Wednesday 9 April 2014
Isma preacher labels liberalism a manifestation of ‘Satan’s agenda’
According to Isma central committee member Mohamad Ismail, liberalism has tried to unravel the faith of Muslims through the use of slogans and rational arguments, which he claimed to be distorted from the truth.
Liberalism encompasses a wide array of ideas, but its supporters usually push for civil rights, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, free trade, private property, and free and fair elections.
“Their work methods are not much different,” Mohamad said in a column on Isma’s website, where he drew parallels between liberals and Satan.
“They hide behind false arguments and jargons which look pretty, but in spirit are deviant and far away from the guidance of syarak,” the preacher added, using the Malay word for the Islamic moral code.
In Quranic lore, Syaitan, or Satan, is the Devil who was originally a djinn that refused to bow down to Adam, the first Man, and was cursed by God to spend his life in hell for eternity.
However, Satan requested for his punishment to be deferred until the Day of Judgment, until which he and his minions are said to entice humans into committing sin.
In his mission to mislead mankind, Mohamad claimed that Satan had managed to turn humans away from God through the pursuit of certain philosophies.
He named as examples Karl Marx, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Islamic figure Abdullah Saba’, whom Sunni Muslims see as one of the founders of the Shiah school of Islam and which has been branded deviant in Malaysia.
Mohamad also complained about the rise of Muslims who allegedly deny the truth as laid down in the Quran, Islam’s holy book.
The preacher claimed that this group of Muslims accused the Quran as being unfair for discriminating between genders, in addition to being open to interpretation by anyone, and free to be criticised like any other literature.
“Whoever does not agree with them are said to be outdated, unintellectual, do not read much, and do not understand the problem,” Mohamad said.
“This is the essence of liberalism which calls for the freedom of humankind… That is the manifestation of Iblis. Iblis wants humans to be his companions in hell,” he added, using another name for Satan.
Isma has gained prominence among the more conservative Malay-Muslim community since the last general elections for its strident push for Malaysia to be an Islamic state.
Civil rights movements and human rights defenders have regularly been in Isma’s crosshairs, especially the Coalition of Malaysian NGOs (Comango).
Isma had previously accused Comango of trying to challenge the position of Islam in the nation and spreading “liberalism teachings” backed by Western powers.
The group has also consistently labelled liberalism, Christianisation, non-Muslim’s chauvinism and religious pluralism as threats against the Malay-Muslim community.
Ex-judge, now MP, laments bomoh actions in court - Malaysiakini
PARLIAMENT Judges face all sorts of challenges on the job - and, not least of all - from the supernatural forces.
This is according to Che Mohd Zulkifly Jusoh (BN-Setiu), who said he faced all sorts of interventions from shamans when serving as a sessions court judge.
"There would be yellow rice scattered in front of the door... and there was a time when I was the only one who smelled joss sticks in court.
"I am telling you that bomoh are not only found in the KLIA," Che Mohd quipped, referring to the infamous self-styles Raja Bomoh who tried to track the missing Flight MH370 from the KL International Airport.
Debating the Judges' Remuneration (Amendment) Bill, he said supporters filling up the public galleries were also a challenge for judges.
"For example, during the (PKR de facto leader) Anwar Ibrahim case, the supporters will be lined up at the Kuala Lumpur High Court at the crack of dawn," Che Mohd lamented.
The Bill, which is in its second reading, sparked heated debate in the Dewan Rakyat on the independence of the judiciary.
Although MPs from both sides appeared to support the amendments, which will raise judges' pensions, Pakatan Rakyat MPs had much to say about judicial integrity.
Retired judges on company boards...
M Kulasegaran (DAP-Ipoh Barat) questioned the issue of retired judges finding themselves on boards of construction companies that win plum contracts from the government.
"Is it because (the judge) has been a good boy?" Kulasegaran asked.
Anwar (PKR-Permatang Pauh) used the debate to decry his sodomy conviction, while scandals ranging from the VK Lingam judge-fixing case to the Perak constitutional crisis were revived again by other MPs.
Before Anwar arrived, a shouting match between MPs over Anwar's conviction prompted Idris Jauzi (PKR-Batu Pahat) to remark, "BN seems to like things like sodomy."
Shamsul Anuar Nasarah (BN-Lenggong) shot back: "You watch what you say. BN doesn't like sodomy!"
Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (BN-Pasir Salak), who is also Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister, joined the fray by saying that he has known Anwar for longer than most of those in the House.
Tajuddin said he had stoutly defended Anwar throughout his career, but Anwar had "brought it on himself, and now the matter is with the court".
The shouting match continued until deputy speaker Ismail Mohd Said told the MPs to not stray from the topic, especially since Anwar was not in the House to respond.
This is according to Che Mohd Zulkifly Jusoh (BN-Setiu), who said he faced all sorts of interventions from shamans when serving as a sessions court judge.
"There would be yellow rice scattered in front of the door... and there was a time when I was the only one who smelled joss sticks in court.
"I am telling you that bomoh are not only found in the KLIA," Che Mohd quipped, referring to the infamous self-styles Raja Bomoh who tried to track the missing Flight MH370 from the KL International Airport.
Debating the Judges' Remuneration (Amendment) Bill, he said supporters filling up the public galleries were also a challenge for judges.
"For example, during the (PKR de facto leader) Anwar Ibrahim case, the supporters will be lined up at the Kuala Lumpur High Court at the crack of dawn," Che Mohd lamented.
The Bill, which is in its second reading, sparked heated debate in the Dewan Rakyat on the independence of the judiciary.
Although MPs from both sides appeared to support the amendments, which will raise judges' pensions, Pakatan Rakyat MPs had much to say about judicial integrity.
Retired judges on company boards...
M Kulasegaran (DAP-Ipoh Barat) questioned the issue of retired judges finding themselves on boards of construction companies that win plum contracts from the government.
"Is it because (the judge) has been a good boy?" Kulasegaran asked.
Anwar (PKR-Permatang Pauh) used the debate to decry his sodomy conviction, while scandals ranging from the VK Lingam judge-fixing case to the Perak constitutional crisis were revived again by other MPs.
Before Anwar arrived, a shouting match between MPs over Anwar's conviction prompted Idris Jauzi (PKR-Batu Pahat) to remark, "BN seems to like things like sodomy."
Shamsul Anuar Nasarah (BN-Lenggong) shot back: "You watch what you say. BN doesn't like sodomy!"
Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (BN-Pasir Salak), who is also Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister, joined the fray by saying that he has known Anwar for longer than most of those in the House.
Tajuddin said he had stoutly defended Anwar throughout his career, but Anwar had "brought it on himself, and now the matter is with the court".
The shouting match continued until deputy speaker Ismail Mohd Said told the MPs to not stray from the topic, especially since Anwar was not in the House to respond.
Security breach: Nazri flays cabinet peers
Minister Nazri Aziz says security arrangements in Sabah east coast "unsatisfactory”.
KOTA KINABALU: Is Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Aziz’s candid remark on last Wednesday’s kidnapping an indication of an imminent review of the security policy or is there a surfacing rift at the top over Sabah?
Is this the reason why Chief Minister Musa Aman declined to reveal what the state government planned to do to secure the Sabah maritime borders when assuring island operators?
All Musa said yesterday was that no island resort will be closed in response to Deputy Home Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaffar’s incredulous remark that police and military could not assure customers of their safety and that island resort operators should cease operations.
Balking at Wan Junaidi’s statement, Nazri criticised the Home Ministry’s security arrangements in Sabah.
The Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom), was set up in April following the Sulu incursion, is under the Home Ministry.
Nazri today told reporters that Sabah’s security was “unsatisfactory”.
“This is not the first time this has happened. The arrangements in place should have ensured it did not happen.
“If we want tourists to come here, we must ensure that they feel safe and security has to be at the best.
“There should be no excuse. Security has to be improved,” he said adding that in view of the latest kidnapping, it is obvious that security arrangements in Singamata Island, barely five minutes off Semporna was not up to mark.
Nazri’s remarks flayed the defensive stand taken by his cabinet colleagues Shahidan Kassim and Wan Junaidi.
BN MPs castigate Putrajaya
Shahidan told parliament yesterday that Esscom carried out regular patrols on the Sabah seas and that last Wednesday, the Maritime Enforcement Agency personnel had visited the Singamata Reef Resort three hours before the kidnapping incident.
Despite the reality of this being a second incident since Esscom was established, Shahidan argued that Esscom had managed to defend the 1,400km of coastline from Kudat toTawau.
His remarks come on the heel of Sabah opposition and BN MPs who castigated Putrajaya over the lax security arrangements despite RM millions being spent since April last year.
Although Sabah BN MPs, except Kalabakan’s Abdul Ghaful Salleh, were less harsh on Esscom and the federal government, they nonetheless shared equal concern over Sabah’s security and demanded immediate action.
BN backbenchers Wilfred Tangau (BN-Tuaran), Tiong King Sing (BN-Bintulu) and Bung Moktar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan) said Esscom should not be written off and instead called for the organisation to be given more assets and greater powers.
They also called for Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to take direct command of Esscom as he had “all the powers under the Malaysian sky” to give orders.
MPs from both sides also called for the findings of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into the illegal migrants in Sabah to be released immediately.
The disclosure of the RCI finding has been postponed so many times since even before the 13th general election last May, they said.
“Now the minister tells me that it could be released in May, but only maybe,” said Sandakan MP Stephen Wong, who moved the motion to debate security lax in Sabah.
Is this the reason why Chief Minister Musa Aman declined to reveal what the state government planned to do to secure the Sabah maritime borders when assuring island operators?
All Musa said yesterday was that no island resort will be closed in response to Deputy Home Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaffar’s incredulous remark that police and military could not assure customers of their safety and that island resort operators should cease operations.
Balking at Wan Junaidi’s statement, Nazri criticised the Home Ministry’s security arrangements in Sabah.
The Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom), was set up in April following the Sulu incursion, is under the Home Ministry.
Nazri today told reporters that Sabah’s security was “unsatisfactory”.
“This is not the first time this has happened. The arrangements in place should have ensured it did not happen.
“If we want tourists to come here, we must ensure that they feel safe and security has to be at the best.
“There should be no excuse. Security has to be improved,” he said adding that in view of the latest kidnapping, it is obvious that security arrangements in Singamata Island, barely five minutes off Semporna was not up to mark.
Nazri’s remarks flayed the defensive stand taken by his cabinet colleagues Shahidan Kassim and Wan Junaidi.
BN MPs castigate Putrajaya
Shahidan told parliament yesterday that Esscom carried out regular patrols on the Sabah seas and that last Wednesday, the Maritime Enforcement Agency personnel had visited the Singamata Reef Resort three hours before the kidnapping incident.
Despite the reality of this being a second incident since Esscom was established, Shahidan argued that Esscom had managed to defend the 1,400km of coastline from Kudat toTawau.
His remarks come on the heel of Sabah opposition and BN MPs who castigated Putrajaya over the lax security arrangements despite RM millions being spent since April last year.
Although Sabah BN MPs, except Kalabakan’s Abdul Ghaful Salleh, were less harsh on Esscom and the federal government, they nonetheless shared equal concern over Sabah’s security and demanded immediate action.
BN backbenchers Wilfred Tangau (BN-Tuaran), Tiong King Sing (BN-Bintulu) and Bung Moktar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan) said Esscom should not be written off and instead called for the organisation to be given more assets and greater powers.
They also called for Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to take direct command of Esscom as he had “all the powers under the Malaysian sky” to give orders.
MPs from both sides also called for the findings of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into the illegal migrants in Sabah to be released immediately.
The disclosure of the RCI finding has been postponed so many times since even before the 13th general election last May, they said.
“Now the minister tells me that it could be released in May, but only maybe,” said Sandakan MP Stephen Wong, who moved the motion to debate security lax in Sabah.
MCA: Stop playing games with Bible issue
Both MCA and DAP today urges the state government to be more proactive on the Malay bibles issue rather than passing the buck to the Attorney General Chambers.
PETALING JAYA: A MCA leader today questioned why Selangor Tourism exco, Elizabeth Wong wrote a letter to the Attorney General (AG) demanding the release of the Malay and Iban language bibles instead of menteri besar Khalid Ibrahim or Islamic Affairs Exco, Sallehin Mukhyi.
“The proper authority rests with the Khalid,Jais and Sallehin. It gives an impression that the state government is not serious about the matter,” said MCA Religious Harmony Bureau Deputy Chairman, Ng Chok Sin, in a statement.
Earlier today, the news portal Malay Mail Online, reported that Wong had writen to the AG, Abdul Gani Patail to request for the release of Al-Kitab and Bup Kudus.
Ng said that the Selangor state government should stop playing a charade as the people are getting tired of it.
“The people aren’t fools to have mind games played on them,” he said.
On related matter, Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo said that Khalid should take it upon himself to approach the AG in regards to the Malay bible issue.
“Khalid cannot and should not run away from this matter,” he said.
Having said that, Gobind agreed with Khalid saying that the matter is still under investigation, thus, needing the approval from the AG Chambers.
“Nevertheless, Khalid should inspire confidence by taking a proactive approach on the matter rather than passing the buck to Gani,” he said.
On January 2, Jais raided the BSM’s office, confiscating more than 16 boxes of the holy books meant for the Sabah and Sarawak Christians.
PETALING JAYA: A MCA leader today questioned why Selangor Tourism exco, Elizabeth Wong wrote a letter to the Attorney General (AG) demanding the release of the Malay and Iban language bibles instead of menteri besar Khalid Ibrahim or Islamic Affairs Exco, Sallehin Mukhyi.“The proper authority rests with the Khalid,Jais and Sallehin. It gives an impression that the state government is not serious about the matter,” said MCA Religious Harmony Bureau Deputy Chairman, Ng Chok Sin, in a statement.
Earlier today, the news portal Malay Mail Online, reported that Wong had writen to the AG, Abdul Gani Patail to request for the release of Al-Kitab and Bup Kudus.
Ng said that the Selangor state government should stop playing a charade as the people are getting tired of it.
“The people aren’t fools to have mind games played on them,” he said.
On related matter, Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo said that Khalid should take it upon himself to approach the AG in regards to the Malay bible issue.
“Khalid cannot and should not run away from this matter,” he said.
Having said that, Gobind agreed with Khalid saying that the matter is still under investigation, thus, needing the approval from the AG Chambers.
“Nevertheless, Khalid should inspire confidence by taking a proactive approach on the matter rather than passing the buck to Gani,” he said.
On January 2, Jais raided the BSM’s office, confiscating more than 16 boxes of the holy books meant for the Sabah and Sarawak Christians.
The Kelantan Syariah Criminal Code Enactment II is unconstitutional
The insistence by Kelantan Menteri Besar, Datuk Ahmad Yakob, that Kelantan will go ahead for PAS to move a private member’s bill in Parliament ‘to seek a declaration that the Kelantan Syariah Criminal Code Enactment II, or hudud, can be implemented in the state’ is ill-advised. He adds that the state government will use the next six months to carry out an information campaign so that no party would doubt the benefit of implementing syariah laws and that this was the perfect time to table the bill. He adds further that it was timely to implement syariah laws for the peace and welfare of all. [NST 06.04.2014 page 24].
Kelantan UMNO has promptly jumped on the bandwagon with Kelantan UMNO liaison committee chairman, Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamad, publicly proclaiming that UMNO members of parliament from Kelantan will support the private member’s bill to be tabled by the Kelantan government to seek the declaration, adding that it was their duty as Muslims to support the implementation of syariah in the state.
It is obvious, both PAS and UMNO are seeking to derive political mileage from the implementation of hudud in Kelantan despite knowing fully well that under the law the legislation of the Kelantan Syariah Criminal Code Enactment II was clearly unconstitutional. The Kelantan State Assembly did not have the power to have passed the enactment.
I have said time and again, and I repeat, Parliament cannot approve for implementation, by way of a private member’s bill, a state law which is unconstitutional.
In any event, the Supreme Court, the country’s highest court then, has as far back as 1988 in Che Omar B Che Soh v PP through a strong five-man bench headed by Salleh Abas (the then LP) ruled that the country was governed by secular law which makes Malaysia a secular state as only a secular state can be ruled by secular law. It would be incongruous to accept hudud, which is Islamic law in a secular state. This case has not been overruled by the Federal Court and has obviously stood the test of time. From the ruling of the Supreme Court, it must follow that hudud, which is Islamic law cannot be reconciled with the country being ruled by secular law through a judicial pronouncement by the highest court in the land. Even if Parliament passes hudud as criminal law applicable to the whole country or to a specified state like Kelantan, it would mean Parliament has acted unconstitutionally as the passing of that law would destroy one of the basic structures of the constitution, namely that Malaysia was a secular state as it was ruled by secular law. It must be emphasized, in Malaysia, it is the Federal Constitution which is supreme, and not Parliament unlike the position in the United Kingdom.
In view of the constitutional constraints and further in view of hudud being unsuitable for the present time and age and the multi-racial and multi-religious structure of society in Malaysia, the 38 DAP Members of Parliament cannot, in the national interest, support any proposed move by PAS to initiate a futile private member’s bill to provide for the introduction of hudud in Kelantan.
Hudud: ‘Laksanalah kami sokong’, kata Ku Li
Menurut Ku Li yang juga bekas menteri Kabinet, beliau percaya, Umno Kelantan juga menyokong penuh perkara itu kerana tidak membantah semasa pembentangan Rang Undang-Undang tersebut sebelum ini.
“Laksanalah kita sokong, saya tidak tentang.
“Masa Rang Undang-Undang itu dibentang di Dewan Undangan Negeri Kelantan, kita tidak tentang, tidak ada masalah, mana mungkin kita hendak tentang hukum ALLAH,” katanya ketika ditemui Sinar Harian Online di lobi Parlimen hari ini.
Terdahulu, Kerajaan Kelantan menetapkan sasaran untuk menguatkuasakan Enakmen Kanun Jenayah Syariah II (1993) yang membawa kepada perlaksanaan hukum hudud pada 2015.
Ia berikutan kesediaan kerajaan pusat untuk memberi laluan kepada penguatkuasaan enakmen tersebut, sebagaimana jawapan diberikan Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri di Parlimen, baru-baru ini.
Missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370: Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim says government is concealing information
The Malaysian government has deliberately concealed information concerning the missing Malaysia Airlines flight, Anwar Ibrahim, the country’s main opposition leader, has claimed.
Mr Ibrahim, who knew one of the pilots of the Boeing 777 personally, said the handling of the MH370 investigation was “ clearly suspect” and claimed “information critical to our understanding” is missing.
In an interview with The Telegraph , Mr Ibrahim slammed Malaysian authorities and called for an international committee to take over the investigation because “the integrity of the whole nation is at stake”.
He indicated it was even possible there could have been complicity by authorities on the ground over what happened to the plane after it disappeared on 8 March en route to Kuala Lumpur from Beijing with 239 people on board.
The politician told the newspaper that when he was the country’s finance minister in 1994 he personally authorised the installation of “one of the most sophisticated radar” systems in the world, based near the South China Sea and covering Malaysia’s mainland and east and west coastlines.
The radar would have instantly detected the Boeing 777 as it travelled east to west across “at least four” Malaysian provinces, he said, describing the fact that the plane was not spotted by the sophisticated radar immediately after it changed course as "not only unacceptable but not possible, not feasible".
His accusations came as a high-tech US Navy pinger locater was deployed in the race against time to find the black box from the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, just days before its batteries are due to run out.
Two ships with sophisticated equipment are searching underwater in a remote stretch of the Indian Ocean in an operation led by the Joint Agencies Coordination Centre (JACC).
The pingers on the plane’s black box transmit signals for about 30 days after a crash – giving search teams just days to find the recorder and potentially discover what happened to the jetliner.
Read more: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/missing-malaysia-airlines-flight-mh370-opposition-leader-anwar-ibrahim-accuses-government-of-concealing-information-9237766.html
Mr Ibrahim, who knew one of the pilots of the Boeing 777 personally, said the handling of the MH370 investigation was “ clearly suspect” and claimed “information critical to our understanding” is missing.
In an interview with The Telegraph , Mr Ibrahim slammed Malaysian authorities and called for an international committee to take over the investigation because “the integrity of the whole nation is at stake”.
He indicated it was even possible there could have been complicity by authorities on the ground over what happened to the plane after it disappeared on 8 March en route to Kuala Lumpur from Beijing with 239 people on board.
The politician told the newspaper that when he was the country’s finance minister in 1994 he personally authorised the installation of “one of the most sophisticated radar” systems in the world, based near the South China Sea and covering Malaysia’s mainland and east and west coastlines.
The radar would have instantly detected the Boeing 777 as it travelled east to west across “at least four” Malaysian provinces, he said, describing the fact that the plane was not spotted by the sophisticated radar immediately after it changed course as "not only unacceptable but not possible, not feasible".
His accusations came as a high-tech US Navy pinger locater was deployed in the race against time to find the black box from the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, just days before its batteries are due to run out.
Two ships with sophisticated equipment are searching underwater in a remote stretch of the Indian Ocean in an operation led by the Joint Agencies Coordination Centre (JACC).
The pingers on the plane’s black box transmit signals for about 30 days after a crash – giving search teams just days to find the recorder and potentially discover what happened to the jetliner.
Read more: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/missing-malaysia-airlines-flight-mh370-opposition-leader-anwar-ibrahim-accuses-government-of-concealing-information-9237766.html
Satellite data analysis suggests MH370 flew inverted to site of acoustic signals
British daily, The Telegraph, reported today that the final satellite contact or “half-handshake” ― as it is referred to in aviation jargon ― could have been the moment when the plane ran out of fuel, turned upside down and plunged into the water.
Citing Chris McLaughlin from British satellite company Inmarsat, The Telegraph reported that analysis of the new signals were made at 00.19 GMT ― 8.19am Malaysian time ― on March 8, just eight minutes after Malaysia Airlines (MAS) Flight MH370's last regular hourly handshake.
The daily reported that the signals were further scrutinised by an international team of experts and the latest analysis showed the plane to be travelling faster than previously presumed, burning up more fuel, and would have landed even further north along the same arc.
“The partial handshake would be the plane running out of fuel and faltering for a moment, so the system went off network and then briefly powered up and had communication with the network. The plane looked for a final communication before it went off ― and that was it,” McLaughlin was quoted saying.
The daily also cited a former British Airways pilot who flew Boeing 777s, Stephen Buzdygan, as saying that the jetliner would have continued staying airborne but may have turned over on its back as the engines shut off one after the other.
“Without fuel, assuming the crew were unconscious and no one was flying the plane, it would glide.
“Engines have separate fuel supply, so the chances are it won't go in with the wings level. With no autopilot correction, it would slowly turn on its back and go down at an angle and the wings will be ripped off,” the pilot was quoted saying.
International searchers are racing against time to find the crucial flight data and cockpit voice recorders that may hold the only clues in the “unprecedented mystery” of the disappearance of the Beijing-bound plane carrying 239 passengers and crew on board.
Batteries powering the emergency locator transmitters equipped on the black boxes have a rated life of 30 days; the plane went missing on March 8 or 31 days ago.
An Australian ship, Ocean Shield, had picked up two sets of signals consistent with the beacons from aircraft black box recorders over the weekend had not registered any further pulses and are reportedly separate from those picked up by a Chinese search ship that had placed the site farther south.
The first set was heard on Saturday and lasted for two hours and twenty minutes; the second set lasted 13 minutes.
Ocean Shield, which is towing a deep-sea pinger locator, has since lost track of the pings but is trying to relocate the signals.
Retired Australian Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, who is leading the multinational search, said the second set included two distinct sounds which would be consistent with transmissions from separate pingers attached to the black box's flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder.
“In the search so far it is probably the best information that we have had,” Houston was quoted saying by The Telegraph.
“We are encouraged that we are very close to where we need to be. I would want more confirmation before we say 'this is it'.”
- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/satellite-data-suggests-mh370-flew-inverted-at-site-of-acoustic-signals#sthash.wVZTCUSt.dpuf
Hindu mother gets custody of children in conversion tussle
The Sun
SEREMBAN:
The High Court today ordered that custody of two children, converted to
Islam by their Muslim father, be given to their Hindu mother.
Judge
Datuk Zabariah Mohd allowed the custody application by S. Deepa in
chambers. Zabariah also allowed Deepa's application to dissolve her
civil marriage as the husband Izwan Abdullah had converted to Islam.
The
High Court decision overrides a syariah court order early last year
that granted custody of the children to Izwan, who became a Muslim in
April last year.
Izwan's
lawyer Muhammad Faiz Fadzil told a news portal that the judge made it
clear that Deepa's application was allowed as the civil court had
jurisdiction over the matter and provided relief for custody and
dissolution of the couple's marriage.
He said the court has granted the father limited visitation, but not overnight stays.
Faiz said he had instructions to appeal against the decision in the Court of Appeal.
In
December last year, Deepa had filed an application to obtain custody of
the children who were converted by the husband after he embraced Islam
in 2011 and to quash the custody order by the syariah court.
The
30-year-old clerk from Jelebu said her lorry-driver husband N. Viran,
30, left her and her children three years ago and never supported them
financially. He is said to have subsequently become a Muslim.
She
found out that their children – Sharmila (Nurul Nabila), 9, and Mithran
(Nabil), 6, had been converted to Islam without her knowledge by her
husband in April last year.
On April 4, she went to a kindergarten to pick up Mithran but he was not there and was told that her husband had taken him away.
"Coincidently,
I went to Pusat Dakwah Islamiah Negeri Sembilan in Paroi to collect the
confirmation letter of Viran's conversion into Islam to submit to the
court for a divorce.
"I was shocked to see Mithran and Sharmila with my husband at Pusat Dakwah Islamiah Negeri Sembilan," she added.
She
then found out that he had converted Sharmila and Mithran without her
knowledge and permission and the syariah court had given him custody of
the children.
Said
Deepa: "I am happy that my ex-husband did not resist when he was told
to hand over the children following the court ruling."
Deepa,
who was assisted by the Women's Aid Organisation in her legal battle,
said she has to file another application to obtain a declaration that
the conversion of the minors by their father was illegal and
unconstitutional.
"It is not going to be easy but I am prepared to face whatever that comes my way," she added.
Malaysia Grateful Over UAE Assistance In Search For Flight MH370
From Leslean ArshadDUBAI, April 8 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has expressed gratitute to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for assistance rendered in search and rescue (SAR) efforts to locate the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370.
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin took the opportunity to convey the country's gratitute to UAE when delivering his keynote address at the 4th Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) 2014 at the Dubai Convention and Exhibition Centre in Dubai, Tuesday.
"Allow me also to take a moment to convey, on behalf of my Government and the people of Malaysia, our heartfelt gratitude to the United Arab Emirates, for the assistance rendered in the search and rescue efforts for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.
"These are difficult times for the loved ones of those who were on board MH370, and our thoughts and prayers continue to be with them," he said.
UAE has sent two aircraft to assist in the SAR operation involving the Boeing 777-200ER aircraft which was carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew when it left the KL International Airport at 12.41am on March 8.
About an hour later, it disappeared from the radar screens while flying over the South China Sea. It was to have arrived in Beijing at 6.30am on the same day.
Following an unprecedented type of analysis of satellite data, United Kingdom satellite company Inmarsat and the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) concluded that Flight MH370 flew along the southern corridor and its last position was over the middle of the Indian Ocean, west of Perth, Australia.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced on March 24 - 17 days after the disappearance of the aircraft - that the flight path of MH370 "ended in the southern Indian Ocean".
Representatives from more than 100 countries are attending this year's AIM, which is organised by the UAE Ministry of Economy under the patronage of Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Al Maktoum.
The event has established itself as a platform that will shape investments and partnerships to achieve sustainable growth in emerging markets worldwide.
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