of Appeal’s decision to ban the term ‘Allah’ from being used in Catholic weekly, The Herald.
The Permatang Pauh MP was responding to worldwide criticisms on the judgment, which law experts said had misplaced its priority by misinterpreting Article 3 and Article 11 of the Federal Constitution.
“A lot of people have expressed concern on the matter. Pakatan’s consensus is to call for calm and reasoned discourse on the subject and not condemn those who differ in views,” he said.
“Our collective stand on the issue remains the same as announced last year,” he added, refusing to elaborate further.
It is understood Pakatan stand is that the word ‘Allah’ should not be exclusive to Muslims as Christians and Jews are also allowed to use it, but the name should not be used in a wrong and irresponsible manner that could jeopardise racial and religious harmony.
Asked if Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak had met with opposition leaders to discuss the much-debated issue, Anwar said: “He (Najib) is not around.”
“Najib doesn’t seem to be around when it comes to controversial issues. This reflects the state of poor leadership in the country. It (Malaysia) needs a leader. The country is not on autopilot,” he added.
Misplaced priorities
On Monday, the Court of Appeal upheld an appeal from the government to bar The Herald, from referring to God as ‘Allah’ in its Malay edition.
The decision came under fire from various quarters, with the Malaysian Bar declaring the judgment had misplaced its priority by misinterpreting Article 3 and Article 11 of the Federal Constitution.
Its president Christopher Leong pointed out that the judgment only served to raise more confusion instead of upholding fundamental rights.
Earlier today, Umno supreme council member Saifudin Abdullah said that the ban was not a blanket ruling against all non-Muslims but was specific to The Herald.
He added the issue had become confusing with individuals issuing their own statements.
PETALING JAYA: Pakatan Rakyat supremo Anwar Ibrahim has called for calm following the Court of Appeal’s decision to ban the term ‘Allah’ from being used in Catholic weekly, The Herald.The Permatang Pauh MP was responding to worldwide criticisms on the judgment, which law experts said had misplaced its priority by misinterpreting Article 3 and Article 11 of the Federal Constitution.
“A lot of people have expressed concern on the matter. Pakatan’s consensus is to call for calm and reasoned discourse on the subject and not condemn those who differ in views,” he said.
“Our collective stand on the issue remains the same as announced last year,” he added, refusing to elaborate further.
It is understood Pakatan stand is that the word ‘Allah’ should not be exclusive to Muslims as Christians and Jews are also allowed to use it, but the name should not be used in a wrong and irresponsible manner that could jeopardise racial and religious harmony.
Asked if Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak had met with opposition leaders to discuss the much-debated issue, Anwar said: “He (Najib) is not around.”
“Najib doesn’t seem to be around when it comes to controversial issues. This reflects the state of poor leadership in the country. It (Malaysia) needs a leader. The country is not on autopilot,” he added.
Misplaced priorities
On Monday, the Court of Appeal upheld an appeal from the government to bar The Herald, from referring to God as ‘Allah’ in its Malay edition.
The decision came under fire from various quarters, with the Malaysian Bar declaring the judgment had misplaced its priority by misinterpreting Article 3 and Article 11 of the Federal Constitution.
Its president Christopher Leong pointed out that the judgment only served to raise more confusion instead of upholding fundamental rights.
Earlier today, Umno supreme council member Saifudin Abdullah said that the ban was not a blanket ruling against all non-Muslims but was specific to The Herald.
He added the issue had become confusing with individuals issuing their own statements.
Don’t give us peanuts, Indians tell Najib
The PM must allocate sufficient funds in Budget 2014 to help wean Indian youths from crime and gangsterism, say several leaders
PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak will be tabling the 2014 Budget on Oct 25. What is in store for the Malaysian Indian community has raised concerns among its leaders.
MIC Youth chief T Mohan hoped that Najib, who is also Finance Minister 1, would make sufficient allocations to fight crime.
“I believe it will be the right time for the premier to allocate funds to curb the escalating crime among Indian youth,” said Mohan.
Statistics from the police indicate that the Indians are leading the chart in crime activities.
Mohan strongly believes that the government has neglected the Indians and this could be one of the reasons why they are getting involved in gangsterism and criminal activities.
“MIC considers the claims by the police that nearly 29,000 Indians were active in secret societies as alarming and something needs to be done.
“Shooting or confining them by implementing new laws will not solve the problems,” said Mohan.
“Instead, the government must work hand in glove with Indian based political parties and NGOs, providing alternatives like creating job opportunities.
Thus, Budget 2014 budget should concentrate on a special allocation to Indians to combat crime.
“There is no point talking about gangsterism and crime among Indians when the government refuses to help them financially,” said Mohan.
Apart from crime prevention, special allocation should also be made for sports in Tamil schools and skills training programmes for less competent Indian students in secondary schools.
Creating job opportunities for unemployed Indians in all sectors within the government also would help the Indians to upgrade their lifestyle in future.
Sufficient loans needed
Meanwhile, a Pakatan Rakyat friendly NGO urged the government to provide micro credit financing for potential Indian entrepreneurs.
S Barathidasan, the secretary of MIPAS, said that the loan amount should at least be RM30,000 to RM50,000. It can facilitate Indians to venture into businesses.
“Giving RM6,000 under Tekun scheme is nothing but peanuts,” he said.
MIPAS also pointed out that Najib must fulfill his promises made in the Hindraf blueprint.
“The upcoming budget is a perfect avenue for the PM to deliver the six-point demand in a the MoU Umno signed with Hindraf before the 13th General Election,” added Mohan.
PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak will be tabling the 2014 Budget on Oct 25. What is in store for the Malaysian Indian community has raised concerns among its leaders.MIC Youth chief T Mohan hoped that Najib, who is also Finance Minister 1, would make sufficient allocations to fight crime.
“I believe it will be the right time for the premier to allocate funds to curb the escalating crime among Indian youth,” said Mohan.
Statistics from the police indicate that the Indians are leading the chart in crime activities.
Mohan strongly believes that the government has neglected the Indians and this could be one of the reasons why they are getting involved in gangsterism and criminal activities.
“MIC considers the claims by the police that nearly 29,000 Indians were active in secret societies as alarming and something needs to be done.
“Shooting or confining them by implementing new laws will not solve the problems,” said Mohan.
“Instead, the government must work hand in glove with Indian based political parties and NGOs, providing alternatives like creating job opportunities.
Thus, Budget 2014 budget should concentrate on a special allocation to Indians to combat crime.
“There is no point talking about gangsterism and crime among Indians when the government refuses to help them financially,” said Mohan.
Apart from crime prevention, special allocation should also be made for sports in Tamil schools and skills training programmes for less competent Indian students in secondary schools.
Creating job opportunities for unemployed Indians in all sectors within the government also would help the Indians to upgrade their lifestyle in future.
Sufficient loans needed
Meanwhile, a Pakatan Rakyat friendly NGO urged the government to provide micro credit financing for potential Indian entrepreneurs.
S Barathidasan, the secretary of MIPAS, said that the loan amount should at least be RM30,000 to RM50,000. It can facilitate Indians to venture into businesses.
“Giving RM6,000 under Tekun scheme is nothing but peanuts,” he said.
MIPAS also pointed out that Najib must fulfill his promises made in the Hindraf blueprint.
“The upcoming budget is a perfect avenue for the PM to deliver the six-point demand in a the MoU Umno signed with Hindraf before the 13th General Election,” added Mohan.
Sex crime victims under pressure
Victims of sex crime face double jeopardy in their ordeal of seeking justice from the courts. The process of getting a conviction can take toll on them and family.
GEORGE TOWN: Many sex crime cases just fade away when victims voluntarily drop out of the court trial due to intimidation by the accused, difficulty of legal process and lack of support for the victims and family members, disclosed a survey done by Penang-based Women Centre for Change (WCC).
Its chairperson for advocacy sub-committee, lawyer Lalitha Menon said the ordeal of going through the legal process, starting from police investigations, medical examinations to trial in seeking justice, would take its toll on the victims, family members and witnesses.
“It has proven to be too taxing and intimidating on them,” Lalitha told during a press conference in the WCC office here today.
She said frequent postponements of court hearing, for instance, would hinder the victims, family members and witnesses to pursue further with the case.
WCC’s survey revealed that frequent postponements would also affect the wages of the victims and witnesses.
The reputation of family, bad media publicity and threats from suspects have also caused victims and witnesses to “go missing” from trials.
In some cases, the accused has also absconded after securing bail.
All these have compelled the prosecution to often seek a court verdict of a discharge not amounting to acquittal order.
The survey also revealed that only 12 cases or four percent of the 439 sex related crime cases in Penang had resulted in guilty verdicts, while in 137 or 31% of cases the accused had pleaded guilty.
It also found 45% cases ended up with a discharge not amounting to acquittal verdicts.
“This means that if the accused choose not to plead guilty, they stand a 96% chance of being either acquitted or discharged or both,” concluded the WCC survey.
The survey was based on sex related crime court cases that took place in the island-state between 2000 and 2004.
Guidebook for victims
Findings of the survey were disclosed during a launching of WCC guidebook for sexual crime victims entitled: “Surviving Court – A Guide to Understanding the Criminal Court Process,” here today.
Also present were WCC executive director Loh Cheng Kooi, programme consultant Prema Devaraj, advocacy officer Melissa Mohd Akhir and watching brief lawyer Karen Lai.
Although the cases studied in the survey occurred early last decade, Melissa told FMT that the trend was still “more alike same” now.
Family members of two sexual-crime victims were also present to narrate their ordeal to the press. Their details and photographs could not be published due to obvious reasons.
Lalitha said most victims and family members lacked knowledge and experience in the criminal court process, leaving them feeling lost, disempowered and anxious.
She said they also lacked support from relatives, friends and lay public.
She revealed many victims were unfamiliar with court process, room setting, staff, officials, and specialized legal terms.
She said they were ill-prepared for trials and felt intimidated especially when facing their assailant and during cross examination by the defence.
She said it was ironic that the court process, which was to provide justice for victims, had often been a painful experience for victims especially when they had to relive and recount the crime during their testimony.
The guidebook was based on an earlier WCC research book “Justice for Victims of Sexual Crimes”, which highlighted the need for support and advocacy for victims during court process.
The 36-page guidebook is to help victims and other witnesses to better understand the police probe and court process in simple terms.
“Victims will be better prepared and empowered when going to court or seeking justice through the criminal court system,” said Lalitha to newsmen.
GEORGE TOWN: Many sex crime cases just fade away when victims voluntarily drop out of the court trial due to intimidation by the accused, difficulty of legal process and lack of support for the victims and family members, disclosed a survey done by Penang-based Women Centre for Change (WCC).Its chairperson for advocacy sub-committee, lawyer Lalitha Menon said the ordeal of going through the legal process, starting from police investigations, medical examinations to trial in seeking justice, would take its toll on the victims, family members and witnesses.
“It has proven to be too taxing and intimidating on them,” Lalitha told during a press conference in the WCC office here today.
She said frequent postponements of court hearing, for instance, would hinder the victims, family members and witnesses to pursue further with the case.
WCC’s survey revealed that frequent postponements would also affect the wages of the victims and witnesses.
The reputation of family, bad media publicity and threats from suspects have also caused victims and witnesses to “go missing” from trials.
In some cases, the accused has also absconded after securing bail.
All these have compelled the prosecution to often seek a court verdict of a discharge not amounting to acquittal order.
The survey also revealed that only 12 cases or four percent of the 439 sex related crime cases in Penang had resulted in guilty verdicts, while in 137 or 31% of cases the accused had pleaded guilty.
It also found 45% cases ended up with a discharge not amounting to acquittal verdicts.
“This means that if the accused choose not to plead guilty, they stand a 96% chance of being either acquitted or discharged or both,” concluded the WCC survey.
The survey was based on sex related crime court cases that took place in the island-state between 2000 and 2004.Guidebook for victims
Findings of the survey were disclosed during a launching of WCC guidebook for sexual crime victims entitled: “Surviving Court – A Guide to Understanding the Criminal Court Process,” here today.
Also present were WCC executive director Loh Cheng Kooi, programme consultant Prema Devaraj, advocacy officer Melissa Mohd Akhir and watching brief lawyer Karen Lai.
Although the cases studied in the survey occurred early last decade, Melissa told FMT that the trend was still “more alike same” now.
Family members of two sexual-crime victims were also present to narrate their ordeal to the press. Their details and photographs could not be published due to obvious reasons.
Lalitha said most victims and family members lacked knowledge and experience in the criminal court process, leaving them feeling lost, disempowered and anxious.
She said they also lacked support from relatives, friends and lay public.
She revealed many victims were unfamiliar with court process, room setting, staff, officials, and specialized legal terms.
She said they were ill-prepared for trials and felt intimidated especially when facing their assailant and during cross examination by the defence.She said it was ironic that the court process, which was to provide justice for victims, had often been a painful experience for victims especially when they had to relive and recount the crime during their testimony.
The guidebook was based on an earlier WCC research book “Justice for Victims of Sexual Crimes”, which highlighted the need for support and advocacy for victims during court process.
The 36-page guidebook is to help victims and other witnesses to better understand the police probe and court process in simple terms.
“Victims will be better prepared and empowered when going to court or seeking justice through the criminal court system,” said Lalitha to newsmen.
MB NS bersetuju jumpa penduduk Kampung Hakka, Mantin
Selepas mengadakan demonstrasi di hadapan pejabat Mohamad pagi semalam, Setiausaha Sulit Menteri Besar bertemu dengan wakil penduduk untuk berbincang.
SEREMBAN: Perjuangan penduduk Kampung Hakka, Mantin di sini memasuki satu lagi perkembangan baru apabila Menteri Besar Negeri Sembilan, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan bersetuju mengadakan perjumpaan dengan penduduk Kampung Hakka, Mantin pada hari Isnin 21 Oktober depan.
Selepas mengadakan demonstrasi aman selama dua jam di hadapan pejabat Mohamad pagi semalam, Setiausaha Sulit Menteri Besar, Shahrulfaizal Tahar bertemu dengan wakil penduduk untuk berbincang.
Shahrulfaizal kemudian memaklumkan kepada penduduk bahawa satu pertemuan telah diatur diantara penduduk dengan Menteri Besar pada hari Isnin depan.
Mohamad berada di luar daerah Seremban menghadiri beberapa program rasmi kerajaan ketika penduduk kampung mengadakan demonstrasi aman itu.
Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Bertindak Kampung Hakka, Chong Tze Yaw, 46, berkata penduduk kampung mahu Menteri Besar menggunakan kuasa ekskutif beliau untuk campurtangan dalam isu kampung tersebut, di mana kediaman penduduk akan dirobohkan oleh pemaju untuk projek komersial.
“Kami cuma mahu pampasan dan minta kerajaan negeri campurtangan dan membantu penduduk menuntut pampasan dari pemaju,” katanya.
Wakil Parti Sosialis Malaysia, R Gandi berkata penduduk mengadakan demonstrasi kerana memorandum yang yang dihantar kepada Menteri Besar pada 01 Oktober lalu masih belum mendapat sebarang maklum balas.
Sementara itu, Mahkamah Tinggi Seremban membenarkan penangguhan kes Kampung Hakka sehingga 21 Oktober (Isnin) nanti.
Peguam yang mewakili penduduk iaitu Siow Kim Leong yang juga Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri Lobak (DAP), berkata kepada FMT bahawa perintah penggantungan sementara (interim stay order) telah dilanjutkan sehingga 03.30 petang pada 21 Oktober ini.
“Peguam pemaju (plaintif) memfailkan afidavit baru lebih kurang dua puluh perenggan. Justeru itu kami peguam penduduk (defendan) memerlukan masa untuk mengkaji dan menjawab afidavit tersebut.
“Maka Hakim Mahkamah Tinggi Seremban, Datuk Siti Mariah Ahmad membenarkan perintah penggantungan sementara sehingga 21 Oktober ini berhubung permohonan pemaju untuk merobohkan kediaman penduduk untuk projek pembangunan,” ujar Siow.
Dua lagi peguam yang mewakili penduduk ialah Ahli Parlimen Puchong, Gobind Singh Deo (DAP) dan ADUN Bukit Kepayang, Cha Kee Chin (DAP).
Sebelum ini pada 25 September, pemaju telah menyerahkan notis untuk merobohkan rumah penduduk.
Pada 30 September, pemaju memulakan kerja meroboh kediaman penduduk dan sempat merobohkan dua buah rumah.
Keadaan menjadi kecoh apabila penduduk kampung bersama ahli PSM dan aktivis NGO Jerit membuat rantai manusia menghalang pemaju daripada merobohkan kediaman mereka.
Ini menyebabkan polis terpaksa menahan 12 individu kerana menghalang kerja penjawat awam.
Campurtangan Ahli Parlimen Seremban, Loke Siew Fook (DAP) bersama beberapa ADUN Pakatan Rakyat akhirnya berjaya menghalang kerja perobohan rumah penduduk diteruskan.
Seterusnya Siow berjaya mendapatkan arahan penangguhan sementara dari Siti Mariah pada hari yang sama.
SEREMBAN: Perjuangan penduduk Kampung Hakka, Mantin di sini memasuki satu lagi perkembangan baru apabila Menteri Besar Negeri Sembilan, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan bersetuju mengadakan perjumpaan dengan penduduk Kampung Hakka, Mantin pada hari Isnin 21 Oktober depan.Selepas mengadakan demonstrasi aman selama dua jam di hadapan pejabat Mohamad pagi semalam, Setiausaha Sulit Menteri Besar, Shahrulfaizal Tahar bertemu dengan wakil penduduk untuk berbincang.
Shahrulfaizal kemudian memaklumkan kepada penduduk bahawa satu pertemuan telah diatur diantara penduduk dengan Menteri Besar pada hari Isnin depan.
Mohamad berada di luar daerah Seremban menghadiri beberapa program rasmi kerajaan ketika penduduk kampung mengadakan demonstrasi aman itu.
Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Bertindak Kampung Hakka, Chong Tze Yaw, 46, berkata penduduk kampung mahu Menteri Besar menggunakan kuasa ekskutif beliau untuk campurtangan dalam isu kampung tersebut, di mana kediaman penduduk akan dirobohkan oleh pemaju untuk projek komersial.
“Kami cuma mahu pampasan dan minta kerajaan negeri campurtangan dan membantu penduduk menuntut pampasan dari pemaju,” katanya.
Wakil Parti Sosialis Malaysia, R Gandi berkata penduduk mengadakan demonstrasi kerana memorandum yang yang dihantar kepada Menteri Besar pada 01 Oktober lalu masih belum mendapat sebarang maklum balas.
Sementara itu, Mahkamah Tinggi Seremban membenarkan penangguhan kes Kampung Hakka sehingga 21 Oktober (Isnin) nanti.
Peguam yang mewakili penduduk iaitu Siow Kim Leong yang juga Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri Lobak (DAP), berkata kepada FMT bahawa perintah penggantungan sementara (interim stay order) telah dilanjutkan sehingga 03.30 petang pada 21 Oktober ini.
“Peguam pemaju (plaintif) memfailkan afidavit baru lebih kurang dua puluh perenggan. Justeru itu kami peguam penduduk (defendan) memerlukan masa untuk mengkaji dan menjawab afidavit tersebut.
“Maka Hakim Mahkamah Tinggi Seremban, Datuk Siti Mariah Ahmad membenarkan perintah penggantungan sementara sehingga 21 Oktober ini berhubung permohonan pemaju untuk merobohkan kediaman penduduk untuk projek pembangunan,” ujar Siow.Dua lagi peguam yang mewakili penduduk ialah Ahli Parlimen Puchong, Gobind Singh Deo (DAP) dan ADUN Bukit Kepayang, Cha Kee Chin (DAP).
Sebelum ini pada 25 September, pemaju telah menyerahkan notis untuk merobohkan rumah penduduk.
Pada 30 September, pemaju memulakan kerja meroboh kediaman penduduk dan sempat merobohkan dua buah rumah.
Keadaan menjadi kecoh apabila penduduk kampung bersama ahli PSM dan aktivis NGO Jerit membuat rantai manusia menghalang pemaju daripada merobohkan kediaman mereka.
Ini menyebabkan polis terpaksa menahan 12 individu kerana menghalang kerja penjawat awam.
Campurtangan Ahli Parlimen Seremban, Loke Siew Fook (DAP) bersama beberapa ADUN Pakatan Rakyat akhirnya berjaya menghalang kerja perobohan rumah penduduk diteruskan.
Seterusnya Siow berjaya mendapatkan arahan penangguhan sementara dari Siti Mariah pada hari yang sama.
MIC division polls marred, claim leaders
A division chief and several MIC branch leaders have lodged police reports against Palanivel’s political secretary and one of his staunch allies.
PETALING JAYA: Batu Gajah MIC division chief S Poliges has lodged a police report against the Perak MIC chief R Ganeson, a close ally of party president G Palanivel, over alleged irregularities in conducting the division’s election.
In his police report, supported by three other such reports, Poliges claimed that Ganeson had changed names of delegates, eligible to attend the MIC general assembly in Nov, from the original list submitted by the division.
The division head claimed that Ganeson, who was the returning officer representing the party headquarters to the division’s annual general meeting, had changed the final list of delegates when he submitted it to the headquarters.
“The list of delegates from the division was supposed to be sent by the division to the headquarters. But in this case, Ganeson as the state chief used his powers and took the final list. We found that the list Ganeson submitted to the party headquarters is not the same as that submitted by the division.
“We want the police and the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission to investigate the matter and initiate legal proceedings against Ganeson for election malpractice,” Poliges said in his police report. Copies of the police reports were furnished to FMT by a source.
The other three police reports were lodged by Taman Rasi branch chairman Dr S Paramanandan, Jelapang New Village branch leader S Mosiah and S Asokhan, the Jelapang New Village branch committee member. All reports were lodged at the Jelapang police station last Monday, Oct 15.
Ballots deliberately spoilt
In another related development, Palanivel’s political secretary P Palaniappan, who is also Selayang division chief, is alleged to have committed election fraud while overseeing the Teluk Intan division polls on Oct 12.
E Muniandy, a branch leader from the Teluk Intan division, in his police report claimed that Palaniappan, who was acting as the returning officer, had opened ballot boxes and tampered with the ballots, without the presence agents of those contesting in the division.
The report lodged at the Teluk Intan police station on Oct 12, states another returning officer named Gopal had allegedly manipulated the ballot papers rendering them as spoilt votes.
Palaniappan was the returning officer to conduct the election process of the division.
“During counting, the election officers took a few ballot boxes containing votes for the division chairman, deputy chairman and vice chairman posts to a corner and opened them without the presence of any observers, delegates or representatives,” claimed Muniandy in his police report.
He alleged that a returning officer by the name of Gopal then began marking the ballots with a black pen, rendering the ballots invalid.
“After marking the ballots, he threw the black pen under the table. There are witnesses to this incident,” Muniandy claimed.
Following the incident, Muniandy and another branch leader, Jeyendran, demanded Palaniappan to stop arranging and meddling with the ballot papers.
“We also asked him why the ballot boxes were opened without any delegates or representative and he could not give a valid explanation.”
“The situation went out of control for a moment when Palaniappan tried to ‘clear away’ the evidence by retrieving the pen but was prevented by delegates. Palaniappan admitted and regretted the wrongdoings and decided to call off the election due to manipulation in ballot papers by returning officers,” Muniandy said.
He said tampering ballot papers was a serious violation of a fair and clean election, what more if it is done by the very officials who were entrusted to run free and fair elections.
The party central working committee which would hold its meeting on Oct 25 is expected to study the complaints.
PETALING JAYA: Batu Gajah MIC division chief S Poliges has lodged a police report against the Perak MIC chief R Ganeson, a close ally of party president G Palanivel, over alleged irregularities in conducting the division’s election.In his police report, supported by three other such reports, Poliges claimed that Ganeson had changed names of delegates, eligible to attend the MIC general assembly in Nov, from the original list submitted by the division.
The division head claimed that Ganeson, who was the returning officer representing the party headquarters to the division’s annual general meeting, had changed the final list of delegates when he submitted it to the headquarters.
“The list of delegates from the division was supposed to be sent by the division to the headquarters. But in this case, Ganeson as the state chief used his powers and took the final list. We found that the list Ganeson submitted to the party headquarters is not the same as that submitted by the division.
“We want the police and the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission to investigate the matter and initiate legal proceedings against Ganeson for election malpractice,” Poliges said in his police report. Copies of the police reports were furnished to FMT by a source.
The other three police reports were lodged by Taman Rasi branch chairman Dr S Paramanandan, Jelapang New Village branch leader S Mosiah and S Asokhan, the Jelapang New Village branch committee member. All reports were lodged at the Jelapang police station last Monday, Oct 15.
Ballots deliberately spoilt
In another related development, Palanivel’s political secretary P Palaniappan, who is also Selayang division chief, is alleged to have committed election fraud while overseeing the Teluk Intan division polls on Oct 12.
E Muniandy, a branch leader from the Teluk Intan division, in his police report claimed that Palaniappan, who was acting as the returning officer, had opened ballot boxes and tampered with the ballots, without the presence agents of those contesting in the division.
The report lodged at the Teluk Intan police station on Oct 12, states another returning officer named Gopal had allegedly manipulated the ballot papers rendering them as spoilt votes.
Palaniappan was the returning officer to conduct the election process of the division.
“During counting, the election officers took a few ballot boxes containing votes for the division chairman, deputy chairman and vice chairman posts to a corner and opened them without the presence of any observers, delegates or representatives,” claimed Muniandy in his police report.
He alleged that a returning officer by the name of Gopal then began marking the ballots with a black pen, rendering the ballots invalid.
“After marking the ballots, he threw the black pen under the table. There are witnesses to this incident,” Muniandy claimed.
Following the incident, Muniandy and another branch leader, Jeyendran, demanded Palaniappan to stop arranging and meddling with the ballot papers.
“We also asked him why the ballot boxes were opened without any delegates or representative and he could not give a valid explanation.”
“The situation went out of control for a moment when Palaniappan tried to ‘clear away’ the evidence by retrieving the pen but was prevented by delegates. Palaniappan admitted and regretted the wrongdoings and decided to call off the election due to manipulation in ballot papers by returning officers,” Muniandy said.
He said tampering ballot papers was a serious violation of a fair and clean election, what more if it is done by the very officials who were entrusted to run free and fair elections.
The party central working committee which would hold its meeting on Oct 25 is expected to study the complaints.
Home Ministry to reach out to the Bar and NGOs
The Star
by RAZAK AHMAD AND SHAHANAAZ HABIB
by RAZAK AHMAD AND SHAHANAAZ HABIB
PETALING
JAYA: The Cabinet has instructed the Home Ministry to reach out to the
Bar Council and other non-governmental organisations unhappy with
amendments to the Prevention of Crime Act (PCA).
Its
minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the Prime Minister
during the weekly Cabinet meeting yesterday voiced his concern about the
criticisms over the PCA amendments that have been raised by various
groups.
Dr Ahmad Zahid said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak wants the ministry to step up its engagement with the groups.
“So,
what I will do after this is that if there is any aspect of the PCA
which is not satisfactory to the Bar Council and other NGOs, we can
discuss it; and if further amendments need to be done to the PCA in the
coming meeting of the Dewan Rakyat, then we will do it,” Dr Ahmad Zahid
said in an interview.
The Dewan Rakyat during its last meeting passed amendments to the PCA.
Ten other security laws related to the PCA are scheduled for a second reading in the House next week.
Dr
Ahmad Zahid said that apart from raising their concerns about the PCA,
the Bar Council and other NGOs could also give their views about the
proposed amendments to the 10 other security laws, which include the
Criminal Procedure Code (CPC).
“We
will not shut the door of engagement in efforts to strengthen the
security laws which are not cast in stone in the first place,” he said.
Dr Ahmad Zahid denied that the Government failed to engage stakeholders before tabling the amendments.
He
said that apart from discussions conducted by the Attorney-General’s
Chambers, there have been various forums on the security laws involving
groups such as the Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation and the
Association for the Promotion of Human Rights (Proham).
On
a related matter, Dr Ahmad Zahid said police would start forfeiting
assets of secret society kingpins by March next year once the amendments
to the security laws related to the PCA are gazetted.
“The
asset seizures will begin after the amendments to the 10 security laws
are passed by the Dewan Rakyat and the Dewan Negara and we expect the
operation to start some time in the first quarter of next year.
Operationally, we are ready to move and start the seizures,” he said.
After the Allah decision, Putrajaya in futile bid to salvage Malaysia
Prime
Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak with Christian leaders during Christmas
last year. - The Malaysian Insider pic, October 17, 2013.
There is irrationality and irony in the Cabinet's decision that the word Allah can be used in worship and in the Bahasa Malaysia bibles in Sabah and Sarawak - because one cannot compartmentalise religion by regions.
Nor can the Cabinet override the court's decision.
Or the fact that the Bahasa Malaysia section of the Catholic weekly, the Herald, is actually meant for East Malaysians where most of the Catholics speak and read the national language more than anywhere else in the country.
After all, what are the chances that a non-Catholic would be able to lay his or her hands on one of the 14,000 copies printed weekly in Malaysia for some one million Catholics in the country?
If anything, the Cabinet decision that the Court of Appeal ruling would not affect Christians in Sabah and Sarawak shows that at the end of the day, everything is about politics.
While the ruling was specific to the Herald's appeal against the Home Minister's ruling, there was also the wider issue of considering the Archbishop's argument that it infringed his right to freedom of religion.
What really is there to stop the enforcement of Syariah laws that prohibit usage of certain words by non-Muslims, now that the civil courts have agreed that the Home Minister is well within his rights to limit the Herald from using the word Allah?
As it is, several muftis have voiced their opinions that such religious laws can be used to punish non-Muslims and excommunicate Muslims who support a Christian's right to use the word.
The Cabinet cannot just decide that it is fine to issue a letter limiting the words used by a publication depending on the religion and region or allowing it to be freely used elsewhere.
This makes a mockery of such laws and regulations.
While the appeal court have made its decision, the government of the day has to ponder the ramifications of its ruling and the subsequent challenge in court. State Islamic authorities too will have a larger say on the matter, even in Sabah and Sarawak.
Where will this end? Not with a Cabinet ruling on the matter because this country has separation of powers. To ignore a court decision brings with it the possibility that others too will ignore the ruling.
Stopping a low-circulation weekly from using the word Allah or confusing practice with propagation has turned Malaysia into an international joke as far as religious ties are concerned.
Trying to cover it up with more assurances is even more comical, if not sad.
The reality is that the government has decided it can regulate the words used by worshippers of any faith, without considering how futile that can be. But that is what politics is all about, the art of the possible. - October 17, 2013.
Istana Negara Personnel Also Hold Sacrificial Ceremony In Palace Compound
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 17 (Bernama) -- Despite entering its third day, the merriment of Hari Raya Aidiladha's sacrificial ceremonies is clearly felt when several groups including the Istana Negara staff club held sacrifices here today.
The Istana Negara Welfare and Sports Club (Keksin) had for the first time slaughtered seven cattle in the compound of the club house within the palace area in Jalan Duta, here.
Datuk Pengelola Bijaya Diraja Datuk Awang Kechik Abd Rahman who attended the ceremony said previously the slaughtering was done elsewhere.
"For the present celebration, seven cows were slaughtered and the meat distributed to orphanages and also to the personnel involved," he said when met by reporters here Thursday.
He said other than briefing those involved on the sacrifice the programme also bolstered understanding and family ties among them.
Meanwhile, Felda Group also sacrificed 20 cattle in the compound of Felda's Dewan Perdana here which was also attended by its chairman Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad and wife Puan Sri Bibi Sharliza.
In Bangsar, the staff of Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas) were not left out in the merriment and slaughtered 25 cattle and three goats.
Water Supply Employee Association of Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya president Zainuddin Othman said 70 of Syabas personnel were involved in slaughtering the cattles and in preparing lunch.
Sports and Welfare Club of the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) also had a sacrifice here today by slaughtering 10 cows, including one donated by Works Minister Datuk Fadillah Yusof, according to a CIDB press statement here today.
The meat was distributed to two orphanages here, said the CIDB statement.
-- BERNAMA
The Istana Negara Welfare and Sports Club (Keksin) had for the first time slaughtered seven cattle in the compound of the club house within the palace area in Jalan Duta, here.
Datuk Pengelola Bijaya Diraja Datuk Awang Kechik Abd Rahman who attended the ceremony said previously the slaughtering was done elsewhere.
"For the present celebration, seven cows were slaughtered and the meat distributed to orphanages and also to the personnel involved," he said when met by reporters here Thursday.
He said other than briefing those involved on the sacrifice the programme also bolstered understanding and family ties among them.
Meanwhile, Felda Group also sacrificed 20 cattle in the compound of Felda's Dewan Perdana here which was also attended by its chairman Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad and wife Puan Sri Bibi Sharliza.
In Bangsar, the staff of Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas) were not left out in the merriment and slaughtered 25 cattle and three goats.
Water Supply Employee Association of Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya president Zainuddin Othman said 70 of Syabas personnel were involved in slaughtering the cattles and in preparing lunch.
Sports and Welfare Club of the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) also had a sacrifice here today by slaughtering 10 cows, including one donated by Works Minister Datuk Fadillah Yusof, according to a CIDB press statement here today.
The meat was distributed to two orphanages here, said the CIDB statement.
-- BERNAMA
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