Saturday 19 April 2014
Attacks on Karpal unacceptable, say ministers
DAP
leaders paying their last respect to late Karpal Singh at his house in
Jalan Utama, Penang, today. A Barisan Nasional MP has posted pictures of
the veteran politician's blood-smeared face online. – The Malaysian
Insider pic by Hasnoor Hussain, April 13, 2014.
Two ministers have spoken out against the attacks on Karpal Singh and dissemination of gory pictures of the accident involving the late DAP chairman and Bukit Gelugor MP.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Joseph Kurup said he was disappointed with a
Barisan Nasional MP and a former Perkasa vice-president who both made insensitive statements about Karpal’s death.“I cannot accept statements such as these. It is very sad to see someone utter that sort of thing,” Kurup told reporters in Kuala Lumpur today.
“You want to have political mileage, do not exploit the sad situation, and do not use religion.
“If you going to say something to make things even worse, better not say anything,” he reportedly said.
Former Perkasa vice-president Datuk Zulkifli Noordin had, within hours of Karpal's death yesterday, tweeted that Allah had killed off Karpal who had rejected the implementation of hudud in the country.
BN's Langkawi MP Datuk Nawawi Ahmad had insulted Karpal by posting a picture of the veteran politician's blood-smeared face as he lay in his Toyota Alphard following the accident yesterday morning.
Along with the Facebook picture was a newspaper cutting on Karpal’s opposition to the implementation of hudud in the country.
Nawawi had also posted a comment which read: "Siapa nak sambut cabaran karpal singh? Sila bagi nama he he." (Who wants to challenge Karpal Singh? Please submit your name.)
He was referring to the newspaper article which quoted Karpal as saying: "Mahu wujudkan negara Islam langkah mayat kami dulu – Karpal Singh." (Those who want to create an Islamic state can only do so over my dead body – Karpal Singh.)
Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek also said social media practitioners should cease spreading Nawawi’s pictures as they were extreme and uncivilised acts.
Expressing sadness and disappointment over the development of this undesirable culture, he said these acts were unethical.
"I was saddened when I saw pictures of corpses disseminated on social media. It is unethical and uncivilised to display these for viewing," he told reporters after visiting Paloh assemblyman Datuk Norzula Mat Diah of Kelantan who is under treatment at Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital in Ipoh, Bernama reports.
Ahmad Shabery said the people should understand the feelings of the families of the dead because accidents could happen to anyone, even themselves.
"I see that social media practitioners have gone overboard. They should adhere to (journalistic) ethics so that such good habits will help to nurture a good culture in society," he was quoted saying by Bernama.
Ahmad Shabery said legislation would check extreme acts, but laws also had limitations.
"We seem to be too hungry for freedom, but we do not know how to appreciate that freedom.
“We abuse the freedom that we have and, in doing so, we show that we are uncivilised. This is not condoned in Islam and other religions," he said. – April 18, 2014.
Ex-judge on non-Muslim statues seditious
According to the federal constitution of Malaysia, Article 11 states that:
Though Islam is the religion of the federation, Article 11 provides that every person has the right to profess and practice his own religion. Every person has the right to propagate his religion, but state law and, in respect of the Federal Territory, federal law may control or restrict the propagation of any religion, doctrine or belief among persons professing the Muslim religion.
There is, however, freedom to carry on missionary work among non-Muslims
The former judge ought to know the significance of the Article 11 in the federal constitution of Malaysia with regards to the seditious statement given by him to the press mentioned above.
This clearly restricts the religious freedom of the non-Muslims born in Malaysia like me who were out rightly offended by the statement given by this former judge.
Is this the 1Malaysia concept propagated by our PM Najib Razak?
Article 11 interpretation by large should be the meant for racial harmony in Malaysia. At the time of drafting the federal constitution during the independent Malaya formative days in London by our first PM, Tunku Abdul Rahman saw the necessity when Malaya was at the crossroads of ethnic polarity of which threatens the very existence of the alliance of that time.
Furthermore recall what was being recommended in the Reid Commission Report prior to the final drafting of our federal constitution;
And we recommend (Art. 11) that freedom of religion should be guaranteed to every person including the right to profess, practice and propagate his religion subject to the requirement of public order, health and morality, and that, subject also to these requirements, each religious group should have the right to manage its own affairs, to maintain religious or charitable institutions including schools, and to hold property for these purposes (Art. 12).
Therefore, I think as a senior retired judge giving comments like this is uncalled for as it hampers the effort of racial integration in our country - in a challenging times where we can witness religious bigots are running amok spewing ethnic-related hatred amongst us almost in the every nook and corner of our country, it is in good faith that Mohd. Noor Abdullah should apologise for his statements and retract it.
In law, interpretation and understanding is extremely wide. It depends on the individuals. Thus, I have interpreted Article 11 to counter the remarks by the former Court of Appeal Judge regarding his myopic view on how the sizes of statues will diminish the faith of the Muslims in Malaysia and become a threat to their beliefs.
Lawyers: Syariah Court must decide on custody - Malaysiakini
The National Syarie Lawyers Association (PGSM)
today said it is the Syariah Court, and not the civil court, which must
decide on the custody of S Deepa and Muslim convert Izwan Abdullah’s two
underage children, arguing that a child is automatically considered
Muslim if one parent converts to Islam.
Its president Musa Awang (right)
said that a national fatwa dialogue had ruled in June 2009 that when
one parent converts to Islam, the custody will go to that parent.
“When one parent enters Islam, the religious status for a child under 18 would automatically be Islam,” he said in a statement.
The Syariah Court had granted Izwan custody of the now divorced couple’s nine-year -old daughter and six-year-old son last year, but Deepa won custody of the children when she was granted divorce by the Civil Court on April 7.
However, two days later, Izwan snatched away his son from Deepa’s house, allegedly injuring Deepa in the process.
“If the civil court did not interfere on a matter decided by the Syariah Court, this thing would no have happened,” Musa said.
He asked the chief justice to issue a circular to all civil court judges not to “hear or rule on matter already ruled upon by the Syariah Court”.
This comes after former Court of Appeal judge Mohd Noor Abdullah recently said that a non-Muslim parent can have custody of children if the other half has converted.
Independent Islamic scholar and preacher Wan Ji Wan Hussin also recently said that the Prophet Muhammad himself did not grant child custody to a Muslim parent.
Its president Musa Awang (right)
said that a national fatwa dialogue had ruled in June 2009 that when
one parent converts to Islam, the custody will go to that parent.“When one parent enters Islam, the religious status for a child under 18 would automatically be Islam,” he said in a statement.
The Syariah Court had granted Izwan custody of the now divorced couple’s nine-year -old daughter and six-year-old son last year, but Deepa won custody of the children when she was granted divorce by the Civil Court on April 7.
However, two days later, Izwan snatched away his son from Deepa’s house, allegedly injuring Deepa in the process.
“If the civil court did not interfere on a matter decided by the Syariah Court, this thing would no have happened,” Musa said.
He asked the chief justice to issue a circular to all civil court judges not to “hear or rule on matter already ruled upon by the Syariah Court”.
This comes after former Court of Appeal judge Mohd Noor Abdullah recently said that a non-Muslim parent can have custody of children if the other half has converted.
Independent Islamic scholar and preacher Wan Ji Wan Hussin also recently said that the Prophet Muhammad himself did not grant child custody to a Muslim parent.
Polis nafi berlaku serangan kaum di Klang
Khabar angin yang tersebar menerusi khidmat sistem pesanan ringkas (sms) dan di Facebook itu adalah berniat jahat .
KUALA LUMPUR: Ketua Polis Selangor Datuk Mohd Shukri Dahlan (gambar) hari ini menafikan khabar angin kononnya berlaku serangan ganas antara dua kaum di Klang dekat sini, seperti yang tersebar luas di laman sosial baru-baru ini.
Beliau berkata, khabar angin yang tersebar menerusi khidmat sistem pesanan ringkas (sms) dan di Facebook itu adalah berniat jahat dan boleh mencetus huru-hara serta masalah perkauman di negara ini.
“Hasil siasatan mendapati tiada sebarang laporan mengenai kejadian seumpama itu. Polis mengesahkan tiada sebarang bukti dan maklumat yang menyokong dakwaan tersebut.
Ada khabar angin mengatakan penunggang motosikal dilarang pergi ke kawasan Pandamaran, Klang hingga ke Pelabuhan Klang bagi mengelakkan menjadi mangsa. Dakwaan seperti ini boleh menggugat ketenteraman orang awam,” katanya kepada Bernama ketika dihubungi di sini hari ini.
Sehubungan itu, beliau menasihatkan orang ramai supaya tidak mudah mempercayai sebarang khabar angin yang tersebar di laman sosial dan perlu mendapatkan maklumat daripada sumber yang sah bagi mengelakkan sebarang kejadian tidak diingini.
-Bernama
Beliau berkata, khabar angin yang tersebar menerusi khidmat sistem pesanan ringkas (sms) dan di Facebook itu adalah berniat jahat dan boleh mencetus huru-hara serta masalah perkauman di negara ini.
“Hasil siasatan mendapati tiada sebarang laporan mengenai kejadian seumpama itu. Polis mengesahkan tiada sebarang bukti dan maklumat yang menyokong dakwaan tersebut.
Ada khabar angin mengatakan penunggang motosikal dilarang pergi ke kawasan Pandamaran, Klang hingga ke Pelabuhan Klang bagi mengelakkan menjadi mangsa. Dakwaan seperti ini boleh menggugat ketenteraman orang awam,” katanya kepada Bernama ketika dihubungi di sini hari ini.
Sehubungan itu, beliau menasihatkan orang ramai supaya tidak mudah mempercayai sebarang khabar angin yang tersebar di laman sosial dan perlu mendapatkan maklumat daripada sumber yang sah bagi mengelakkan sebarang kejadian tidak diingini.
-Bernama
‘Inhumane to separate son from mum’
Deepa's mother is disappointed with an ustaz, whom she knows well, for not seeking Deepa's consent in the conversion of the children.
JELEBU: S Deepa’s mother, a Muslim convert, said it was inhumane for an uztaz from Pusat Dakwah Islamiah Negeri Sembilan to separate an underaged son from his mother.
Siti Aishah Abdullah, 50, said she was disappointed because the ustaz knew her well.
“The ustaz himself was a Hindu before. He should understand better the repercussion of my grandchildren’s conversion because he did not get the consent from Deepa, who is a Hindu.
“The ustaz knows me well and should have contacted me first to discuss the matter.
“I don’t know how he got the heart to separate Mithran and Sharmila who were five and eight respectively last year by converting them to Islam without Deepa’s knowledge.
“Deepa is a caring mother and concerned about the children’s education,” Siti Aishah told FMT.
She said the ustaz told Deepa to visit him so that he could reverse the conversion but instead urged her to convert to Islam.
She also said her former son-in-law, Izwan Viran Abdullah, 31, had sent Mithran to his sister’s house, who is a Hindu, after the Seremban Syariah Court had given custody of the children last year.
“He, too, sends the children to his Hindu sister. Do the ustaz and officer in Pusat Dakwah know this?” she asked.
“Izwan Viran’s argument doesn’t make sense. At least here, when Deepa sends Mithran and Sharmila to my house while she goes to work, either me or my husband Mohd Sofi Yusof can take care of them.
“Does the ustaz in Pusat Dakwah know for sure Izwan Viran is not patronising non-halal restaurants and consuming alcohol?” she asked.
Deepa’s step-father Mohd Sofi Yusof, 53, said Mithran and Sharmila should be under the custody of Deepa.
“As a father I admit there is no better person to raise the children other than the mother.
“No matter how good a father is we can’t care like a mother.
“Even in Islam we are reminded not to go against your mother.
“In Malay, there is proverb which says ‘syurga ditapak kaki ibu’ (heaven is at your mother’s feet).
“But in Mithran and Sharmila’s conversion case, Deepa did not get a proper and fair treatment from Pusat Dakwah nor the Syariah Court.
IGP under fire
In another development, Malaysian Crime Watch Task Force (MyWatch) chairman R Sanjeevan asked why the Inspector-General of Police did not act against Izwan Viran for the violating the court order.
“The IGP said that the police are bound to both civil and Syariah Court orders.
“If the police cannot take action based on the Syariah Court order they should have acted against Izwan Viran for violating the restraining order.
“Deepa suffered injuries when Izwan Viran abducted the son and there is element of criminal intent.
“If Deepa has abducted her son from Izwan Viran, does the IGP react in the same way,” he asked.
Earlier this month, Deepa, who is a Hindu, won her divorce from Izwan Viran through a decision by the Seremban High Court, which also granted her custody of the children. It also allowed weekly visits for Izwan Viran.
Izwan Viran subsequently abducted his son and reportedly assaulted Deepa in the process.
Despite a public uproar, IGP Khalid Abu Bakar said there would be no police action over the abduction, citing the Syariah Court’s decision last year to give Izwan Viran custody of the children.
Siti Aishah Abdullah, 50, said she was disappointed because the ustaz knew her well.
“The ustaz himself was a Hindu before. He should understand better the repercussion of my grandchildren’s conversion because he did not get the consent from Deepa, who is a Hindu.
“The ustaz knows me well and should have contacted me first to discuss the matter.
“I don’t know how he got the heart to separate Mithran and Sharmila who were five and eight respectively last year by converting them to Islam without Deepa’s knowledge.
“Deepa is a caring mother and concerned about the children’s education,” Siti Aishah told FMT.
She said the ustaz told Deepa to visit him so that he could reverse the conversion but instead urged her to convert to Islam.
She also said her former son-in-law, Izwan Viran Abdullah, 31, had sent Mithran to his sister’s house, who is a Hindu, after the Seremban Syariah Court had given custody of the children last year.
“He, too, sends the children to his Hindu sister. Do the ustaz and officer in Pusat Dakwah know this?” she asked.
“Izwan Viran’s argument doesn’t make sense. At least here, when Deepa sends Mithran and Sharmila to my house while she goes to work, either me or my husband Mohd Sofi Yusof can take care of them.
“Does the ustaz in Pusat Dakwah know for sure Izwan Viran is not patronising non-halal restaurants and consuming alcohol?” she asked.
Deepa’s step-father Mohd Sofi Yusof, 53, said Mithran and Sharmila should be under the custody of Deepa.
“As a father I admit there is no better person to raise the children other than the mother.
“No matter how good a father is we can’t care like a mother.
“Even in Islam we are reminded not to go against your mother.
“In Malay, there is proverb which says ‘syurga ditapak kaki ibu’ (heaven is at your mother’s feet).
“But in Mithran and Sharmila’s conversion case, Deepa did not get a proper and fair treatment from Pusat Dakwah nor the Syariah Court.
IGP under fire
In another development, Malaysian Crime Watch Task Force (MyWatch) chairman R Sanjeevan asked why the Inspector-General of Police did not act against Izwan Viran for the violating the court order.
“The IGP said that the police are bound to both civil and Syariah Court orders.
“If the police cannot take action based on the Syariah Court order they should have acted against Izwan Viran for violating the restraining order.
“Deepa suffered injuries when Izwan Viran abducted the son and there is element of criminal intent.
“If Deepa has abducted her son from Izwan Viran, does the IGP react in the same way,” he asked.
Earlier this month, Deepa, who is a Hindu, won her divorce from Izwan Viran through a decision by the Seremban High Court, which also granted her custody of the children. It also allowed weekly visits for Izwan Viran.
Izwan Viran subsequently abducted his son and reportedly assaulted Deepa in the process.
Despite a public uproar, IGP Khalid Abu Bakar said there would be no police action over the abduction, citing the Syariah Court’s decision last year to give Izwan Viran custody of the children.
Hudud is for animals: Happy Good Friday
Hence, Hudud is NOT a law for animals. It is a law for Judeo-Christians. But most Judeo-Christians have turned their backs on the Bible and have rejected these laws. That does not mean Jesus has abrogated these laws. It just means Judeo-Christians have abandoned Abraham, Moses and Jesus.
NO HOLDS BARRED
Raja Petra Kamarudin
There appears to be an increase in hate-messages and anti-Islam comments over the last few days. Some of these comments were allowed but those that were downright indecent were not, of course, because we do not want to give the impression that Malaysia Today has transformed into an anti-Islam website. Nevertheless, one such comment, Hudud is for animals, was allowed and I feel maybe I should respond to this particular comment.
It must be remembered that Islam has its roots in Judeo-Christianity, for want of a better way to describe the origins of Islam. Islam also emerged from the desert tribes of the Arabian Peninsula, although some historians have described Mekah and Yathrib as thriving cities while others have described them as mere villages comprising of wooden huts. Whatever it may be, these villages or cities, however you would like to call them, were not quite advanced in matters of learning and were steeped in superstition, paganism, and tribal customs and traditions.
Muslims believe that Islam ‘came down’ from God to Muhammad through the Angel Gabriel, who revealed the Qur’an to the Prophet over a period of 22 years. Hence it is called the revelation. Non-Muslims, however, believe that Muhammad learned about Judeo-Christianity from the Jews and Christians who were already living in Mekah and Yathrib at that time. And some of these Jews and Christians were actually quite close to Muhammad. And from there, non-Muslims believe, Islam was born.
Hence some are of the view that Islamic beliefs, in particular the rules and laws of Islam, are a combination of Judeo-Christianity and Arab tribal laws, customs and traditions. Some Christians would agree that there are some similarities between Islam and Judeo-Christianity. However, these same Christians would argue that the similarities are with the Old Testament and not with the New Testament. Hence, while Islam may have some similarities with Judaism, it is very different from Christianity because the New Testament has replaced the Old Testament.
This is an argument that can, of course, be debated because the belief that the New Testament has abrogated the Old Testament is not a universal Christian belief but the belief of just some sects of Christianity. Hence to agree that the New Testament has replaced the Old Testament would all depend on which branch of Christianity you subscribe to.
But are we saying that the New Testament has totally and absolutely abrogated and replaced the Old Testament or are we saying that the New Testament has only partially replaced the Old Testament, mainly in matters related to Abrahamic laws? And why has the New Testament abrogated part of the Old Testament and only in matters related to Abrahamic laws while all other stories from the Old Testament are accepted as truth?
If the Old Testament has been totally abrogated and replaced with the New Testament then the stories of the Creation, the Flood, the Exodus, and many more, would no longer be part of the Christian doctrine. Christianity would start only from the birth of Christ and not before that. But this is not the case, is it?
The Aramaic Bible written in the original language that Jesus spoke quotes Jesus as saying, “Do not think that I have come to revoke The Written Law or The Prophets; I am not come to revoke but to fulfil.” The King James Bible, the version of the Bible that most Christians in the west follow, quotes Jesus as saying, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.”
Hence there is no evidence that Jesus came to abrogate the Old Testament and replace it with the New Testament, as some Christians would have us believe. In fact, it is the opposite. Jesus came to confirm the old laws, not to repeal those laws. And that is why learned Christians would not reject the Old Testament in favour of the New Testament but would accept both the Old Testament and the New Testament as the doctrine of Christianity. But then how many Christians can actually fall within the category of learned? Most times they pick and choose what suits them and reject what does not, just like what many Muslims do.
The Abrahamic laws are well defined in the Bible. And some of these laws form the basis of the Islamic Sharia laws, Hudud included. Let us go through the list so that you can see that Hudud law is not, as one reader said, for animals, but in actual fact is for Christians and adopted and adapted by Islam.
If a man sleeps with a female slave who is promised to another man but who has not been ransomed or given her freedom, there must be due punishment. Yet they are not to be put to death, because she had not been freed. The man, however, must bring a ram to the entrance to the tent of meeting for a guilt offering to the Lord. With the ram of the guilt offering the priest is to make atonement for him before the Lord for the sin he has committed, and his sin will be forgiven. (Leviticus 19:20-22)
If a man has sex with another man’s slave, the slave must be punished but the man can be forgiven after sacrificing a ram.
If a man has sexual relations with his daughter-in-law, both of them are to be put to death. What they have done is a perversion; their blood will be on their own heads. (Leviticus 20:12)
If you buy a Hebrew servant, he is to serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, he shall go free, without paying anything. If he comes alone, he is to go free alone; but if he has a wife when he comes, she is to go with him. If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the woman and her children shall belong to her master, and only the man shall go free. (Exodus 21:2-4)
You can keep a Hebrew slave for only six years and you must free him in the seventh year. If in the meantime that slave marries and has children then only he can go free while the wife and children must remain as slaves. Non-Hebrew slaves can be kept until the day they die and need not be freed in the seventh year.
If a man sells his daughter as a servant, she is not to go free as male servants do. (Exodus 21:7)
A man is allowed to sell his daughter into slavery.
Anyone who strikes a person with a fatal blow is to be put to death. However, if it is not done intentionally, but God lets it happen, they are to flee to a place I will designate. (Exodus 21:12-13)
If you intentionally kill someone you will be put to death. However, if God was the one who allowed it to happen then you will just be sent into exile.
Anyone who beats their male or female slave with a rod must be punished if the slave dies as a direct result, but they are not to be punished if the slave recovers after a day or two, since the slave is their property. (Exodus 21:20-21)
If you beat your slave and he or she dies immediately you face punishment. If, however, the slave dies more than a day later you escape punishment.
If a man has sex with a virgin who is not pledged to be married and sleeps with her, he must pay the dowry, and she shall be his wife. If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he must still pay the dowry for virgins. (Exodus 22:16-17)
Do not allow a sorceress to live (meaning, kill all witches, bomoh, etc.). (Exodus 22:18)
Do not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people (meaning, sedition is a crime). (Exodus 22:28)
Those are just some examples in a long list of crimes and the punishment for these crimes as laid out in the Bible. The Islamic Sharia law of Hudud deals with the crimes of rebellion, apostasy, heresy, adultery, murder, robbery and so on. The ‘Christian Sharia law of Hudud’, however, has an even longer list.
The argument that the ‘old’ Bible has been replaced with the ‘new’ Bible and hence these laws no longer apply is not true. Even up to 200 years ago Christians in Christendom were still applying these laws and punishing people using these same laws. And this was more than 1,800 years after Jesus was supposed to have abrogated and replaced these laws.
Hence, Hudud is NOT a law for animals. It is a law for Judeo-Christians. But most Judeo-Christians have turned their backs on the Bible and have rejected these laws. That does not mean Jesus has abrogated these laws. It just means Judeo-Christians have abandoned Abraham, Moses and Jesus.
Can Islam be used to subjugate the rights of non-Muslims?
If both the police and the Home Ministry refused to budge, what are the other options that we have?
Khoo Kay Peng, The Ant Daily
In the case of S Deepa versus Izwan Abdullah over the custody of their two children Sharmila, 9, and Mithran, 6, who were converted to Islam without her knowledge in April last year, it is clear that the authorities have acted in bad faith for the failure to act against Izwan for kidnapping his son from his ex-wife after she was granted legal custody of their children.
It is understandable why the Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar has come under fire for his reluctance to enforce the civil court’s decision and arrest Izwan for his offence.
Khalid’s refusal to act cannot be taken lightly. His decision is going to have a deep repercussion on the police force. It is putting the force, the enforcers of law and order, into a constitutional jeopardy. Since independence, it is clear that the Federal Constitution is the supreme law of the land and the civil courts act as an important balance of power in a parliamentary democracy.
Khalid’s decision begs the question: is he making his decision based on his faith or his interpretation of the Federal Constitution? Who can decide if Khalid is making a right decision or not? What are the legal and constitutional implications if Khalid’s decision is allowed to stand?
It is equally baffling that the Home Ministry has decided not to interfere with the IGP’s decision. Its minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi supported the decision of the police not to act against the abductor. Is Zahid’s decision supported and endorsed by the cabinet?
It is a challenge to cabinet members such as Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz and other like-minded colleagues to intervene and resolve the issue amicably. It is the duty of the government to protect and defend the sanctity of the Federal Constitution and its institutions.
If the cabinet fails to act, it is going to face a massive credibility deficit. With Nazri’s criticism of the police, it shows that Zahid has failed to obtain a consensus from the cabinet. In turn, the cabinet cannot accommodate a rogue member. This is a time we hope for some form of leadership from the prime minister.
If both the police and the Home Ministry refused to budge, what are the other options that we have? The civil court cannot sit still and do nothing since its authority has been challenged. This is a grey area of law that must be put to rest conclusively. The court can issue a directive to the police to act within its power to bring the abductor into custody for his refusal to accept the court’s verdict on the custody and for committing a serious offence.
With due respect to Islam, Izwan cannot hide behind the religion and manipulate it for his own benefit. He is clearly facing a marital issue with his ex-wife and the custody trial is a judicial venue to put a closure to his marital problem.
There is a danger of dragging the religion into his custody battle and marital problem. It is now creating a larger and more serious legal implication to all Malaysians. Can Islam be used to subjugate the rights of the non-Muslims and the sanctity of the civil institutions like the judiciary? The de facto decisions made by both the IGP and the home minister to ignore the offence seemed to suggest that this is the case.
Read more at: http://www.theantdaily.com/news/2014/04/18/can-islam-be-used-subjugate-rights-non-muslims
In the case of S Deepa versus Izwan Abdullah over the custody of their two children Sharmila, 9, and Mithran, 6, who were converted to Islam without her knowledge in April last year, it is clear that the authorities have acted in bad faith for the failure to act against Izwan for kidnapping his son from his ex-wife after she was granted legal custody of their children.
It is understandable why the Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar has come under fire for his reluctance to enforce the civil court’s decision and arrest Izwan for his offence.
Khalid’s refusal to act cannot be taken lightly. His decision is going to have a deep repercussion on the police force. It is putting the force, the enforcers of law and order, into a constitutional jeopardy. Since independence, it is clear that the Federal Constitution is the supreme law of the land and the civil courts act as an important balance of power in a parliamentary democracy.
Khalid’s decision begs the question: is he making his decision based on his faith or his interpretation of the Federal Constitution? Who can decide if Khalid is making a right decision or not? What are the legal and constitutional implications if Khalid’s decision is allowed to stand?
It is equally baffling that the Home Ministry has decided not to interfere with the IGP’s decision. Its minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi supported the decision of the police not to act against the abductor. Is Zahid’s decision supported and endorsed by the cabinet?
It is a challenge to cabinet members such as Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz and other like-minded colleagues to intervene and resolve the issue amicably. It is the duty of the government to protect and defend the sanctity of the Federal Constitution and its institutions.
If the cabinet fails to act, it is going to face a massive credibility deficit. With Nazri’s criticism of the police, it shows that Zahid has failed to obtain a consensus from the cabinet. In turn, the cabinet cannot accommodate a rogue member. This is a time we hope for some form of leadership from the prime minister.
If both the police and the Home Ministry refused to budge, what are the other options that we have? The civil court cannot sit still and do nothing since its authority has been challenged. This is a grey area of law that must be put to rest conclusively. The court can issue a directive to the police to act within its power to bring the abductor into custody for his refusal to accept the court’s verdict on the custody and for committing a serious offence.
With due respect to Islam, Izwan cannot hide behind the religion and manipulate it for his own benefit. He is clearly facing a marital issue with his ex-wife and the custody trial is a judicial venue to put a closure to his marital problem.
There is a danger of dragging the religion into his custody battle and marital problem. It is now creating a larger and more serious legal implication to all Malaysians. Can Islam be used to subjugate the rights of the non-Muslims and the sanctity of the civil institutions like the judiciary? The de facto decisions made by both the IGP and the home minister to ignore the offence seemed to suggest that this is the case.
Read more at: http://www.theantdaily.com/news/2014/04/18/can-islam-be-used-subjugate-rights-non-muslims
St Xavier’s schools honour Karpal – Francis Loh Kok Wah
The Board of Governors and Managers of the St Xavier’s schools in Penang have expressed sorrow over the death of one of their most illustrious students.
We, the Boards of Governors and Managers of St Xavier’s Institution, SK St Xavier’s, and SK St Xavier’s Cawangan are deeply saddened to hear of YB Karpal Singh’s sudden death.
Karpal was one of our “towering Malaysians”, a most illustrious son, no doubt.
He was dubbed the “Tiger of Jelutong”, from where he was repeatedly elected into Parliament, before he moved to contest and represent Bukit Gelugor, both constituencies in Penang.
Karpal was a fearless and renowned lawyer. In and out of Parliament, Karpal spoke out bravely against the making of unjust and bad laws, and opposed policies that discriminated against the downtrodden and minorities while favouring the cronies and racial or religious exclusivists.
He also condemned the use of these bad laws to oppress critics, activists and opposition leaders.
In this regard, he was among those detained without trial under the Internal Security Act during Ops Lalang 1987.
He was respected not only among freedom-loving and justice-seeking Malaysians of all races and religions, he was also respected by foreign political leaders and law experts, and international human rights groups.
He was proud of his party, the Democratic Action Party, and ultimately served as its chairman.
Yet Karpal never forgot his roots. One of these roots led back to his alma mater in Penang. In 2009, he was the guest of honour at SXI’s annual speech day.
In 2011, he came to SXI to speak at the launching of the memoirs entitled “The Man from Borneo”, authored by Rev Bro Datuk Michael Jacques, his former teacher.
In 2012, he found time to grace the 160th anniversary dinner commemorating the founding of his alma mater in 1852, and in 2013, he came to pay his respects and to bid farewell to Rev Bro Datuk Charles Levin, the longest-serving director of SXI.
Indeed, it was Karpal who had nominated the good Brother for datukship honours from the Penang government. He also donated generously to SXI’s various causes.
And now, we mourn the passing of YB Karpal Singh, too. No doubt, he imbibed many La Salle values, not least our special concern for “the last, the lost and the least”.
Karpal’s death is a major loss for our country and Parliament, his party and the democratic struggle, and to our St Xavier’s schools.
May our students and all young Malaysians learn from Karpal’s love, service and dedication to his nation Malaysia, and to people of all faiths and races.
Rest in Peace, dear Sir. God’s Peace and Blessings to you, and to your family and friends on this sorrowful occasion. – April 18, 2014.
* Dr Francis Loh Kok Wah is chairman, Board of Governors, St Xavier’s Institution, and Board of Managers, SK St Xavier and SK St Xavier Cawangan.
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.
We, the Boards of Governors and Managers of St Xavier’s Institution, SK St Xavier’s, and SK St Xavier’s Cawangan are deeply saddened to hear of YB Karpal Singh’s sudden death.
Karpal was one of our “towering Malaysians”, a most illustrious son, no doubt.
He was dubbed the “Tiger of Jelutong”, from where he was repeatedly elected into Parliament, before he moved to contest and represent Bukit Gelugor, both constituencies in Penang.
Karpal was a fearless and renowned lawyer. In and out of Parliament, Karpal spoke out bravely against the making of unjust and bad laws, and opposed policies that discriminated against the downtrodden and minorities while favouring the cronies and racial or religious exclusivists.
He also condemned the use of these bad laws to oppress critics, activists and opposition leaders.
In this regard, he was among those detained without trial under the Internal Security Act during Ops Lalang 1987.
He was respected not only among freedom-loving and justice-seeking Malaysians of all races and religions, he was also respected by foreign political leaders and law experts, and international human rights groups.
He was proud of his party, the Democratic Action Party, and ultimately served as its chairman.
Yet Karpal never forgot his roots. One of these roots led back to his alma mater in Penang. In 2009, he was the guest of honour at SXI’s annual speech day.
In 2011, he came to SXI to speak at the launching of the memoirs entitled “The Man from Borneo”, authored by Rev Bro Datuk Michael Jacques, his former teacher.
In 2012, he found time to grace the 160th anniversary dinner commemorating the founding of his alma mater in 1852, and in 2013, he came to pay his respects and to bid farewell to Rev Bro Datuk Charles Levin, the longest-serving director of SXI.
Indeed, it was Karpal who had nominated the good Brother for datukship honours from the Penang government. He also donated generously to SXI’s various causes.
And now, we mourn the passing of YB Karpal Singh, too. No doubt, he imbibed many La Salle values, not least our special concern for “the last, the lost and the least”.
Karpal’s death is a major loss for our country and Parliament, his party and the democratic struggle, and to our St Xavier’s schools.
May our students and all young Malaysians learn from Karpal’s love, service and dedication to his nation Malaysia, and to people of all faiths and races.
Rest in Peace, dear Sir. God’s Peace and Blessings to you, and to your family and friends on this sorrowful occasion. – April 18, 2014.
* Dr Francis Loh Kok Wah is chairman, Board of Governors, St Xavier’s Institution, and Board of Managers, SK St Xavier and SK St Xavier Cawangan.
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.
State funeral for Karpal
The Star
GEORGE TOWN: Karpal Singh will be given a state funeral on Sunday.
Penang
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the public ceremony would be held at
Dewan Sri Pinang in Light Street here from 9am to 11am. The cortege will
then leave for the Batu Gantong crematorium.
“His casket will be draped with the Penang flag,” said Lim.
He added that an emergency state exco meeting had decided that the Penang flag would be flown at half-mast until the funeral.
Lim, who is DAP secretary-general, said all party events nationwide would be rescheduled to after the funeral.
“All DAP offices will fly our flag at half-mast for a week to mourn our great loss.”
As
befitting Karpal’s status in the party, it has set up a national
funeral committee headed by DAP acting national chairman Tan Kok Wai as
well as a state committee with state party chairman Chow Kon Yeow at the
helm.
The wake is being held at Karpal’s residence at 144A Jalan Utama here.
Karpal’s ashes will be scattered in the sea on Monday morning.
His
eldest son Jagdeep Singh Deo said: “On behalf of my family, I thank the
state government for the honour bestowed on my father. He would have
been very proud to be accorded this.”
Earlier,
there was wailing and tears flowed freely as the casket bearing
Karpal’s body made its way into his house, after the hearse arrived from
Ipoh at 3.40pm under heavy police escort.
Karpal’s
eldest brother, Baksis Singh, 80, who, though appeared calm, said he
was shocked and saddened by Karpal’s sudden demise.
“But I believe this is God’s will.
“We
met last Sunday at the Wadda Gurdwara Sahib for Vaisakhi prayers and
Karpal was his witty self. We were joking and having a great laugh,” he
said.
Karpal’s passing brought back painful memories of their father Ram Singh Deo, who also died in a road accident.
Baksis recalled that their father was rammed by a car while riding in a rickshaw in Punjab, India.
Karpal
leaves behind wife Gurmit Kaur, 66, and their four sons, Jagdeep, 43,
Gobind Singh Deo, 41, Ramkarpal Singh Deo, 38, and Mankarpal Singh Deo,
26, and daughter Sangeet Kaur Deo, 34.
Among
those who came to pay their last respects were Deputy Prime Minister
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Lim and Chow, Opposition Leader Datuk Seri
Anwar Ibrahim, PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu, state Umno chairman
Datuk Zainal Abidin Osman, state deputy police chief Deputy Comm Datuk
A. Thaiveegan, Penang state assembly speaker Datuk Law Choo Kiang as
well as numerous state leaders and Pakatan Rakyat members.
Don't Be Apologetic In Defending National Interests, Media Told
PETALING
JAYA, April 18 (Bernama) -- Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin
Yassin has reminded media practitioners not to be apologetic in
defending national interests.This is because responsible journalism is constructive and protect what had been achieved over the years while irresponsible journalism is otherwise, he said.
"Being responsive to national interests and nurturing them are parts of the character of global media.
"Growing information and communication technology that has seen the emergence of online newspapers and news being disseminated via Twitter and Facebook, has posed mounting challenge to the media in defending the national agenda," Muhyiddin said when opening the Malaysian Press Night 2014 organised by the Malaysian Press Institute (MPI) and Petronas in Petaling Jaya, Friday night.
Deputy Prime Minister said in the course of building a united, stable, peaceful, prosperous and successful nation-state, the role of responsible media practitioners was crucial.
He said sophisticated technology and modernity could not negate the responsibilities of journalists and reporting principles which were universal in nature in the past, present and future.
"The news written cannot be ruthless, they must based on facts and most importantly, fair to the subjects. The determination to uphold journalism profession in delivering fair, accurate, honest and authentic reports should be the focus and emphasis.
"This expectation is consistent with the role of journalists as knowledgeable people who know what they want to convey," he said.
Muhyiddin reminded media practitioners not to be journalists who were lacked of ideas or who became popular for going after false news and sensationalism or were driven by certain agenda.
He said the media's role was not just to deliver the latest information to the community but also to enlighten readers on educational, development economic, political, cultural and entertainment news as an agent of transformation.
Muhyiddin commended the mainstream media for adhering to the principles of journalism and accountability in covering the search for the ill-fated Malaysia Airlines MH370 which entered the 42nd day, Friday.
He said there was no exception of patriotic fervour in the coverage of the MH370 tragedy as the media was bound by similar psychological elements and objectivity in highlighting national aspirations.
"So, let us not be swayed by the travesty that the so-called existence of uniformity or standards of journalism that international set of values had to be observed and performed by local journalists, including in Malaysia," he said while thanking local media for their coverage of the MH370 tragedy.
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