14 killed in India building collapse

New Delhi (CNN) -- At least 14 people were killed when a building under construction at India's seaside tourist resort of Goa caved in on Saturday, authorities said.

Most of the dead were construction workers, according to Goa's police control-room officer, Sainath Kmorpant.

It was not immediately clear how many people could still be trapped in the rubble, but Kmorpant said emergency crews were still clearing the debris more than four hours after the collapse was reported.

The five-story building came down at around 3:15 p.m., according to police.

The cause of the collapse is not yet known.

School closure forces Tamil school students to study under trees

"Red Pencil Protest" pushes for press freedom

Sex During Ramadan,Vaginal Discharge,Orgasm Without Intercourse Most Popular Fatwas Of 2013

Rituals and Intimacy

Interestingly, on the top of the most-read fatwasis a question on whether or not it is permissible for married spouses to make love at night during Ramadan. This fatwa is viewed by 19067 visitors to the site.

The high rate of viewership of this fatwa indicates that Muslims, particularly those who are living in Western communities, are very concerned about the correct performance of their religious rituals and acts of worship. It also manifests that Muslims spouses are mostly interested in leading their marital life according to the values and morals of Islam.

Muslim-non-Muslim Relationship

In the second position in the top fatwas list comes aquestion on the legality or otherwise of celebrating Christmas by Muslims. This fatwa is viewed by 14168 visitors.

Husband-Wife Relationship

It is really interesting that fatwas on the husband-wife relationship occupy the 3rd, the 5th, and the 6thpositions in the top fatwas list. Those fatwas have respectively gotten 7403, 6392, and 6180 page-views.

The 10th fatwa on the list replies a question on whether newly married spouses should have intercourse on the first night of their marriage; a fatwa that is viewed by 4841 visitors.

Women’s Concerns and Practicing Religion

On the 4th position of the list comes a question onfasting and vaginal discharges while on 7th position comes a question on menses and eligibility for prayers. The former is viewed by 7155 visitor while the latter has gotten 6093 page-views. The 9th fatwa on the list gives a reply to a sister who asks whether or not should she perform ghusl (ritual bath) if she reaches orgasm without intercourse. It is read by 5333 users.

World Sufferings

In 2013, horrible incidents and disasters took place. A brother has, therefore, asked why there is suffering in the world and why God allows it. This question comes on the 8th position of the top fatwas list and is viewed by 5823 readers.

Full story
http://www.onislam.net/english/shariah/contemporary-issues/human-conditions-and-social-context/467605-top-qa-islam-fiqh-women-affairs-sex-fatwa-spouses.html

Hasan beats war drums on Christian conversion - Malaysiakini

 

The mooted review of the Selangor Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation Among Muslims) Enactment 1988 would bring chaos, warned the Jalur Tiga Malaysia’s (Jati) group president Hasan Mohamed Ali.

When asked to elaborate, he said other Muslim-majority countries without such  laws like Indonesia have experienced turmoil and are in the process of being ‘Christianised’.

“That is their choice, but for us in Malaysia, I want to ask the friends who are present: For those who are Muslim, are we okay if your child is converted to Christianity simply because we don’t have these rules?

“Are we okay to say if the child reaches 18 or 21 years old, the parent no longer have any say on the child whom they gave birth and raised? Are we willing to do that?” he said at a press conference in home today.

He added that another aspect is that the amendment would likely include elements of Pakatan Rakyat’s interpretation of human rights, which he said would legalise homosexual behaviour.

“Perhaps some would say I’m telling fairy tales, but this is no fairy tale. Hasn’t this already happened in Europe? In America? Even in Asia, this phenomenon is happening unofficially,” he said.

Hasan was responding to a joint statement from Damansara Utama assemblyperson Yeo Bee Yin, Bukit Gasing assemblyperson Rajiv Rishyakaran, and Kampung Tunku assemblyperson Lau Weng San yesterday, calling for subsection 9 of the Selangor Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation Among Muslims) Enactment 1988 to be reviewed.

The enactment prohibits the word ‘Allah’ and 34 other Arabic words from being used in non-Islamic contexts.

However, debate on issue welcomed

The three DAP assemblypersons argued that while Article 11(4) of the federal constitution has restrictions on the propagation of religious doctrine among Muslims, it does not affect how non-Muslims practise their religion, including their preferred language.

They pointed out that the freedom of religion is guaranteed under Articles 11(1) and 11(3) of the federal constitution.

The statement came in the wake of Selangor Islamic Religious Department’s (Jais) raid on the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) on Thursday, where they seized Malay-language bibles and investigated its leaders under the same enactment.

Despite his alarm, Hasan (left) says he would nevertheless ‘welcome’ the amendment to be discussed at state exco meetings as well debated in the state assembly.

He points out that state assembly debates are broadcast live and it would be a good opportunity for the people to judge their elected representatives on their stance regarding the enactment.

“(However) if the amendment is passed, imagine the consequences. It is not only on Selangor, nor the 13 other states, nor on the similar provision at the federal level.

“The consequence that I see waiting for us is chaos among the people, especially the people of Selangor,” he added.

The former state exco on Islamic affairs also defended Jais’ raid on BSM, insisting that it was done in accordance with existing legislation, especially the enactment it was enforcing.

He added that Jais is also entitled to act on its own accord without giving anyone prior notice, especially when on covert raids.

When asked about arguments that Jais has no jurisdiction over non-Muslims, Hasan dismissed it as ‘their interpretation’ of the law.

He said in his experience, Jais’ interpretation is that department is the main agency to enforce religious enactments, rules, and fatwas in Selangor, including the Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation Among Muslims) Enactment 1988.

“If we say that Jais has no right to confiscate, to raid and so on, who else is going to enforce such enactments in Selangor? Try asking, who else? To NGOs, to any organisation? To those criticising what Jais did?

“I think it is logical, practical, and legal for the task to be handed to Jais,” he said.

Allah row reignited due to flawed ruling, inept authorities, says academic

A protest held in Kuala Langat, Selangor, on Friday to object to the use of the word 
Allah by Catholic churches. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Najjua Zulkefli.

The battle over the word Allah in Malaysia has spilled beyond newspapers due to a vague judgement that has confused conservative Muslim groups and Putrajaya's apathy to clear the issue, an academic told The Malaysian Insider.

Christians' use of the word hit the headlines this past week after a Catholic priest said Selangor's Islamic laws did not apply to the community, prompting the state Islamic Religious Department (Jais) to raid a Bible store and seize 320 Malay and Iban language Bibles that contain the word Allah – against a federal agreement that the Bibles can be used in Malaysia.

"We have two situations here; firstly, the Court of Appeal's decision denying Catholic weekly Herald the rights to use the word Allah in its publication raises the question of whether others, apart from publications, can use the word.

"The other situation is where Malay rights groups have perceived the ruling as a final verdict that all Christians cannot use the word Allah during mass, hence the confusion," Universiti Malaysia Kelantan's (UMK) Professor Datuk Abdul Halim Sidek said.

He pointed out that to make matters worse, there has not been any attempt by any government agency to clarify the matter after the Court of Appeal had overturned a 2009 High Court judgment allowing the Herald to use Allah in its Bahasa edition.

"This matter has been blown out of proportion and exploited for political reasons," said Abdul Halim, who is the secretary for the political security and international affairs portfolio in the National Council of Professors (MPN).

"Even the government appears confused over the matter and Jais seems to believe that the court judgement gives them the rights to storm into the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) and confiscate the religious texts," he added.

The raid last Thursday has led to condemnation by politicians, religious leaders and lawyers who say it was unconstitutional and illegal although Jais had taken police along to enforce a state law.

Abdul Halim said that the matter should have been discussed to clear the air and to avoid religious tension. Christians form nearly 10% of the 29 million population in Malaysia, where the official religion is Islam.

"It seems to me the judges were trying to play it safe, so this is the end result, where everyone interprets the judgement based on their whims and fancies," he said.

Abdul Halim also said that the Court of Appeal judgement was "more of a policy decision and not one delivered to solve the issue".

"This matter has to be cleared up and not prolonged... people are misinterpreting the already blurred judgement," he added.

But the academic said the government has to do more than just keep quiet over the issue.

"Claiming to be a country which practices democracy and having a crucial issue staring back at us is just wrong. Also, it is utterly wrong to deny the constitutional and religious rights of the Christians.

"We cannot simply hold those of that faith accountable as it is the judgement that's causing the problem," he added.

Politicians from the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition have appealed for calm and respect for the judgement, which they had earlier said applied only to the Herald and not to the Christian community.

Selangor Umno blamed the current situation on Herald editor Father Lawrence Andrew for saying that Catholic churches in Selangor will continue to use the word "Allah" during its weekend services in Bahasa Malaysia despite Jais's intention to send reminders on a 1988 state enactment prohibiting non-Muslims from using the word.

Andrew had told The Malaysian Insider that Article 11(3) (A) of the Federal Constitution prescribes that every religious group has its rights to manage its own religious affairs.

“Our religion cannot be managed by any Muslim group. It is against the Federal Constitution.

"We will continue to use the word Allah in our masses,” he had said, adding that Jais as an Islamic body has no jurisdiction over other religious bodies.

“At the moment, the case is still in court and no decision has been made yet. They can’t pre-empt this,” the Herald editor had added, referring to the Catholic Church's move to appeal the Court of Appeal ruling.

Police officers said Andrew's remarks to The Malaysian Insider prompted at least 86 reports in Selangor alone. Police have started investigating the issue under the Sedition Act and has interviewed three journalists from The Malaysian Insider.

There has also been calls for protests outside churches today but Selangor Umno has said it will not conduct demonstrations although other conservative Muslim and Malay groups have said they will hold rallies against the Christians this weekend. – January 5, 2014.

Najib, be a PM for all

The role of the government is to protect all, and not only the majority.
COMMENT

A nation’s independence is as good as its promise to keep its people safe. And here Malaysia fails miserably, going by the central government’s refusal to uphold respect for the less dominant races in the country.

Prime Minister Najib Razak shows no interest in bringing about calm among the worried and anxious minority races when their faiths are under attack. Instead, he has openly shown partisan by defending the use of ‘Allah’ as that of exclusive to the Muslims.

Now when a nation’s leader fails to react objectively, how does the government expect the people to react to threats and intimidation to their faiths?

Ambushing events and functions organised by the Catholic community under the ‘concern’ of proselytiation’ and continuing to harass and intimidate this community and all non-Malays who insist on using the word ‘Allah’ has now backfired in a very ugly way, leaving the country to ‘bleed to death’, its racial harmony impaired beyond repair.

In August 2011, the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) raided the Damansara Utama Methodist Church’s thanksgiving dinner, claiming it was carrying out an ‘inspection’ following a complaint that Muslims were attending the AIDS support group Harapan Komuniti event.

DUMC senior pastor Daniel Ho then cried foul, saying the trespass, search and seizure by Jais and police were without proper authority under the law.

As expected, the raid ignited an uproar among the country’s religious communities.

But the country’s Muslim lobby groups unconditionally supported Jais. The then Selangor executive councillor for religious matters Dr Hasan Ali defended the raid insisting that the words “pray” and “Quran” were used in the presence of the 12 Muslims who were among the 100 attendees of the dinner.

Two years later and the scenario has taken a turn for the worse. It started in 2007 with the Home Minister prohibiting the Catholic church weekly the Herald from using ‘Allah’ in its Bahasa Malaysia section.

The ban prompted the Catholic church to initiate legal action against Putrajaya.

However, last October, the Court of Appeal decided that The Herald could not use the word “Allah” in its Malay edition as the usage of “Allah” was not an integral part of the Christian faith.

The Herald editor Rev Lawrence Andrew has made it clear the issue was never about ‘making a point’ as ‘Allah’ was used in Malacca even before the Al-Quran was translated into Bahasa Malaysia.

“We have been using this word for nearly four or five hundred years, people have been living in peace and harmony. We have published The Herald for 19 years and we have not caused any trouble,” Rev Andrew had said in the past.

But Najib and Umno refuse to listen, resulting in matters spiralling out of control since. Jais continues to play ‘loose cannon’, acting without discretion and relishing trampling on religious sensitivities of the non-Malays, especially the Catholic community.

Jais takes the coward’s way out

Trespassing all semblance of democracy and respect for one another’s faith, Jais once again bulldozed its way, this time into the premises of the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) in Damansara Kim.

When condemned for the unlawful and uncalled for raid, Jais took the coward’s way out – the religious authority claimed it forgot to inform the state government about the January 2 raid, where Jais officials confiscated 320 Bibles in Bahasa Malaysia and Iban from the BSM premises in Damansara Kim.

BSM president Lee Min Choon and manager Sinclair Wong were detained by police during the raid but were subsequently released after an unpleasant experience at the hands of the police.

However, the raid and detention of Lee and Wong have further ruffled feathers in a country where racial ties have become dysfunctional.

The drama did not end there. Muslim groups reputed for their extremism worsened matters by threatening and intimidating the Catholic community, promising to stage a protest outside a church in Klang.

Najib’s unremorseful support for ‘Allah’ to be the copyright of the Muslim community and the continuous attack on the non-Malays for standing firm on their right to the word ‘Allah’ has torn Malaysia’s harmony to shreds.

Like his cousin Najib, even Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein is pro-Muslim when he claimed that the refusal of certain quarters to accept the court’s decision on the matter cultivated hatred and disunity, which was feared might cause turmoil in the country.

“The court has made its decision. We must accept it. Stop the polemics and stop politicising the issue, if not there will be chaos,” Hishammuddin said on Friday.

The Defence Minister was responding to a statement by Rev Andrew that churches in Selangor would continue to use the word “Allah” in reference to God in their weekend services.

The Catholic community is being cautioned that their adamance was contrary to the decree made by the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.

Umno, bigot muftis real threat to harmony

Sultan Sharafuddin’s December 14 decree says ‘Allah’ is meant only for the Muslims and that the non-Malays in Selangor can no longer address their God as ‘Allah’ like they have been doing all along.

The Selangor Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation Among Muslims) Enactment 1988 is being used to wary the non-Malays to stop using ‘Allah’ at once.

But then Sultan Sharafuddin is all for the rakyat of Selangor, including the non-Malays uttering the word ‘Allah’ when they sing the Selangor state anthem for they are praying for his well being.

Now, just how insensitive and selfish can a state leader be?

The ‘culprits’ that have disturbed the nation’s equilibrium are on too many. From the prime minister to his deputy Muhyiddin Yassin who backed the recent Jais raid, the Home Minister, the Defence Minister to Jais and Umno politicians, they are all guilty of one too many rapes of Malaysia’s peace and harmony.

Then there are bigoted muftis like Perak’s Harussani Zakaria make it difficult for Malaysians of diverse faiths to stay united.

While the BN government opts to sleepwalk over this contentious issue, leaving the Catholic church gasping for ways to put an end to the racial discrimination exacerbated by racist muftis and extremist Malay non-governmental organisations, Umno politicians have added fuel to fire.

Umno veteran Club secretary Mustapha Yaakub chastised and ridiculed Rev Andrew, asking the latter to convert to Islam if he insisted on using the word “Allah”, saying that this will cool the rage of Muslims and comply with the Sultan of Selangor’s decree.

But Najib is not interested to give Rev Andrew a listening ear. This despite the fact that Rev Andrew keeps reminding Putrajaya that in the Middle East and Indonesia, Allah is a term used by both Christians and Muslims.

But then Umno Baru is quick to get riled up when the Catholic church is fighting tooth and nail to defend their right to ‘Allah’. But when the likes of Mustapha openly attack the faith of a religious leader, the BN government cannot care less. Why?

Almost six decades post-merdeka, Malaysia has hit rock-bottom in the context of racial harmony and unity. Today, the nation’s much prided ‘unity in diversity’ claim has become passe, all because the government of the day thinks less of the minority races who also call Malaysia home.

Jeswan Kaur is a FMT columnist

Police to act, if request made by Jais

Home Minister says the police will act on the "Allah" issue only upon the request by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department.

ALOR GAJAH: Police will take action over the “Allah” word issue in Selangor if its Islamic Religious Department (Jais) requests police to intervene in enforcing the ruling on the issue.

Home Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said this was because Islamic religious matters were under the jurisdiction of the state government and police respected its jurisdiction over the issue.

“All quarters should stop playing up this sensitive issue…those involved should adhere to the decree by the Sultan of Selangor (Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah) and the court order for (non-Muslims) not to use the ‘kalimah Allah’ (in their scriptures),” he told reporters, here, today.

Earlier, he attended the wedding ceremony of his ministry’s officer, Azizul Hakim Abdul Aziz, 30, and his bride, Nurfaraheeda Omar, 26.

On Dec 27 last year, The Herald Weekly editor, Father Lawrence Andrew said the Catholic churches in Selangor would continue using the word “Allah” during its weekly service using the Malay language even though Jais had sent a reminder on the ban on using the word by non-Muslims.

Ahmad Zahid also advised all quarters not to “pour oil on a raging fire” over such a sensitive issue and not to have any evil intention behind the ”kalimah Allah” issue.

On another note, he reminded all not to accuse the police of being weak for not using tear gas and water cannons in dealing with the “Perhimpunan Guling Kerajaan”, a gathering calling for overthrow of the government, last Tuesday (New Year’s eve).

He said police instead took the approach of advising the rally participants to disperse and not to create disturbance which was the best approach taken at the time to maintain public order.

“However, I stress here that the individuals and NGOs (non-governmental organisations) which were the culprits behind the illegal gathering, especially those who violated the Peaceful Assembly Act, will not escape action.”

Ahmad Zahid said the initial investigation found that no leaders of any political party were involved in organising the gathering and that the involvement of political party members in the gathering was in their personal capacity or as members of NGOs.

Asked whether the NGOs involved were pro-opposition, he said: “I don’t want to make accusations, but it seems they are in that direction (pro-opposition).”

- Bernama

New rules for Thaipusam kavadi bearers

Hindu Sangam said kavadi bearers who defied the new rules will be barred from entering the temple grounds.

PETALING JAYA: Devotees fulfilling their penance during Thaipusam in Batu Caves will no longer be allowed to carry “fancy” kavadis bearing logos of their associations, favourite soccer clubs, movie stars and uncommon fruits and items.

The Malaysian Hindu Sangam said devotees who failed to adhere to the new regulations will have to face the prospect of not being able to fullfill their religious obligations.

“The committee has decided on several new regulations to ensure a smooth Thaipusam. We will strictly adhere to the new rules.

“Devotees who defy the kavadi regulations will not be allowed into the temple to fulfill their penance,” said Hindu Sangam president RS Mohan Shan.

He said a new taskforce comprising Hindu Sangam, security officials and several other Indian NGOs had been set-up to ensure the new guidelines are properly implemented during the January 17 Thaipusam festival.

Speaking at a press conference, here, he said Kavadis should be designed in worship of Thaipusam’s lead deity which is Lord Muruga.

“This year we will not allow kavadis bearers to wear black skirts and smoke ceroot in the name of God.

“Devotees are also not allowed to have long fancy nails and hooks bearing uncommon fruits such as durians on their backs. This is not a real Thaipusam practice.

“Thaipusam is a divine religious festival and we should pay respect to it,” he stressed.

Mohan said his committee members will be monitoring the situation at the river side area to ensure devotees adhered to the new kavadi regulations.

“It is not going to be easy but we will try our level best to stop any irregularities,” he added.

He said in addition, owners of refreshment stalls within Batu Caves compound will be barred from using styrofoam cups.

“Only plastic cups will be allowed this year,” he said.

He also urged the media to assist in disseminating information of the new rules and regulations to their readers.

JAIS ada kuasa rampas Bible, kata persatuan ulama

JAIS tidak terletak di bawah pentadbiran kerajaan negeri, sebaliknya melapor terus kepada Majlis Agama Islam Selangor (MAIS) serta Sultan Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.

Oleh Qurnisha Hamka

PETALING JAYA: Tindakan Jabatan Agama Islam Selangor (JAIS) menyita lebih 300 nashkah Bible dalam bahasa Melayu dan Iban dan membuat serbuan ke atas pejabat Persatuan Bible Malaysia pada Khamis memang di bawah bidang kuasa perundangan jabatan itu.

Menurut Presiden Persatuan Ulama Malaysia (PUM), Datuk Syeikh Abdul Halim Abdul Kadir, JAIS mempunyai kuasa untuk melakukan serbuan di Damansara Kim, Petaling Jaya itu dan tiada pihak perlu mempertikaikannnya.

“Itu memang bidang kuasa dia, dia boleh serbu dan dia boleh rampas. Jakim (Jabatan Kemajuan Islam) sendiri pun tidak ada kuasa sebegitu. Memang itu tanggungjawab JAIS, tiada pertikaian lagi,” tegas beliau kepada bnbbc.my.

Beliau turut menyatakan sokongan PUM terhadap tindakan JAIS.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika diminta mengulas mengenai kenyataan Exco Agama Negeri Selangor, Sallehan Mukhyi bahawa kerajaan negeri itu tidak dimaklumkan berkenaan serbuan itu.

Menurut Syeikh Abdul Halim, isu itu tidak wajar dibangkitkan oleh Sallehan memandangkan struktur organisasi JAIS tidak terletak di bawah pentadbiran kerajaan negeri, sebaliknya melapor terus kepada Majlis Agama Islam Selangor (MAIS) serta Sultan Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.

Penguatkuasa JAIS pada Khamis bertindak merampas 321 nashkah Bible berkenaan, manakala pengerusi dan pengurus pejabat persatuan itu dibawa ke Balai Polis Damansara Utama untuk diambil keterangan.

Tindakan itu dipercayai berkaitan dengan penggunaan kalimah Allah dalam nashkah Bible Bahasa Melayu dan Iban yang diimport dari Indonesia oleh persatuan itu.

Pengarah JAIS, Ahmad Zaharin Mohd Saad minggu lalu berkata JAIS akan menghantar surat kepada semua gereja di Selangor untuk mengingatkan mereka agar mematuhi Enakmen 1988 mengenai Agama Bukan Islam di Selangor yang melarang orang bukan Muslim dari menggunakan kalimah Allah.

Enakmen 1988 yang menyentuh mengenai Kawalan Penyebaran Agama kepada Orang Muslim yang diluluskan pada tahun 1988, juga melarang orang bukan Muslim di Selangor menggunakan 35 perkataan Arab dan ungkapan dalam agama mereka, termasuk “Allah”, “Nabi”, “Injil” dan “Insya’Allah”.

JAIS seperti lanun, kata aktivis Sabah

"Perbuatan mereka samalah seperti lanun yang masuk ke kawasan orang lain dan merompak serta merampas harta orang lain,"kata Datuk Patrick Sindu.

KOTA KINABALU : Seorang pemimpin masyarakat dan hak asasi terkemuka dari Sabah menyifatkan tindakan Jabatan Agama Islam Selangor (JAIS) menyerbu pejabat Kristian dan merampas lebih 300 Al-Kitab termasuk dalam Bahasa Iban di Selangor semalam sebagai tidak ubah seperti lanun yang merompak sesuka hati harta milik orang lain.

Datuk Patrick Sindu, ketika dihubungi FMT, berkata: “Perbuatan mereka samalah seperti lanun yang masuk ke kawasan orang lain dan merompak serta merampas harta orang lain”.

Katanya perbuatan JAIS mencampuri agama lain itu menghina dan melanggari perlembagaan dan sudah cukup melampaui batas oleh kerana premis agama lain pun kini mereka hendak menghendap, mengintip malah menyerbu sesuka hati.

“Kalau begini gaya mereka mungkin, tidak lama lagi jabatan-jabatan hal-ehwal islam di Malaysia seperti JAIS teringin pula mencuba memasuki dan memeriksa gereja-gereja dan rumah-rumah orang Kristian di negara ini,” kata Sindu.

Beliau mengulas tindakan sekumpulan pegawai JAIS yang diiringi polis menyerbu premis Pertubuhan Bible Malaysia (BSM) di Selangor kelmarin dan dikatakan bertindak agresif terhadap kakitangan pusat Kristian di situ yang mulanya enggan membenarkan mereka memasuki pejabat pertubuhan Kristian itu.

Menurut Sindu, JAIS tidak mungkin mempunyai waran berbuat demikian dan menggunakan dikri Sultan Selangor hanya mencemar lagi pertimbangan masyarakat, termasuk masyarakat dunia, terhadap Islam dan para pemimpinnya khususnya yang berada di Malaysia.

`Kesakitan hati’

“Kesakitan hati seseorang akibat tindakan sebegini tidak kita boleh nampak, dan ia akan simpan dalam hatinya sampai akhir hayatnya tetapi Allah yang maha kuasa juga yang nampak,” kata Sindu sambil menambah manusia bertopengkan syaitan semakin membahayakan masyarakat majmuk Malaysia dewasa ini.

“Kita tiada masalah seperti ini di Malaysia Timur. Mahukah mereka kalau orang lain bertindak kasar dan agresif terhadap mereka?” katanya sambil menambah lagi bahawa bukan Malaysia begini yang diingini oleh orang Sabah dan Sarawak.

Beliau juga menyeru Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak, supaya mengotakan 10 perkara kabinetnya menghormati penganut Kristian dan agama selain Islam di negara ini dan jangan berdiam membisu seribu bahasa.

Tindakan kontroversi JAIS itu mengundang pelbagai komen masyarakat di Sabah dan Sarawak termasuk di laman-laman maya namun pihak gereja setakat ini belum lagi mengeluarkan sebarang kenyataan.

Bagaimanapun, Bishop Paul Tan dari diosis Katolik Melaka-Johor, terus-terang membidas keras tindakan ala-Gestapo (polis rahsia Jerman di bawah Nazi) JAIS itu sambil menyatakan jabatan islam berkenaan tidak mempunyai hak mempersoal penganut Kristian di premis mereka sendiri.

“Serbuan JAIS semalam adalah sebahagian lagi bukti pihak-pihak berkuasa (di Malaysia) semakin cuba mengekang kebebasan penganut Kristian mengamalkan agama mereka seperti dijamin dalam Perlembagaan Persekutuan,” katanya dipetik sebagai berkata.

Kavyan: Mengapa Perdana Menteri diam?

Protes depan gereja bahayakan orang Kristian dan melampaui batas, kata Presiden Kavyan, Uthaya Sankar.
COMMENT

PETALING JAYA: Pihak tertentu yang mahu mengadakan protes di hadapan atau berdekatan rumah ibadat bukan Islam adalah perbuatan melampaui batas tolerasi, kata Kumpulan Sasterawan Kavyan (Kavyan).

Kavyan bimbang bahawa protes yang kononnya aman ini akan bertukar ganas dan membahayakan keselamatan umat Kristian yang pergi bersembahyang di gereja pada pagi Ahad.

Presiden Kavyan, Uthaya Sankar SB berkata, protes haram ini sudah pun menanam rasa takut, gentar, bimbang dan tidak selesa dalam kalangan orang ramai, khususnya orang Kristian yang merupakan minoriti di negara ini.

“Kavyan amat terkejut dengan sikap yang ditunjukkan oleh Timbalan Perdana Menteri Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, dalam kenyataannya kepada pemberita pada Khamis lalu seolah-olah memberikan restu serta mengalu-alukan protes yang diterajui oleh Umno Selangor.

“Sementara itu, agak menghairankan mengapa Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak yang sebelum ini sibuk melaung-laungkan slogan muluk “1Malaysia” dan “Kami Mendengar” seolah-olah masih menunggu “wahyu” turun sebelum bersuara,” kata Uthaya dalam kenyataan media hari ini.

Beliau menambah, penganjur protes haram mungkin memberikan alasan bahawa perhimpunan diadakan bukan di dalam kawasan gereja atau di hadapan gereja; sebaliknya berhampiran gereja.

Mengancam keselamatan

Dalam hal ini, katanya, mereka masih mengancam keselamatan pengunjung gereja dan orang awam (bukan Kristian) yang berada di sekitar kawasan berkenaan.

“Kavyan mahu menarik perhatian penganjur protes haram itu kepada Seksyen 4(2)(b) Akta Perhimpunan Awam 2012 yang secara terang-terangan melarang perhimpunan di rumah-rumah ibadat,” kata beliau lagi.

Kavyan meminta bangsa Malaysia yang terdiri daripada pelbagai kaum dan agama mengecam sebarang bentuk protes haram anjuran mana-mana pihak di hadapan, di dalam atau di sekitar mana-mana rumah ibadat; khususnya apabila rumah ibadat itu bukan bagi agama peserta perhimpunan haram terbabit.

“Najib juga perlu segera membuka mulut dan melakukan sesuatu sebagai bukti bahawa dia masih Perdana Menteri yang berkuasa dan berniat murni menegakkan slogan “1Malaysia” serta benar-benar “mendengar” suara rakyat; khususnya minoriti,” tegas Uthaya..

Menurutnya, Kayvan pernah mengadakan konvoi rumah ibadat dengan kempen “tolak perkauman, pupuk perpaduan, raikan kepelbagaian” dimusnahkan puak pelampau tertentu yang bermotif jahat.

Hindraf condemns JAIS’ raid on the Bible Society of Malaysia and calls for constructive approaches

HINDRAF PRESS STATEMENT

4th Jan 2014

Hindraf condemns JAIS’ raid on the Bible Society of Malaysia and calls for constructive approaches

Hindraf strongly condemns JAIS’s raid on the office of the Bible society of Malaysia and the arrest of its President and Office Manager on the 2nd of January 2014. This is just one more instance of the strong arm approach of the Islamic enforcement authorities in dealing with contentious inter-religious issues. They resort to such insensitive actions without understanding the significant implications to the entire fabric of Malaysian society.

These are in the same class of acts as the demolition of the many places of Hindu worship. All these acts are committed in the name of the law. In this case, it is the Selangor Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation among Muslims) Enactment 1988. In the case of the demolitions of the Hindu Temples and Shrines it is in the name of Federal Enactments governing Private Property.

These are all short-sighted actions which do no more than deepen the social divide within Malaysian society. There does not seem to be an appetite for real solutions to these key issues on both sides of the political divide. The scenario here is all too familiar – the issue surfaces driven by the needs of the elite and the corresponding enforcement agency shows up with the police, with the bailiffs and what have you. All hell breaks loose followed by devastating and divisive name calling and sabre rattling on both sides of the political divide. And then when it comes to accepting responsibility for resolving the problem the politicians on both sides duck.

It is the Hindraf’s express belief that politicians are ultimately responsible for resolving these issues. They must all act now and constructively.

Hindraf makes these calls to the UMNO and to the Pakatan leaders:

1) The Selangor UMNO leaders should not proceed to escalate matters by holding demonstrations against what will inevitably aggravate the situation. The Prime Minister must call for calm.

2) The Selangor MB must advise JAIS to rescind its order (which is of questionable legal authority anyway) requiring the two BSM officers to report to JAIS on the 10th of January.

3) The Selangor MB should stop giving silly reasons for why he cannot have JAIS on a leash. He should act now on the officials concerned, to clarify who is the boss and set the rule for all such potential acts in the future.

4) The Selangor Pakatan Government has it within its power to amend the Selangor Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation among Muslims) Enactment 1988 to resolve the conflict that the Statute has given rise to. The Courts for their part do not seem to have an appetite or will, to apply the rule of harmonious construction of the Statutes in these situations. The legislators have to act to clarify. The Pakatan Government in Selangor certainly has the numbers to do it if they really want to.

What is required is true leadership and some courage to address these complex issues. Every issue just cannot be turned into political circus. We need true bipartisan approaches to resolving the difficult problems at the interstices within our society – pushing and shoving is not the answer. The saying “The harder you push the more you stay in the same place”, is more than true in this situation.

N.Ganesan

Hindraf National Advisor.

Manmohan Singh Looks Back

A weak prime minister passes into history

As he approaches the end of his 10 years as India’s prime minister, Manmohan Singh hopes the “history books will be kinder” to him than the media and other critics. That was a recurrent theme at a large press conference lasting about 100 minutes that he gave in Delhi Friday. It was only his third in 10 years (and second since 2004), apart from exchanges with selected journalists on flights abroad.

He has revealed little in the past, so not much was expected this time. His opening statement attempted to record his government’s performance in a good light. Most of his answers to journalists’ questions were bland, and many were evasive. He did announce that he would not be a prime ministerial candidate in the coming general election. That was expected and it turns the focus onto a Congress Party meeting in two weeks’ time when, it is rumored, Rahul Gandhi might announce for the role.

Manmohan Singh’s headline catcher was a blunt personal attack on Narendra Modi, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s prime ministerial candidate, who he said would be “disastrous for the country”. He then added that a man who had “presided over massacre of innocents on the streets of Ahmedabad” had not displayed “the kind of strength I will like to have.”

That was a reference to the Godhra riots in Gujarat in 2002, where more than 2,000 are believed to have been killed with Modi as chief minister. The remark showed that Modi will continue to come under attack for his role then, even though he has been cleared of responsibility by the courts and said last week (without actually apologizing) that he was “shaken to the core” by the violence with feelings of “grief, sadness, misery, pain, anguish, agony.”

The most telling theme of the press conference was the way the prime minister shirked responsibility for corruption scandals, notably in the telecommunications and coal industries, that have dogged his administration with him being implicated for at least condoning what has happened.

First, he tried to dodge questions by saying the scandals had started in the 2004-09 United Progressive Alliance government and that people had re-elected him and the coalition in 2009, implying hat the electorate had not been bothered. That missed the point that the scandals had not fully surfaced in 2009 and that Singh’s role had fully developed and emerged – firstly with him allowing an implicated telecoms minister to be reappointed (because his party was needed in the new coalition), and second with him being in charge of the coal ministry during for some of that industry’s scandals.

So Manmohan Singh’s reliance on so-far unwritten history was significant. Will it excuse him his failings because he had to cope with both a fractious coalition that blocked some of his policies, and with Sonia Gandhi as his political boss who ruled the roost? He talked today, as he has in the past, about “coalition compulsions” and hoped that history would say he had done the best he could in the “coalition circumstances”

Or will it say he lowered the status of the prime minister’s post by condoning corruption and ceding authority, which was constitutionally his, to Gandhi and her son Rahul when he ought to have stood up to them or resigned?

Maybe, rather vengefully, he hopes that history blames the Gandhis for wielding power over the government without being responsible constitutionally, or in parliament, for what was done. That would be a just verdict but, even then, Singh will surely be blamed for being weak and allowing it to happen.

That however is all in the past, and a far more significant event also happened in Delhi today when Arvind Kejriwal began work in the city’s newly elected assembly as chief minister, following the devastating success of his anti-corruption Aam Aadmi Party in recent assembly.

The implication of that, Singh said, was that coalition governments have to be corrupt in order to keep corrupt parties happy. Kejriwal is setting out to prove otherwise, with Congress supporting his minority government!

While the 81-year old Singh is looking to historians to produce their verdict on him, the 45-year old Kejriwal is beginning a new young era in Indian politics with massive support because of the failings of the Gandhi-Singh government and the lack of hope that the BJP would be much better.

(John Elliott is Asia Sentinel’s India correspondent. His blog, Riding the Elephant, appears on this page as well)

Islam tidak ajar ganggu tempat ibadat agama lain, kata bekas Mufti

Bekas Mufti Perlis Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin (gambar) menegaskan agama Islam tidak mengajar penganutnya untuk mengganggu tempat ibadat penganut agama lain.

Dr Mohd Asri, 42, yang dihubungi The Malaysian Insider bagi memberikan komen mengenai kontroversi serbuan Jabatan Agama Islam Selangor (Jais) serta rancangan berdemo di gereja Selangor, berkata walaupun semasa perang pun agama Islam melarang umatnya daripada menyentuh rumah ibadat.

"Dalam agama Islam, hatta dalam masa perang pun, orang yang sedang beribadat pun tidak boleh diganggu... inikan masa aman kenapa pula perlu diganggu?" kata Dr Mohd Asri.

Tengahari semalam, Jais menyerbu pejabat Persatuan Bible Malaysia (BSM) di Damansara Kim dan merampas kira-kira 320 Bible berbahasa Melayu dan Iban.

Dua pegawai BSM iaitu pengerusinya Lee Min Choon dan Sinclair Wong diarahkan ke Balai Polis Damansara untuk diambil keterangan mereka dan hanya dilepaskan dua jam kemudian.

Dalam pada itu, Umno Selangor juga telah mendesak Pengarang Herald, Paderi Lawrence Andrew, menarik balik kenyataannya yang tetap mahu menggunakan kalimah Allah di semua gereja di Selangor.

Umno Selangor juga merancang untuk mengadakan demonstrasi di hadapan pejabat Lawrence di Klang pada Ahad ini sekiranya tidak tunduk kepada desakan mereka.

Ketua Umno Shah Alam, Azhari Shaari berkata kenyataan paderi itu bertentangan dengan enakmen syariah negeri malah ia juga melanggar titah Sultan Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, yang melarang penggunaan kalimah Allah oleh orang bukan Islam di negeri itu.

Dr Mohd Asri menyifatkan rancangan tersebut bukanlah berlandaskan ajaran Islam bahkan tidak mengajar penganutnya menyentuh mana-mana rumah ibadat bukan Islam.

"Agama Islam tidak pernah ajar penganutnya berbuat perkara-perkara begini, tempat-tempat ibadat Islam ajar supaya tidak sentuh.

"Apa yang mereka lakukan tersebut bukan berlandaskan ajaran Islam," tambah Dr Mohd Asri lagi.

"Jangan sentuh tempat ibadat bukan Islam."

Dalam pada itu, Ahli Jawatankuasa PAS Pusat Datuk Mujahid Yusof Rawa juga menggesa Putrajaya halang badan Islam keruhkan hubungan antara agama susulan kontroversi terbaru yang tercetus di Selangor baru-baru ini.

Beliau menyeru kerajaan merujuk Majlis Perundingan Perpaduan Kebangsaan yang ditubuhkan Kabinet baru-baru ini, yang dijangka mengadakan mesyuarat mengenai kontroversi penggunaan kalimah Allah pada Isnin depan.

Mujahid, yang turut dilantik Putrajaya sebagai ahli panel majlis tersebut, berkata insiden hari ini perlu dibincang pada mesyuarat itu.

Jelas beliau, badan agama Islam tidak harus bertindak oleh kerana isu penggunaan kalimah Allah masih dibicarakan di mahkamah. – 3 Januari, 2014.

Hello, PM, Malaysia needs you to act now

Dear prime minister,

If I were still a member of parliament, I would table a motion of no confidence in you.

The Speaker would probably reject it even before it could be debated and votes counted, but I would do it anyway.

Your indifferent silence and total lack leadership on the “Allah” issue is bringing this country to the brink of catastrophe, one that neither you nor the government will be able to pull us back from once it is too late. The clock is ticking.

It is not my intention to ridicule you, for you have my utmost respect, but what else can be done to move you to act and manage the dangerous situation we are in at this moment?

This cannot be allowed to continue because there are elements, real troublemakers, who will bring turmoil to our peace-loving people.

You must first recognise that this is the most difficult, volatile and dangerous issue the country has ever had to deal with.

Never before has a conflict of this gravity been allowed to fester for 30 years with no solution in sight.

The problem did not start with you, but under your charge, it has reached the stage of implosion.

The animosity between Muslims and Christians has reached fever pitch and unless it is managed promptly and with sensitivity, the outcome will be grave for the whole country.

You may think that so long as the majority of Muslims in Tanah Melayu are kept appeased, the problem will disappear. You are wrong. The problems are more serious than you think.

The whole of the Federation of Malaysia will implode Mr Prime Minister, if nothing is done.

The people expect you to do something beyond spouting rhetoric to an Umno audience.

Like I said before, convene a meeting of the Rulers’ Council. Call for a meeting of the Council of Churches. Offer them something that all good leaders do: peaceful alternatives.

Talking to one another is the way civilised communities conduct themselves. Leaders who inflame the situation must be hauled up and discipline imposed on the rabble-rousers.

That is what you must do, because that is what leaders do.

The act of confiscating Bibles by an institution of the state is not carried out anywhere else in the modern world – this surely should alert you that something has gone out of control.

You must remind the country that you are the leader and that there is no one else. You must order a stop to such actions and if Jais does not accept your orders, then you must act accordingly.

We are facing an issue of public order and national security and you, as a leader, must recognise this and be prepared to act.

There are maybe just three million Christians in the country but believers and followers of other faiths are also watching how this situation develops.

The whole world is watching us, and it is watching how you deal with this.

You may be a moderate to David Cameron and Barack Obama, but the real test of your mettle is in your ability to find a peaceful solution to the problem in hand and not make Malaysia a news item like Central African Republic or South Sudan.

You have to act now.

This is not the time for false courage and saving face.

A century ago, Franz Ferdinand declared that the Weimar Republic would not be treated like a “second-rate power”.

Then British prime minister Lloyd George was equally vehement that Britain would not let any other power dictate the politics of Europe.

The protagonists would not back down and when Ferdinand was assassinated the bloodbath began.

Millions died and entire European civilisations were left in tatters. All because no one wanted to look second rate and no one wanted to back down. There were no leaders in Europe then, only those who wanted to save face.

In this conflict in Malaysia today, both sides are full of emotions. They need cool heads to temper their actions.

They need someone to bring them together. Here, the prime minister needs to summon all the strength he has and provide a peaceful solution to the problem.

This is what the country urgently expects from his leadership. – January 4, 2014.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.

VMY 2014: Malaysia Ready To Welcome Tourists - Muhyiddin

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 4 (Bernama) -- Visit Malaysia Year 2014 (VMY2014) is set to offer wonderful experiences with a comprehensive range of products to cater the needs and preferences of the targeted 28 million local and international tourists.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said besides Malaysia's natural treasures of flora and fauna, from landscapes of impeccable beauty to cultural tourism, there were also various tourism products and services that would best suit any tourist coming to the country.

"These include the augmented tourism products and services under the key themes or affordable luxury shopping, nature adventure eco-tourism, health tourism, family fun, integrated, major events and business tourism," he said at the launching of VMY2014 at the Dataran Merdeka here, tonight.

Also present were Muhyiddin's wife Puan Sri Noorainee Abdul Rahman and Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz.

Muhyiddin said, VMY 2014 would serve as a tool to extend the bridge of friendship and promote better understanding of various cultures and heritage.

Besides socio-cultural benefits, the significant of tourism could also be underscored from the economic perspective, with hope to generate RM76 billion in tourist receipts this year.

"This represents a significant increase of RM11 billion in foreign exchange earnings," he added.

In 2012, the total tourism income generated in the economy was recorded at RM103.3 billion in 2012, representing a growth of 7.2 per cent, comprising RM62.5 billion and RM40.8 billion in international and local tourism receipts respectively.

"Having outlined the immense impact of tourism, I hope it serves as a motivation and a clarion call to all of us to offer our very best to the tourists in ensuring VMY2014 a phenomenal success," said Muhyiddin.

Meanwhile, he said Malaysia was well on track to achieve the goal of being a top tourist destination in the world, especially following the Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2014 which had listed the country as one of the top 10 countries to visit.

CNN Travel also ranked Kuala Lumpur as the 4th shopping city in the world and three of Malaysia's pristine islands and beaches -- Perhentian Kecil Island, Juara Beach and Tanjung Rhu as among the Top 50 Beaches of the World's 100 Best Beaches.

"These accolades in the eyes of the world bear testimony of Malaysia being a premier tourist destination," he said.

To all Malaysians, Muhyiddin urged them to take the responsibility to ensure that the foreign guests were treated with the utmost respect and courtesy.

Deputy prime minister also gave his assurance that Malaysia was a safe tourist destination and this could be seen in the vastly ethnic groups living in harmony with a common bond of kinship and solidarity.

He said the government had also taken measures to ensure continued safety and security of tourists, including the National Blue Ocean Strategy of Police Omnipresence at tourist hotspots.

"To our guests and tourists, allow me to once again welcome you to celebrate VMY2014.

"Let this land of sunshine and warm friendly people capture your imaginations and hearts to bring home fond memories of your stay in Malaysia," he said.