Honesty in court dealings

Do we have such a weak judiciary system which cannot even uphold appointments? The Malaysian government needs to appoint serious people to become magistrates and judges.

Saravanan Forever

I am Saravanan, who is residing overseas. Last year, I filed a civil suit case in a local Malaysian court through my lawyer. 2 months back they called me for a hearing in a short period of time and I could not attend the case due to my health condition. I requested my lawyer to postpone the case so that I can attend the next case. And the magistrate was told that I was to come from overseas.

The hearing was fixed for the end of this month and my lawyer informed me 1.5 months in advance. The system in the West is not the same as in Malaysia. They are very strict and punctual in all dealings. I had to apply for a special permit to leave the country because I am under Social Security. Normally, a patient is not allowed to travel overseas. But I insisted to go because my lawyers are doing all the arrangements and I personally have to respect their efforts. This is simple understanding between human beings.

For Malaysians’ understanding, the Westerners are very particular about their appointments. For example, if they want to have dinner with someone they will make an appointment 1 or 2 weeks in advance and they will write it down in their diary. The same goes for any offices – they will write it down clearly and will not have 2 appointments at the same time. If they promise to meet us, it will definitely happen. There are 2 possibilities if they want to make changes in appointments. First, the person who is going to meet us will appoint his or her colleague otherwise they will change the date to the soonest date possible. So far, living in the West I have never seen hanky panky in legal matters. That is how they keep their country honest and punctual.

It goes the other way around in Malaysia. I was supposed to have a 2 days’ session in the court which will be the hearing too. One week earlier, I received an email from my lawyer saying “We regret to inform you that the trial for this matter which has been fixed on end of January 2015 has been adjourned by the Court to a later date. Therefore, you are not required to attend court on the above stated dates.
The reason given to us for the adjournment is that this matter will be transferred to another Court and will be heard before a new Magistrate”.

This was done after the magistrate understood that I am coming from overseas. The ticket has been bought and preparations for travel has been made. It concerns a person’s effort, money and time. Do we have such a weak judiciary system which cannot even uphold appointments? The Malaysian government needs to appoint serious people to become magistrates and judges.

The Bar Council and the Malaysian judicial body should be accountable for having bad appointments and promises. I am not living in Malaysia currently; who will be responsible for my effort and money wasted? According to my lawyer the magistrate is asking for a next date in March. Do you think it is easy to go back and come back the next month? This trip is already wasted, they are asking me to come again next month. Who is going to be responsible for my trip? There is no simple understanding in this matter.

I have been reading the latest news, for example even in some high profile cases they are changing the public prosecutor and judges according to the government’s will. It is really a shameful matter where there is no honesty in the judicial body which is supposed to hold the country’s pillar of truth. This letter is just my personal opinion, who have some guts to write about the truth. How about other people who have gone through such hassles? All my questions are to be answered by our truthful Malaysians.
I am also seeking the attention of Malaysian Bar Council.

Thank you

Promoting Local Artists

Local artists have to go through such hassles to get a chance in Malaysian radio whereas Indians are free to get a chance in Malaysia.

Saravanan, Sec. Gabungan Artist-artist Indian Malaysia.

Prime Minister’s Office
Blok Utama, Bangunan Perdana Putra,
Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan,
62502 Putrajaya,
Wilayah Persekutuan.

Jabatan Penerangan Malaysia
Aras 5, 8-16 dan 18,
Kompleks Kementerian Komunikasi dan Multimedia
No. 49, Persiaran Perdana,
Presint 4
62100 Putrajaya

YAB/YB/Tuan/Puan,
Malaysian Indian songs should be aired at least 50% in all Tamil radios in Malaysia. We are artists from Gabungan Artist India Malaysia requesting the Malaysian government impose strict guidelines for all Tamil radios to play Local songs more than foreign songs.

During the management of Tun Dr. Mahathir, he had a policy that local products should be the priority. In that context we would like to urge the government to draw a line for foreign songs especially in Tamil radio stations. We are not anti foreign songs but if local songs are not played even in Malaysia, how can the Malaysian Indian artist reach the height of International level? Foreign songs which are mostly from India already reach the International market.

Recently, many artists have had terrible experiences at THR radio, a private channel, which is enshrined under Jabatan Penerangan Malaysia. Many hardworking artists are not recognized by our local channels. For example:-

a) Local song writers should send their songs under a registered label.

b) According to THR’s website it will take 2 weeks for them to approve or reject a song. It is very interesting to know how they approve a song. First, they send a song for rating which has 18,000 listeners. Those 18,000 listeners will make a decision which song to play in the radio station. We would like to make a point here, not all the 18,000 people are well versed in music, lyrics and expression of a song. They are just listeners. Many songs are rejected because of a low rating. There is an important point which we would like to make here; there are 194,400 likes in THR’s Raaga facebook page, out of 100k people we can see an average of 60 people likes their posting and we can only see 5 or 6 people comment on their postings. If out of 100k people you can get average of 60 likes what you will get from 18,000 people? Not everyone has time to spend on just listening then rating local songs. It is a complete discrimination from THR towards local Indian artists.

c) When a song is approved or rejected they don’t even answer by mail or letter to the related artist. If a song is rejected they should give a reason for it so that an artist can improve.

d) All radio channels should follow the ministry’s guidelines to approve the radio licence. The percentage of local artists should be taken into consideration because it is a guideline from the government.

e) THR and RTM are advertising Indian movie songs even before the release of the CDs or movies. The Indian artists do not have to go through procedures such as Malaysian artists:
• Should fill forms which are downloaded from their website;
• Should make a CD cover for every single song;
• A CD should be sent by registered post to THR’s guard house – with lyrics attached and should include details of the artist involved in the song,

No Indian artist has to go through all the procedures mentioned above. Local artists have to go through such hassles to get a chance in Malaysian radio whereas Indians are free to get a chance in Malaysia. It is not a good system which is created either by JPM or radio stations.

f) For the past 16 years, Malaysian artists have been fighting to get a chance or rights to play their songs in Malaysian radio. According to our recorded conversation from the THR management they play 2 to 3 Malaysian songs in an hour. That means local artists are getting less than a 10% chance in an hour. How will the government promote Malaysian talent when the local radios and TV restrict local songs and talents?

Those 2 or 3 songs are played everyday after 16 years of struggle. Do we have to struggle another 16 years to get another 8% chance? We from Gabungan Artist-artist India Malaysia would like to urge the government under the Prime Minister Dato Seri Najib Razak to draft strict guidelines for local and foreign songs. We need to stick to Tun Dr. Mahathir’s idea where local products should be given priority. We would like to have an official reply from the ministry so that it can be helpful in our effort to highlight the grievances of local artists.

Thank you for your understanding.

Yours faithfully,

Saravanan
Sec. Gabungan Artist-artist Indian Malaysia

No cow slaughtering during school hours

I would like to urge the education department and all other politicians to respect the sanctity of schools and not to turn any school into a slaughter house.

Saravanan (PETA Asia Pasific Network activist)

Muslims are about to celebrate their holy festival on 3rd or 4th October 2014. The festival comes from the story of Nabi Ibrahim and his son Ismael. Instead of sacrificing Ibrahim’s son, Allah instructed him to sacrifice a sheep according to the story. This particular festival will be celebrated as Eid Al-Adha.

Last year, my conversation with SK Puchong school’s headmaster heated up Malaysia with the cow slaughtering issue in the school. I would like to urge the education department and all other politicians to respect the sanctity of schools and not to turn any school into a slaughter house. The incident of Nabi Ibrahim happened on a particular day in an open area and did not take place in any school.

Many UMNO politicians and Netizens commented that this is a Muslim country that they will do what they like. Some said if you don’t like it, go back to India. Papagomo commented he should kill me and many other negative comments.

I would like to remind everyone that in our education syllabus, there is no special instruction to slaughter cows or any other animal in schools. It is not a religious issue but all parties should respect the school where we gain education. The law is equal to all citizens according to the Federal Constitution. Hindus cannot celebrate Thaipusam in National schools and Chinese cannot celebrate their ghost festivals in the school. So the Education department and school headmasters should not not create double standards.

I did some research after last year’s issue. Malaysian Muslims didn’t slaughter cows during school hours 15 years back since British colonization. I have collected information from Jordan, Morocco, Turkey, and Qatar, they never slaughter animals in the school during school hours. This shows Malaysia is practicing a different Islam than other Arabic countries.

Qurban festival was celebrated in mosques, suraus, residential halls and other places where it is convenient. We do not oppose that. But as a human rights and animal rights activist I will watch closely what will be your real intention to celebrate this festival by slaughtering cows during school hours.

The cow slaughtering act doesn’t align with the education syllabus or school co-curriculum in any part of the world.

Celebrating cow slaughtering in the school will make kids psychologically traumatized. Even if the teachers and students were asked not to “see” the slaughter, fine, but one can always “hear” the slaughter being carried out.

Any country’s parliament would never approve such an inhumane act of slaughtering animals in the schools. It is a great disgrace for the country. All schools should follow world educational guidelines which is approved by the UN. Definitely animal slaughter will not be part of the system. Malaysian parliament should come to a decision to respect non violence.

Cow slaughtering in schools can cause POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER. PTSD develops after a terrifying ordeal witnessing a harmful event that happened to animals or humans. War soldiers and victims have faced this syndrome or even people working in slaughter houses.

The single race supremacy policies spoiled the mood of Merdeka

By Saravanan


Though Malaysia has reached the milestone of 57 yrs of independence, the plight of the minority poor Indians continues to deteriorate.

From the black day of May 13, 1969 where racial riots took place which many suspect was orchestrated by the corridors of powers within Umno then, the economic equity of the Malays have been unfairly raised at the expense of minority Indian poor primarily.

Using Malay supremacist policies and the NEP, the minority Indian poor have been totally left behind.

The Malays who are peaceful in nature by heart have been poisoned by these vicious policies indoctrinated by umno leaders over the past few decades.

The NEP policy which is nothing but an apartheid policy, was supposedly to have ended in 1990 but is still being carried forward till today under the disguise of various other names.

The Umno led goverment has created a quota system in practically every aspect of our daily lives today, where Malays have a distinct unfair advantage at the expense of other races.

Even though Tunku had clearly said that after 1990 other races will enjoy equal benefit, but in reality it was a hoax as till today the other races in Malaysia are prejudiced against unfair quotas imposes by the Umno government. These 'Apartheid' policies are still being employed till today.

Why is it so even after spending almost a trillion ringgit, have not the Umno govt been able to uplift the Malay community?After injecting racist policies into mainstream government policies, the Umno govt are now forming new ultra Malay extremist groups to rise in Malaysia to inflict fear and intimidation on other races. It is also common now to see Islamic terrorists arising in Malaysia and crossing borders to Syria etc and join other terrorist groups there.

Umno should learn to treat every citizen in this country equally. The Apartheid system and Malay extremist groups are not making Msia progress in any way at all.When President Obama visited Malaysia he stated that Malaysia cannot succeed unless equal opportunities are given to non Muslims.

In Oct 2008 the prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said "if we do not change, the people will change us". "In the not-too-distant future, we will see all the elements of the New Economic Policy being replaced." "It's a huge challenge," "There must be this political will and desire to change within UMNO. I don't think we can expect people to look at us in more favorable terms unless we change, unless we rectify our weaknesses .

In Nov 2007 Malaysian Indian showed their unhappiness to UMNO led government due to their racist policies. Thousands of Indians demonstrate in Kuala Lumpur to demand their rights. Due to Indians unhappiness UMNO led government lost 2/3 majority in the 2008 General election. PM Najib personally promised many plans but he hardly look into minority Indians suffering. In 2013 general election PM Najib personally promised and signed an legal document to upgrade Indian's socio economy but he failed to deliver his promises. Indians are kept poor and marginalized in Malaysia due to apartheid policies which carry forward by UMNO led government for almost 4 decades

Ultimately NEP and other racist policies didn't help the majority Malays but it naturally helped the cronies of UMNO. The majority of Malays should have been richer by now besides making the Malay race richer UMNO have planting many extremist group to protect their false supremacy. Whereas poor needy Indians and the rest of minority groups have to suffer under the oppression and suppression of 57 years of UMNO marginalized policies.

Enough of racist policies

Stop all the racist policies and implement ANTI RACISM ACT urgently

Saravanan, Hindu Human Rights Organization (Hindhor) Belgium

I would like to remind Mr.PM and IGP that Malaysia got independence by mutual understanding of the three main races. All three races should be treated equally by the Malaysian Government. Tunku and Abdul Razak Hussein requested and assured the Reid Commission that the Malay special position would be implemented “only for 15 years, between 1957 and 1972, and after that all citizens shall be treated with equal status.”

The Umno-led government later manipulated and colluded with the British to make the provisions in Article 153, which governs the Malay special position which is against the submissions and undertakings of the Reid Commission.

The country’s citizens and the world are watching how every case has been manipulated and delayed to act for the favor of one race. Favoring wrong-doers is not a religious act or constitutional law.

The citizens of Malaysia are becoming fed up with the current ruling system. UMNO-led government with the knowledge of PM funds racist organizations to target the Non-Muslims. This has been disclosed by NGOs. Mr.PM please let us know what you are trying to do with this country and by funding racist NGOs?

* Recently a road bully woman was given priority in radio channels with the knowledge of the government and an UMNO-funded NGO collected funds for the wrong-doer who was charged in court. You watched this and zero action was taken.

* On 17 July 2014 a Nezha deity statue standing more than 10 metres tall at a temple in Kampung Tembioh, Johor, was taken down because your party (UMNO) youth members weren’t happy but the temple existed before Independence.

* On 10th July 2014 an ustad from SK Port Dickson hit an 8 year old girl with a shoe. As per normal, the teacher was transferred to another school but no arrest was made even though it was a clear child abuse case. PDRM, where is your action in this case?

*On 22nd July 2014 a police investigation officer wrote in his Facebook that Indians are PARIA and threatened to demolish Hindu temples. The police officer by the name Ahmad Tarmizi was transferred as per normal and PDRM failed to arrest him for being threatening and seditious.

* On 28th July 2014 an ustaz (Shahul Hamid) insulted Hindu Gods and Goddesses at the same time he was stirring racial sentiments such as Muslims should not buy Indian products in Malaysia. Responsible citizens of the country have made more than 100 police reports around the country yet no arrest was made even though you have enough evidence.

We Malaysians are not surprised by your policies. This has been carrying on since Tun Dr. Mahathir’s era. We are also used to the idea of the home minister, AG and IGP teaming up to sideline the marginalized communities in Malaysia. Enough is enough; stop all your racist policies urgently. By funding and keeping silent on every racist act by individuals and Malay NGOs will not bring harmony or extra support for your ruling government.

Malaysians need an ANTI RACISM ACT urgently. If you fail to announce this soon we will conclude that the whole team of UMNO, IGP, AG and Racist NGOs are working against the peaceful and harmony marginalized community.

Open letter to IGP

I have attached the picture of your investigation officer who insulted the Hindus and Hindu temples in his facebook posting.

Saravanan
____________________________________________________________________________________
Inspector General of Police
Ibu Pejabat Polis Diraja Malaysia,
50560 Bukit Aman, Kuala Lumpur.

Dear IGP,
Ref: Racist remarks by your investigation officer and others
The racist remarks which were uttered by your investigation officer Ahmad Tarmizi Yaakob and several other Malay NGOs are jeopardizing unity between our multi racial society. A worse scenario is you and your department keeping quiet of those remarks against Non-Malays or Non-Muslims.
In some scenarios you yourself have acted against the high court orders which is unfair to Non-Muslims in this country. We Malaysians would like to see equal treatment. We are hoping for a better Malaysia; not a racist Malaysia which will interrupt the social harmony of the country.
A school teacher who had beaten an 8 year old girl wasn’t arrested by the police force even after the father lodged a police report. It is a child abuse case and considered as criminal. The child got injured. The best thing the education department did was transfer him to another school. We have seen the same scenarios in many cases. If this happened in the west, the teacher would be fired immediately and be arrested by the police. It is very unfortunately to see the Malaysian police force let hatred take place in Malaysian society.
I have attached the picture of your investigation officer who insulted the Hindus and Hindu temples in his facebook posting. We cannot tolerate racism. I urge the PM of Malaysia and the IGP to take stern action against all those who make racial remarks. I hope the IGP will do his job without fear and favor for any party.
Thank you
Kind regards,
Saravanan

Hindu Human Rights Organization (Hindhor)
Belgium

IGP should resign immediately

The latest court order is needed to uphold the situation but the IGP and police force washed their hands.

Saravanan

We are shocked to see the reaction of the IGP who is not upholding the country’s law. We are urging the current IGP to resign from his post if he cannot or fail to do his duty.

Malaysia is a country which has a Constitution and the police force is supposed to follow the order of the Federal Constitution. When the court decision was made by the civil court judge, the IGP or even the king must obey the law. It is the work of the police to see that the judgement is carried out. It is irresponsible for IGP Khalid Abu Bakar to say, “Settle your problem privately”. If everyone decided to settle the country’s complications privately, where is the need for the police and judiciary systems? The IGP is inefficient; you need to go back to school or go and sell nasi lemak and karipap in your kampung.

1. The Syariah court order was overturned by the civil court this week. So the latest court order is needed to uphold the situation but the IGP and police force washed their hands.

2. The case would have been resolved but the police force and the IGP took the side of the convert father to kidnap his own son without the mother’s permission. A police report has been made but no action taken.

3. The UMNO government needs to make a stand as their double law system is complicating the police. The police are not in a position to take action or speak for either party because the whole mistake was done by UMNO by complicating the system.

4. “Police are not worried about the child’s safety as he is with his father” said the IGP but the son complained to the judge that the father had been beating him and there were times when no food was given. It is a case of child abuse. Why can’t the IGP act on this child abuse case?

5. If Syariah law does not bind Non-Muslims, we strongly suggest the law makers say Deepa and her underage kids are still Hindus and Syariah or forced conversions cannot take place in this civil society.

6. We need immediate action from all parliamentarians to debate this matter. The country is struggling with racism, religious bigotry and double systems. Wake up and save the land which you love before our egos put the country in bad shape.

7. The UMNO government is obliged to amend article 121A for bringing chaos to the country. They are responsible for disunity in the country. MIC and MCA who supported UMNO’s atrocities must play their role to go against their TUAN which is acting against humanity or UN resolutions.

Malaysian Indians – Hindraf = UMNO Advantage

At the end of the day, Indians are arguing with Indians which will not solve any problems. Everyone has to take a stand to leave HIndraf alone and let them heal themselves. By throwing hatred amongst our own race will create more damage. This is what UMNO is expecting so that they can take advantage of the situation.

Saravanan

Hindraf was an organization which championed the poor Indian cause of Malaysia and was the back bone for Malaysian Indians since 2007. Due to the Hindraf rally, UMNO lost 2/3 majority in the 12th general election. This was a great impact for the 52 years long serving UMNO-led government. To counter attack Hindraf, UMNO sponsored many Malay NGOs to stabilize their position.

The 13th general election saw another different scenario where Hindraf signed a MoU with Barisan Nasional to find permanent and comprehensive solutions. PM Najib played a leading role to conquer the heart of the Hindraf leader by giving flowery promises. After winning the General Election with a better result than the GE12, PM Razak appointed Waytha (Hindraf chairperson) as a deputy minister under the Prime Ministers department. The whole pact caused anger for many Malaysian Indians. With great ambition, Hindraf started their duty to resolve problems but till 8 months none of the promises were delivered because PM Najib had no intention to solve the Indians’ problems and have been a blockage for deliverance.

After 8 months of Waytha working as a deputy minister, he finally came to the conclusion that UMNO made use of Hindraf and the poor Indians’ situation. Hindraf chairman P Waytha Moorthy resigned from all positions in the government and the Senate on Feb 10.

The failure of the Hindraf and UMNO promises made many Malaysians hate UMNO and Hindraf. Several NGOs openly called Waytha a traitor, though openly the Hindraf chairperson asked for forgiveness. Day by day the situation is becoming sourer. According to Hindraf, they tried their level best but unfortunately they weren’t aware that this is a trick of UMNO to kill Hindraf’s cause and popularity.

I am following the grassroots sentiment and netizens’ comments. It is not favouring Hindraf nor UMNO. Those criticisms against Hindraf or UMNO is not going to solve any Indian problem. There is a proverb in Tamil: “Either you be helpful or do not intend to harm anyone”. The Indian community has to take a stand not to harm anyone. At the end of the day, Indians are arguing with Indians which will not solve any problems. Everyone has to take a stand to leave HIndraf alone and let them heal themselves. By throwing hatred amongst our own race will create more damage. This is what UMNO is expecting so that they can take advantage of the situation.
At the same time, Hindraf members should let people give their opinions, as by counter attacking they will cause more damage to the society. I urge the Hindraf Chairperson to play smart. We don’t need hatred and damages. It would be nice if all parties, NGOs and leaders, work for the future of the marginalized Indian community. Our one and only target should be UMNO because the Indian community has been cheated for 56 years. This is not a short period. They failed again after signing an agreement with Hindraf. So the sole cause is PM Najib (UMNO). There is no point shooting blanks at a person who asks for forgiveness. The aim and target should be UMNO and their leaders for failing Malaysian Indians. Do not give chances for others to take advantage of the tense situation.

Racial discrimination under 1Malaysia slogan

Recently an Indian police officer went to my house during an investigation over the cow slaughtering issue. I had clearly told the headmaster (HM) of the school concerned that I am living overseas, so why were the police looking for me? When the time comes, I will inform the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) and let us meet each other. Till then be patient.

If at all the police are eager to investigate me, they should first investigate Perkasa, blogger Papagomo and the school HMs around Malaysia who agreed with animal cruelty in schools.

Lately, the Second Education Minister, Idris Jusoh, had said that there is a circular issued in 1976 which states that religious programmes can be held in schools. We would like to read the circular itself, and my question in the video was very clear, from whom did the school HM get permission and I asked him to send me the proof, but till today the whole Malaysian Education Ministry has failed to produce the letter.

I urge the prime minister to answer my questions. Where does it state in the constitution that cow slaughtering in schools is permitted? If this can’t be answered, please stop the cruelty. To my knowledge even moderate Turkey will not slaughter cows in schools. I had been in schools for 13 years and I never heard of cow slaughtering in the schools where I had studied. Do not make schools as suraus.

The Education Department should respect other races who are studying in schools.

The government should cancel the registration of Perkasa and Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) and take action against Umno ministers who are stirring racial sentiments in Malaysia regarding the cow slaughtering issue and other issues, too.

Last week Minister Shahidan Kassim said there are no Public Services Commission (PSC) scholarships for the Indian community because Indians are prominent as lawyers and doctors. This kind of minister should be charged with causing racial tension, but due to double standards in Malaysia, the Umno-led government will hide the issue under the carpet.

Racist Umno-friendly NGOs are causing unwanted problems in Malaysia but the law is lenient for them. I urge the PM to throw out his racist ministers before I come back to face the police. The cow slaughtering issue is a simple issue where multiracial schools became slaughterhouses and the Education Department and their ministers should respect other races.

Do not misuse the percentage in the larger population. We Malaysian do not see the real meaning of PM Najib Abdul Razak’s 1Malaysia. Please explain the meaning to us.

The cow slaughtering act is not in line with the education syllabus or school co-curriculum in any part of the world.

Celebrating cow slaughtering in the school will make kids psychologically traumatised. Even if the teachers and students were asked not to “see” the slaughter, fine, but one can always “hear” the slaughter being carried out.

Any country’s parliament in the world would never approve such an inhumane act as slaughtering animals in schools. It’s a great disgrace for the country. All schools should follow worldwide educational guidelines, and definitely animal slaughtering will not be part of the system. The Malaysian parliament should come to a decision to respect non-violence.

Cow slaughtering in schools can cause post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which develops after a terrifying ordeal such as witnessing a harmful event that happened to animals or humans. War soldiers and victims have faced this syndrome and even people who work in slaughterhouses.

 http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/247849

'1976 circular allows religious activities in schools'

PARLIAMENT A Professional Circular issued in 1976 states that religious programmes can be held in schools, Second Education Minister Idris Jusoh said today.

The circular also stressed that such programmes should be carried out with consideration to the sensitivities of the various races, Idris said.

"For me, the issue here is not about the question of circular. It is whether we have been sensitive or not with one another.

"Whether we sent a circular or not, it will still happen if we do not respect one another," he said when winding debate on the 2014 Supply Bill for the Education Ministry at the Dewan Rakyat today.

Idris (left) was clarifying on the issue of the cow sacrifice rituals carried out in several schools that raised uneasiness among several parties during the last Hari Raya Haji.

On another issue, Idris admitted that the ministry faced an imbalance between existing teacher posts at state level and the number of applicants who wanted to teach in their state of origin.

Taking the example of Kelantan, he said there were only 24,800 teacher posts in the state but the teachers originating Kelantan were more than 53,000 while in Kedah, there were 29,809 posts while teachers originating from that state was 40,298.

Idris said the ministry would also improve the Caring Teacher programme, where teachers would take problematic students as their adopted children as an effort to curb social ills among school students.

On another matter, he said there were 82,710 foreign students in the country and this showed local higher institutions of learning were of quality.

He said Malaysia was placed ninth among countries with the highest number of foreign students in the world.

- Bernama

Sacrificial ritual begs respect

The issue is not that the non-Muslims are against the practice of Hari Raya Korban; the problem is when discretion is thrown out of the window in the excitement over the korban.

COMMENT by Jeswan Kaur


We are a nation divided, mostly owing to the unscrupulous politicians and bigots who never tire of instigating Malaysians of different faiths.

With the country now split between ‘what’s right’ and ‘what’s wrong’, harmony and unity between the people have become endangered, making it impossible to bridge the racial gap that threatens to drown Malaysia’s cherished asset – her diversity.

While the nation suffers an ‘identity crisis’ due to the never-ending racial slurs and ‘misrepresentation’, chaos over respect for the respective faiths continues to reverberate.

Barely two weeks after the Court of Appeal dismissed the Catholic Church’s fight over the use of the word ‘Allah’ in its weekly publication, a new racial row has erupted.

This time, the issue revolves around the Hari Raya Korban/Hari Raya Aidiladha/ Hari Raya Haji slaughtering of cows, a practice which in this country is done in full view of the public, in any space available.

To say that the ‘open air’ ritual leaves many people aghast is an understatement. The situation is made worse when the television stations showcase the slaughtering process time and again.

This year’s Hari Raya Korban turned controversial when several non-Muslim parents took umbrage over the slaughtering of cows in schools in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur.

The parents complained that sacrificing cattle in schools was an insensitive move and inappropriate to schoolchildren.

This well-meaning concern however did not sit well with the Malay zealots of this country, who then raised the issue of the Hindus’s carrying the kavadi openly during the Thaipusam festival.

Unlike the killing of cows, the kavadis or decorated carriers are not brandished just about any place the devotee pleases. Still, attacking one another’s faiths and demeaning cultures simply to prove a point leaves the country in a very vulnerable position.

Scary revelations

When Deputy Education Minister (II) P Kamalanathan said the Education Ministry has never allowed the slaughter of cows in schools, why did the truth upset Malay supremacist group Perkasa?

Perkasa Youth chief Irwan Fahmi Ideris via his blog unleashed his anger and launched a personal attack on Kamalanathan.

“The parliamentarian P Kamalanathan’s statement that the korban ceremony cannot be carried out in schools is an act that insults the Malays and all Muslims,” Irwan wrote.

It is worrying to note the myopic approach groups like Perkasa continue to use in defending Islam and Malays.

How is stating a fact downgrading the country’s official religion or hurting the sensitivities of Muslims?

Going by the conundrum that as erupted as a result of the cow-slaughtering in school, it brings to light some very frightening revelations:

Does a dominant race have the exclusivity to do as they please, wherever and whenever, even if there is no authorisation to do so?

Why was the deputy education minister’s statement viewed as a threat by defenders of the Islam like Perkasa, to the point that it threatened to turn the tables against Kamalanathan in the 14th general election?

Was butchering cows in places of learning a ‘wholesome’ affair?

Did Perkasa forget about the sentiments of the young non-Malay pupils who would have been terrified watching the butchering of these animals?

Sacrificial ritual begs respect

Muslims take the Hari Raya Korban very seriously; and they should, going by the message that the day brings.

But what is both an irony and a paradox is that this very act of remembering the willingness of prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his young first-born son Ismail as an act of submission to Allah’s command and the young boy’s acceptance to being sacrificed is now being turned into a ‘temasya’ or a state sanctioned ‘fun fair’ with tents pitched at the least decent of places to carry out the slaughterings.

The issue is not that the non-Muslims are against the practice of Hari Raya Korban; the problem is when discretion is thrown out of the window in the excitement over the korban (sacrifice).

To justify putting the cows down on school grounds as a way of educating Muslim students as was done by a BN MP was the worst insult to a sane person’s intelligence.

Shabudin Yahaya (BN-Tasek Gelugor) desperately tried to outdo Kamalanathan and portrayed the slaughter as a practical lesson for the Islamic Studies subject.

“The cow slaughtering is not a regular slaughter, it is part of the (school’s) subject and korban is in the Islamic studies subject taught in schools as part of Fiqh (jurisprudence).

“It is a practical lessons on how to properly conduct a slaughter and it should be done,” said Shabudin.

In this regard, does Jakim or the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia not have any ‘enlightening’ words to share?

Trying to take digs at the other races is not going to soothe the country’s fuming racial fires. Nor is scaring children through the butchering of cows in broad daylight going to make them empathise with what Hari Raya Korban is all about.

Jeswan Kaur is a freelance writer and a FMT columnist.

'For the sake of Islam, stop helping other religions'

NGO Ikatan Musliman Malaysia (Isma) has accused the government of promoting other religions for the sake of drawing more tourists into the country and undermining its Islamic credentials overseas as well.

In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and the ministers for tourism and housing and local government, Isma president Abdullah Zaik Abdul Rahman said he was irked by the prominence given to Hindu temples recently.

This went against the federal constitution, which upholds Islam as the official religion of the country, Zaik (left) said.

"The government must be careful about making temples a tourism draw because it will make Muslim tourists cringe, particularly those form Middle East, who look up to Malaysia as a modern Islamic country," he added in a statement.

Zaik was referred to the Sri Sundararaja Perumal Temple in Klang, which is being renovated with RM10 million budget so that it can be an icon and a tourism draw.

"The prime minister has vowed to uphold the laws and to promote Islam... Therefore, the aim to build holy houses of other religions beyond the need, for the sake of tourism draw, violates that promise," he said.

In a veiled threat, Zaik said that the Najib administration must be mindful of maintaining religious harmony in all its actions.

Isma then went on to urge the government to take urgent action before Malaysia's esteemed reputation overseas as a model Islamic country is ruined.

Is not Islam being shamed?

By KJ John

As Christians, we often say, “do not follow other Christians”, just learn to follow Jesus Christ; which is the reason we are called Christian. In the book, ‘The Knights Templar & the Protestant Reformation’, it states that when Stanley Jones, a missionary, met Mahatma Gandhi he asked him:

Mr Gandhi, though you quote the words of Christ often, why is that you appear to so adamantly reject becoming his follower?

Gandhi replied: Oh, I don't reject Christ. I love Christ. It's just that so many of you Christians are so unlike Christ.

Are we un-Islamic?
I am purposely and consciously reflecting on this issue through this question. It can be quite misunderstood as “me questioning the very essence of Islamic thought and life”. I do not mean to do that, but to really ask my good friends and neighbours to answer some questions I really cannot understand about Muslims in general and the practice of their faith; from my “outsider’s” point of view.

When a school principal decides to “slaughter a cow within the school compound” is that really promoting the cause of Islam or that of Malays?  How can then so many other extremists argue for it, when even the minister has gently said this is very insensitive?  I think it not just insensitive, but downright wrong! Why? I write as a Bangsa Malaysian!

What is purpose of a school?

What is the underlying and foundational purpose of any school? It would be to educate, inform, and help students mature to become good citizens, over a period of 12 years of foundational education. Now, what I do not understand is how “the slaughter of a cow has anything to do with any of this education and learning one is talking about?” Does the new Education Blueprint promote that?
Surely cow-slaughtering cannot be a subject or the content or curriculum for any national-type school; either primary or secondary. It cannot even be content for Moral or Religious Studies (for Islam), so why is the school practising such “unconventional ways of teaching and learning?” Or, is the principal being a zealot, like so many others who appear so irrational in their actions.
My only conclusion is that the school principal is not fit to be one. It is the similar to the other school principal who decided that a child eating in the school bathroom or toilet is not wrong. I would say reconsider for we have teaching in a Malay proverb, “that we cannot eat and pass motion in the same place?”

The corrupt cow business

The formal and proper slaughter of cows for meat is a thriving industry in many countries.  No Hindu objects to this process; even if within their faith the cow is considered a sacred animal. In fact, I understand that for any formal certification and accreditation process in this cow business, we send approved and authorised religious inspectors for verification, certification and accreditation of the process before we deem it ‘halal,’ or kosher.

But, from the time of the cow-head demonstration at the Shah Alam state secretariat, we moved into the corrupt and abusive cow investments by the federal government (also called ‘cowgate’). 
Now, I think the “animal abuse of cows has become endemic”. At the very least, this has happened in terms of ‘the reputation of cows’ in Malaysia. I do not pretend to be an animal lover either, but I think we need to get some cow sense into our thoughts, behaviour and speech.

Islam a revealed religion

Islam is a revealed religion. Muslims believe that Islam is last of the three revealed religions from the same roots of Father Abraham; with Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Muslims scholars and leaders worldwide, after the 9/11 fiasco, issued a statement called the ‘Common Word.’ It was an invite by 138 leading Islamic scholars, thinkers, and teachers to the world’s Christian leadership of all persuasions arguing for the common grounds of faith, thought, and deed. That word was: To love God, and neighbour”.

Arising from this proposition and then acceptance, many of these leaders of various schools of thought on both sides of the 9/11 divide signed what is now popularly called The Common Word.
Building Bridges

In 2007 Abdullah Ahmad Badawi withdrew at the last minute from the Building Bridges initiative of the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury designed to be hosted in Kuala Lumpur.

Idris Jala, the Minister in charge of Performance Management of Government-related agencies, once when invited to our National Congress on Integrity in 2009, gave his simple strategy for bridge-building and nation-growing. “It takes more than toleration,” he said. “One must move from toleration, towards acceptance of the other, and then towards the appreciation and celebration of the other.”

His three-step strategy for bridge-building is worth copying and modulating. We cannot teach toleration in schools to only mean that Islam is the only important religion; all other religions are therefore not considered important in schools. Instead, why not explain to all concerned the same reason why one need not slaughter either pigs or cows in schools; it is not a curricular priority.
Only when such rational acceptance is communicated and moderated, can we expect there to be mutual respect which will finally lead to begin our ability to celebrate with others of a different faith system.

Otherwise, whether we call it Raya Korban or Festival of Lights, light cannot be shed on ignorance and people will continue to live under the weight of their own ignorance; but not education. This is especially so when the ignorant ones in society speak up more than others do. We then run into the problem of the squeaky wheel; it is only that wheel which is oiled and fuelled to accelerate faster!
Way forward

Schools must become the domain and space for multiethnic collaboration and celebration; or, at least the space to understand how to tolerate, respect and honour others, and then to celebrate with others.
All religious systems preach consistency between thoughts, words, and deeds. This is also called integrity of life and living. Whither Malaysia without such integrity?

---

KJ JOHN was in public service for 29 years. The views expressed here are his personal views and not those of any institution he is involved with. He will be taking a two-month break from writing with Malaysiakini and return, hopefully, in the new year. Write to him at kjjohn@ohmsi.net with any feedback or views. 

Ritual slaughter not to be questioned by non-Muslims, says Muslim NGO

Non-Muslims should not question the ritual slaughter of cattle on school grounds for Aidiladha if they do not understand the teachings of Islam, a Muslim non-governmental organisation (NGO) said.

People of other faiths were “unqualified" to question the slaughter ritual (“korban”), said Pertubuhan Kebajikan dan Dakwah Islamiyah SeMalaysia (Pekida) president Jamaludin Yusof.

"They do not understand the teachings of Islam so (they) should not question (the ritual).

"The ritual is not carried out daily and is only for the Aidiladha celebrations. The ritual is a part of our beliefs," he told The Malaysian Insider today.

The slaughter of cows, which are considered sacred to Hindus and Buddhists, at SK Puchong Jaya in Selangor for Aidiladha earlier this month caused an outrage among non-Muslim communities who considered the act insensitive as it was carried out in a public school.

While Jamaludin said people should respect each other, he criticised those who raised the issue "on purpose" and reminded them that Islam was the official religion of the country, which should be respected and not questioned.

He said everyone should observe tolerance regardless of race, citing the example of how Muslims did not question rituals of other religions like the smashing of coconuts in the middle of the road, which was the practise during the Hindu festival of Thaipusam.

He also said Muslims should handle the slaughter issue calmly and resolve it amicably without provocation.

"We must take care of the sensitivities in this so that the matter does not escalate," he said

The issue has attracted various comments from politicians, Muslim leaders and NGOs.

When Deputy Education Minister II P Kamalanathan said the slaughter of cows was never permitted in schools and termed what happened as an oversight, he was lambasted by Malay NGO Perkasa. Kamalanathan was even told to bring up his unhappiness with the Council of Rulers.

Perlis mufti Dr Juanda Jaya has said the matter should not be turned into an issue as the people should continue to practise religious tolerance.

Education Minister II Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh, meanwhile, said the ritual should be allowed to be conducted in Muslim-majority schools.

In a posting on his Facebook page, Idris said the ministry would not stop the ritual from being carried out in schools but added that all programmes should take into account the sensitivities of the various races and conducted with mutual respect.

Meanwhile, Tasek Gelugor MP Shabudin Yahaya said yesterday that the ritual was "educational" and "practical".

"The act was not carried out in front of non-Muslim students and they were not involved nor invited to attend such events.

"The slaughter of cows is not a regular affair. It is part of the subject and 'korban' is in the Islamic studies subject that is being taught in schools as part of the Islamic faith,” he said in Parliament.

"It is also practical as it teaches the correct ways of slaughter and what should be done. As such, people should not be overly upset over it," he said. - October 30, 2013.

Kamalanathan, stay resolute and stand your ground

YOURSAY 'Don't be cowed by Ibrahim Ali. Everybody cares for their children and will never want them to be bigots like Ibrahim.'

Take it up with the sultans, Perkasa tells Kamalanathan

Faz: Perkasa, being the extension of Umno Baru, behaves just like Umno Baru but more. Its basic tenets are Malays, Islam and sultan/raja. Its shadow-plays will always be related to all or any one of the above tenets.

Never mind about cleanliness, the suitability of the location as temporary abattoir and the more important ‘Halalan Thoi'iban' (halal, suci dan bersih). Muslims should be thinking of providing better facilities at mosques and surau to facilitate these Korbans.

This is the 21st century and Muslims should be addressing these issues in line with modern practice. What our past generation did was to utilise what was available then. Surely, we Muslims have come a long way since then.

RR: Deputy Education Minister II P Kamalanathan's statement is a rational one. Schools are not slaughtering houses. Children of any race cannot stand to see the pain and struggle of an animal being killed.

Since it is a ritual, do it in a place of worship. It is as simple as that. This should be the decision of the 1Malaysia and the schools be advised accordingly. Why drag the sultans into this simple matter?

Let us be reasonable and rational, and maintain peace and harmony in this nation.

Worried Sick: Kamalanathan, stand firm! Don't be cowed by Ibrahim Ali. I can assure you that 99.99% of our Malay and Muslim brothers do not want schools to be turned into slaughter houses.

Everybody cares for their children and will never want them to be bigots like Ibrahim. If you feel that you cannot get the support of your minister or the PM, then the honourable thing for you to do is to tender your resignation. Everyone will respect you for that.

It is time for you to be a man. Do not be like KTK (former Gerakan chief Koh Tsu Koon). See what happened to him.

Be like MIC leader S Sothinathan and please do not go hand-kissing again. If you act like a deputy minister following all rules and laws, the people will be behind you and not behind those who slaughter cows among school kids. I wish you well.

Anonymous #039163649: I appeal to the Chinese not to be a ‘batu api' (instigators) between Hindus and Muslims by making a big issue of this matter.

Many Hindu parents I talked to, said cow slaughtering in schools was no big deal as long as their children were not forced to attend and watch.

Also there are Umno instigators who are pretending to be the Hindus and making an issue out of this so that it can claim that Islam is under siege and Umno is the sole protector and so vote for Umno.

I suspect many attacks on Islam are made by these instigators who want to make Muslims feel insecure.

Hplooi: This is as stark as you can get. Ibrahim Ali and his gang control the government, both inside and outside. Mr 'Chinese-Tsunami' CEO of Malaysia is deathly (or elegantly) silent, which means the power behind the scene is now the extreme right-wing.

Note that key policy posts (Home, Defence Ministry) are held by key elements of the extreme right-wing. This extreme right-wing is now flexing its muscles by pushing the limits of tolerance. e.g. korban in school has never been the norm but is now peddled by the extreme right-wing as the norm.

The message is not for us but the common rural constituent who will tend to believe such stories. Therein the danger. Malaysia, as a nation originally conceived, is now being slowly destroyed.

What say you MCA, Gerakan, MIC? This is not about partisan politics but about the very future of our next generation.

People Power: Nobody is asking the Muslim to stop this religious ritual. Just don't do it in schools. Is that too hard to understand?

If so, restrict cow slaughter to religious schools

YOURSAY ‘Non-Muslims are not against Islamic rituals. Muslims are requested to carry out their rituals of slaughtering, etc, in mosques and sekolah agama.'

Cow slaughter part of school education, says MP

Ratbatblue: This type of religious ritual (the slaughtering of cows), if it were needed to be taught to young students of a particular race, should be conducted in a place specially meant for the students of that religion, for example, in a religious school or place of worship, etc.

In a multiracial and multicultural country like Malaysia, especially knowing that this could be offensive to certain sections of the population, this action clearly harks upon an arrogant disregard for one's fellow citizens.

This blatant disregard for others is becoming very commonplace of late, especially when considering matters which are of importance to those minority communities.

This slaughter of animals in government schools was not heard of until recent times, or at least not common until now. Again, this is another in-your-face show of who is in charge now or ‘like it or lump it'.

As usual, the elected representatives of the minorities have taken a holiday or have offered token objections for fear of offending their "big brother". Not a good sign at all.

RR: First of all, the non-Muslims are not against Islamic rituals. Muslims are requested to carry out their rituals of slaughtering, etc, in mosques and sekolah agama. There are plenty of them in the country to teach Muslim students about the ritual of slaughtering of animals. Period.

Why slaughter the animals in national schools where non-Muslims are present? Najib Abdul Razak, the prime minister, boasts in international forums that Malaysia is a moderate Islamic nation, but in reality, it is mere lip service to hoodwink the world.

He has no audacity to advice his right-wing fanatics to be moderate and be sensitive to other races. And the non-Muslim ministers in cabinet are impotent to say the right thing for fear of losing their jobs.

Kamaapo: Many of us coming from national primary and secondary schools had never heard of ‘korban' in government schools in our time. Why now?

It looks like it's another callous act premised on 'ketuanan' (supremacy) concept. Or is just another of many endless attempts to create racial tension so as to win as much Malay support away from PAS and PKR as possible?
Tasek Gelugor MP Shabudin Yahaya, going by your argument, my humble counter argument is this - from now onwards, can circumcision and other Islamic holy practices also be conducted in schools as part of fiqh?

Issues should not be resolved from the angle of brute majority and sheer power. They need compassion and empathy. If korban is carried out in agama schools, no problem, sir.

Apapunboleh: We might as well invite the hangman to hang a death row convict in the school compound and consider it an education to school children to be good citizens.

How silly can Umno politicians be to come up with pathetic excuse to justify the ‘korban'? Do it within the mosque compound and no one will question it.

FairpersonL: Dear Shabudin, I am also a product of national school. Since when has this become a part of the education system in Malaysia? One can be dumb, but not to this extent.

Swipenter: How about introducing ‘tiger shows' as practical lessons in schools to complement the teaching of human reproduction in biology and sex education classes? Forget about the bird-and-bee lessons; they are too boring and of no practical use to our students.

Peacemaker: Was it a crucial part of the syllabus? If yes, why was the slaughter not done in other schools nationwide? Who paid for the cows? Could this have been done using school funds?

Can school properties be given away as ‘korban' meat? Could the teachers not have just shown the students a film of the slaughtering without giving tender minds a ‘bloody' experience?

Doc: If slaughtering cows is part of education for Muslim in schools then how come there are no slaughtering of cows conducted in religious schools? Care to elaborate Shabudin?

Old Timer: If slaughtering a cow is part of education, why not take the students to the abattoir? Why should others have to watch a cow being slaughtered?

Is Malaysia a democratic country or not? You are just not sensitive to the feelings of others, while expecting others to be sensitive to your feelings.

Retnam: Why not build abattoirs with all sanitary facilities in schools? After all, Umno cronies can take the contract.

MockingYou: Wait a minute, who is that idiotic Tasik Gelugor MP to talk about national education when the education minister is silent?

P Dev Anand Pillai: I wonder what the non-Malay and non-Muslim members of Umno-BN - MCA, Gerakan, MIC and PPP - have to say about this?

Not Confused: So students should be intimately aware of how to slaughter animals the Islamic way? Pray what use is this practical knowledge going to be to them when they graduate and make their way in business life?
This job is best left to the professionals in a hygienic abattoir, rather than the school compound.

CiViC: Clearly Shabudin wasn't even educated enough to make an intelligent remark. If it was for Islamic Studies, it should have been done during Islamic Studies period, in an Islamic school, as well as declared and announced before the ceremony.

Who is he trying to kid? Or what is he trying to score other than stupidity?

Schools are not abattoirs

The appropriate place to slaughter animals for food is within the walls of the abattoir. That is what abattoirs are built for.
COMMENT

By Kua Kia Soong

Any educationist must wonder if the news and images of the slaughter of cattle at a national school ever reached the consultants from McKinsey who wrote Malaysia’s Education Blueprint 2013-2025.

As usual, there is a wide disconnect between the visionary pronouncements in the blueprint and the actual reality on the ground which makes us wonder if the RM20 million paid to the foreign consultant was money well spent.

Quite apart from the question of sensitivity to Hindus and Buddhists in slaughtering cattle in the school compound, within sight of schoolchildren, the larger issue of educational values seems to have been lost on the Education Ministry.

The education system is intended to prepare every student to rise to the challenges they will face in adult life, to resolve conflicts peacefully, to employ sound judgment during critical moments, and to have the courage to do what is right.

The emphasis in schools should therefore be on establishing a set of strong shared values held in common by all Malaysians:

▪ to be strong in one’s beliefs as a foundation for living well and to espouse high moral standards;

▪ to possess the courage, the discipline, and the will to do the right thing; and

▪ to act for the good of the entire nation, to care for others, animals and the environment around them.

Research evidence accumulated over the years has shown that exposure to violence on television and in video games increases the risk of violent behaviour on the viewer’s part, just as growing up in an environment filled with real violence increases the risk of children acting in the same violent ways.

Children are indeed fast learners and they learn most from how we behave rather than what we say. Any parent/ educationist can vouch for that.

Humane education has been widely recognised as an essential part of childhood education. By reaching children early in life, and focusing on instilling respect and compassion for animals, the goal is to stop potential abusers before they start.

The problem in this country is that educationists have been rendered superfluous or effete by religion-wielding politicians.

What is clearly an educational issue has been twisted into a question of religious prerogative!

Teach our children to care for animals

If a child learns to care for animals and treat them with kindness, chances are they will transfer their experience to humans and foster a sense of empathy, understanding and respect for both their peers and adults.

This is an area where the Education Ministry can work with the Home Ministry to try and create a more caring society and in so doing, reduce crime.

Don’t all religions teach the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you?”

Young children naturally identify with animals, and interactions with animals will teach children how to behave toward other people. Teaching schoolchildren to respect and protect defenceless animals is eminently more effective than “Rage against Bullies” campaigns.

It helps them learn to value one another—and it prevents violence.

According to published reports, in every highly publicised school shooting in the west, there has been one commonality, namely, all the young killers abused or killed animals before turning on their classmates.

According to crime statistics profilers, psychiatric documentation, law-enforcement officials, and child advocacy organisations, many of those who direct violence toward humans have a record of having hurt animals.

Cruelty to animals is considered one of the symptoms that predict the development of a psychopath.

Teaching kindness and respect for animals is the first step in teaching children empathy. Adults and educationists have the responsibility to teach schoolchildren empathy and lead by example through caring activities and language.

Our primary education in the fifties and sixties used to include “Nature Study” and schools would have a “Pets Corner” to nurture love for all living things. This seems to have been displaced by the obsession with Math & Science in the new Education Blueprint.

To conclude, the appropriate place to slaughter animals for food is within the walls of the abattoir. That is what abattoirs are built for.

On the other hand, the modern humanistic school is the hallowed ground where schoolchildren learn to nurture loving kindness towards all living things.

Dr Kua Kia Soong is the former principal of New Era College.

Cow slaughter part of school education, says MP

PARLIAMENT A BN MP has claimed that the slaughtering of cows on school grounds was in fact part of the education of Muslim students in school.

Shabudin Yahaya (BN-Tasek Gelugor - left) described the slaughter as a practical lesson for the Islamic Studies subject when interjecting to M Kulasegaran (DAP-Ipoh Barat) during the budget debate in Parliament.

“The cow slaughtering is not a regular slaughter, it is part of the (school’s) subject and korban is in the Islamic studies subject taught in schools as part of Fiqh (jurisprudence).

“It is a practical to lessons on how to proper conduct a slaughter and it should be done,” said Shabudin.
Shabudin added that there was no intention to offend Hindus, and the Muslim community had similarly been tolerant with processions by the Indian and Chinese communities.

Earlier, Kulasegaran (right) had complained about the slaughtering of cows on school grounds during the Aidiladha celebration which he said hurt the sensitivities of Hindu who deem the creature sacred.

“Is it (school) an abattoir? Is it even licensed to do it (slaughter)?” he said.

Such religiously insensitive activities in national schools, Kulasegaran added, did not help in attracting multiracial students.

“Ninety three percent of Chinese send their children to Chinese schools and more than 60 percent of Indians send their children to Tamil schools,” he said.

On a separate matter, Kulasegaran urged the government to drop all charges against Komas programme director Lena Hendry over the screening of the film ‘No Fire Zone’.

Lena was charged under the Film Censorship Act 2012 for organising the film’s screening which talks about the Sri Lankan government’s alleged abuses against the Tamil community.

‘MPs also guilty?’

“On the morning of that screening, it was also shown to MPs in Parliament. If the film’s screening is wrong, then the screening in Parliament would have also been illegal. Why was there no action?

“Are MPs above the law? No! So the government should drop all charges against Lena Hendry,” he said.

He added that the government should not be cowed by pressure from the Sri Lankan embassy.

Kulasegaran also chastised Persatuan Hindraf Malaysia over the lack of its proposals in the recent Budget 2014.

“This is the only place in the world where (Persatuan Hindraf Malaysia leader) P Waythamoorthy (left) can go on a hunger strike and end up as a deputy minister.”

Prior to the general election, the movement had thrown its support behind BN after the coalition agreed to implement its blueprint on uplifting the Indian poor.

Waythamoorthy was appointed as a deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department after the election.

Korban in schools - ministers contradict each other

Second Education Minister Idris Jusoh said the ministry will not prohibit the religious slaughtering of cattle or other animals in schools for korban (ritual sacrifice).

However, Idris (left) who is also the Besut MP, said any programme the school organises should take into consideration the sensitivity of the other races.

"We must respect others if such programme is to be implemented," he says in a Facebook posting.

Idris' statement contrasts with that of Deputy Education Minister II P Kamalanathan, who last week said the religious sacrifice of cattle is not allowed.

"Actually that act is not permitted. We have already investigated the matter. The problem arose because the district education department was not informed," the deputy minister was quoted as saying.

"If they had informed the district education office, they would have been advised to carry it out at a nearby surau," Kamalanathan reportedly said.

Idris and Kamalanathan (right) were responding to the outcry by the non-Muslim community over the ritual sacrificing of animals, including cattle, at SK Puchong Jaya in Selangor earlier this month for Hari Raya Haji.

It was also reported that Kamalanathan's comment on the matter has been attacked by Malay right-wing group Perkasa, with its Youth chief Irwan Fahmi Ideris describing the deputy minister's statement as an insult to Malays and Muslims.

Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali also criticised the deputy minister for interfering in a religious matter and asked Kamalanathan to take the issue up with the Conference of Rulers.

Take it up with the sultans, Perkasa tells Kamalanathan

Perkasa has told Deputy Education Minister II P Kamalanathan to take it up with the sultans if he is insistent against allowing cow slaughtering in school grounds.

Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali said this was because such practices were part of Malay Muslim culture and is under the purview of the conference of rulers.

“We hope MIC leaders will not be too influenced by sentiments to allow such matters to drag on and affect harmony.

“It would be best if Kamalanathan raises this with the conference of rulers and head of state who are also head of religion,” he told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon.
Hindu parents had complained of the slaughtering during the Aidiladha celebration last week. Cows are deemed sacred by Hindus.

‘Don’t interfere in religious matters’

Ibrahim said the slaughtering of cows in schools was a tradition among the Malay populace and should not be made an issue among the Hindu community.

“This is not something new, so I ask the Indian community not to make it into a big issue.

“If the Indians don’t want their religious affairs or sensitive issues to be interfered with, then don’t touch on sensitive issues of Muslims,” he said.

On another matter, Ibrahim announced that Perkasa will be holding its 4th annual conference on Dec 14 this year.

“We will be amending our constitution so that our party hierarchy can extend until the parliamentary level. At the moment our presence is only up to the district level,” he said.