Conversion Bill: DAP offers help to BN

DAP chairman Karpal Singh says DAP is willing to provide BN with the two thirds majority needed to end the row over unilateral conversion of minors.

KUALA LUMPUR: In a rare moment of unity, DAP chairman Karpal Singh today offered Barisan Nasional each DAP MP’s support to amend Article 12(4) of the Federal Constitution which relates to the religious conversion of minors.

Article 12(4) of the Federal Constitution states: “…the religion of a person under the age of eighteen years shall be decided by his parent or guardian”.

The Bukit Gelugor MP suggested today that an amendment could be made whereby the word “parent” was followed with “deemed to be both parents if both parents are alive”.

The amendment, he argued, would bring an end to the row over the Administration of the Religion of Islam (Federal Territories) Bill 2013 which, if passed, could allow a sole parent to convert children below 18 to Islam.

“The DAP will, in the public interest, provide the necessary support. It has 38 members of Parliament, nearly thrice the number the BN needs to secure a two-thirds majority,” Karpal said at a press conference in the Parliament lobby today.

“In the interests of humanity, such an amendment should secure the support of all members of Parliament on either side of the divide.”

The veteran politician said that if the Constitution remained unchanged, it was unlikely that Parliament would be able to stop the Bill from being bulldozed through.

He noted a court ruling in 2004 and 2007 which stated that use of the singular word “parent” in the constitution referred to the consent of a single parent, and was enough to validate the conversion of a minor to Islam.

“The decision of the Federal Court, the highest court in the land, would appear to tie the hands of Parliament,” Karpal said.

“Such an amendment would remove, once and for all, any doubt as to the intention of the framers of the Constitution who must have had such an objective in mind in the inclusion of Article 12(4) in that sacred document,” he said.

The controversial Bill has received flak from the public, Cabinet members and BN and Pakatan leaders alike for being “unfair” and “detrimental” to non-Muslims.

Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has acknowledged there were “issues” with the Bill, but defended it as a reflection of the current situation.

He said last Monday the government would take into consideration the public’s views and examine the Bill carefully before an announcement is made by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of Islamic Affairs Jamil Khir Baharom.
- See more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/07/04/conversion-bill-amendment-dap-offers-bn-help/#sthash.sm77wFGm.dpuf

Karpal: Federal Court ruling grammatically wrong

A 2007 Federal Court ruling allowing for unilateral conversion of a child to Islam was “grammatically wrong”, DAP national chairperson Karpal Singh said today.

Karpal, who is also a lawyer, said that the court’s ruling was a wrong interpretation of the word 'parent' under Article 12 (4) of the federal constitution.

He urged the Parliament to “depart” from the Federal Court decision and not be tied down by the ruling because the judiciary “is but an arm of the government”.

The Federal Court decision on Dec 27 2007 ruled that a single parent was enough to convert a child to Islam based on the word 'parent' that appeared in the federal constitution.

The court ruled in favour of a Hindu father who had converted his underage child to Islam, holding in essence that the constitution rendered the consent of a single parent enough to validate the conversion of a minor to Islam.

However, Karpal said that the word 'parent', in its essence, should refer to both the mother and father and should not refer to one parent alone.

"Parent should mean both the mother and father," he said during a press conference at Parliament lobby today.

He stressed that there was no need to add a 's' at the back of the word 'parent' in order to make it plural, that the current provision of the the word 'parent' was written with the intention of referring to both parents.

"There is no need. The current provision is right. The interpretation by the Federal Court is wrong," he said.

He said that grammatically, the word parent should mean both parents "if they are alive".

"Any other interpretation would lead to a manifestation of injustice," he said.

"Islam should be not allowed to be used in the perpetration of injustice," he added.

NGOs condemn disruption of movie screening

They claim violation of rights by KDN and police who tried to stop the showing of a documentary on the Sri Lanka civil war.
VIDEO INSIDE

KUALA LUMPUR: Several human rights groups have condemned the Home Ministry (KDN) and the police for disrupting a private screening of a documentary film at the Chinese Assembly Hall last night and harassing the organisers and audience.

Representatives of the KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall Civil Right Committee (KLSCH CRC), Komas and Suaram told a press conference today that KDN officials and police barged into the screening room about 30 minutes after the start of the documentary, a British production about the Sri Lanka civil war entitled “No Fire Zone”.

“They came in and told us to stop the screening,” said Komas director Arul Prakash. “We didn’t stop. However, after the show, they insisted on checking the identity cards of all the participants. Why was there a need to ask the audience to produce ICs? It was ridiculous and an intimidation.”

The organisers said the enforcement team, numbering about 30, ordered them to go the Dang Wangi police station and they obeyed, thinking they merely had to get their statements recorded. However, to their surprise, they were informed that they were under arrest, they added.

“We asked the officers if we were being arrested, but at first they said ‘No,’” Prakash said. “We were informed we were under arrest only midway through the interrogation.

KLSCH Civil Committee chairman Liau Kok Fah said his organisation had earlier received a letter from the Sri Lankan embassy asking it not to screen the documentary.

“We received a fax from the embassy and we were accused of supporting terrorism,” Liau said. “They wanted us to stop the show, but why are they interfering in Malaysian NGO matters?

“We invited them to attend the show so we could get their side of story. But they never came.”

Prakash said Komas had told the Sri Lankan government through its embassy to hold a dialogue with the Malaysian public instead of hiding behind the government in Putrajaya in trying to repress free speech.
- See more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/07/04/ngos-condemn-disruption-of-movie-screening/#sthash.6HOlF1F8.dpuf

MIC leader says sorry to two DAP men

Seri Delima assemblyman RSN Rayer and his personal aide, S Sivalingam, have withdrawn their libel suit after Penang MIC youth chief J Dhinagaran apologised in court.

GEORGE TOWN: Penang MIC youth chief J Dhinagaran has apologised in court for making graft allegations against DAP’s Seri Delima assemblyman RSN Rayer and his personal aide, S Sivalingam.

Dhinagaran, who had accused Rayer and his aide of alleged abuse of power and corrupt practice in March, retracted his accusations before Judicial Commissioner Nurmala Salim at the High Court here today.

The MIC leader, who is represented by his counsel M Rueben, also promised not to repeat the allegations.

In his written apology, Dhinagaran said he realised that the allegations had no truth after going through all the relevant documents again.

JC Nurmala ordered both parties to bear their own costs.

On March 20, Rayer and Sivalingam filed libel suits against Dhinagaran for making the allegations that were reported by the Kuala Lumpur Post on March 8 and FMT on March 11.

The duo had sought an apology and special damages from Dhinagaran.

With Dhinagaran’s apology, Rayer and Sivalingam withdrew their suits.

‘Conversion bill signals Umno’s demise’

DAP's Ramakrishnan says it's part of an agenda to punish non-Malay voters.

GEORGE TOWN: A former senator today linked the tabling of the controversial religious conversion Bill to an alleged Umno agenda to punish non-Malays for rejecting Barisan Nasional in the 13th general election.

S Ramakrishnan, an official of Selangor DAP, said in a press statement that Umno was becoming increasingly insensitive to the feelings of non-Malays, especially since the May 5 election.

However, he added, the party’s attempt to whip up chauvinistic sentiments was bound to backfire and would hasten its downfall. The results of the recent election, according to him, could be taken as a sign that Umno’s end was near, for it showed that young and urban Malays were turning their backs on the party.

Ramakrishnan also said the bill to amend the Administration of Islamic Law (Federal Territories) Act, if passed, would scuttle Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s programme to shape the character of Malaysia’s plural society into one that would be deserving of the “Truly Asia” label.

“The Malaysia-is-Truly-Asia image that the country is trying hard to push is the diametric opposite of the increased radicalisation of Umno,” he said. “This is truly worrying.”

The bill, which was tabled last week, includes a clause that allows the mother or father or guardian of a minor to convert him or her to Islam without the consent of the other parent.

Many BN leaders outside Umno have expressed strong objections to the clause, arguing that it was fundamentally unjust as it denied the right of one parent over his or her children.

Ramakrishnan noted that the Federal Cabinet in 2009 had decided that the consent of both parents would be required in the conversion of minors. He asked why the government had now decided to go against that decision.

He also asked the promoters of the Bill to explain why they were going against the opinion of respected Islamic scholars on the question of religious conversion.

He quoted the following statement by Egyptian Grand Mufti Ali Gomaa:

“The essential question before us is: Can a person who is Muslim choose a religion other than Islam? The answer is: ‘Yes, they can’ because the Qur’an says, ‘Unto you your religion, and unto me my religion,’ [Qur'an, 109:6] and ‘Whosoever will, let him believe, and whosoever will, let him disbelieve,’ [Qur'an, 18:29], and, ‘There is no compulsion in religion. The right direction is distinct from error’ [Qur'an, 2:256].”
- See more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/07/04/conversion-bill-signals-umnos-demise/#sthash.8tBgEWNI.dpuf

3 arrested at KL screening of Sri Lankan docu

 

Three organisers of an allegedly unauthorised public screening of a controversial documentary on the Sri Lanka civil war were arrested at the event in Kuala Lumpur last night.

The screening of 'No Fire Zone: In the Killing Fields of Sri Lanka', an investigatory documentary exposing the massacre of Tamils by the government army duing the final weeks of the Sri Lankan Civil War, was jointly organised by two NGOs - Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall's (KLSCAH) civil rights committee and Komas (Pusat Komunikasi Masyarakat).

Some 30 enforcers from the Home Ministry and Immigration Department arrived at the KLSCAH  auditorium some 10 minutes after the screening started.

They demanded the organiser halt the event as the film has yet to be approved by the film censorship board as required under the Film Censorship Act 2002.

They also attempted to confiscate the copy of the film and the computer that was used to screen the documentary.

After a round of negotiations, the enforcers eventually allowed the screening to proceed with the organiser promising to cooperate afterwards.

The enforcers then waited until after the screening and returned to the auditorium demanding to record the Mykad details of some 100 members of the audience, however a lawyer in the audience objected.

The enforcers relented and attempted to bring several organisers back to the home ministry office at Jalan Duta for questioning, but the same lawyer argued that the home ministry officers have no power to make any arrests.

Following a lengthy negotiation, both parties compromised to allow three organisers to be questioned at Dang Wangi police station.

The three were Arul Prakash (above), Lena Hendry and Anna Har from Komas.

During the operation, the enforcers even demanded to bring Malaysiakini chief reporter Abdul Rahim Sabri to the police station but were again stopped by the lawyer.

They relented after going through the journalist's bag.

Highly acclaimed series

According to the organiser, 'No Fire Zone' is the culmination of a three-year investigation that has included two award-winning TV documentaries broadcast on UK's Channel 4 - 'Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields', first screened in June 2011, and 'Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields: War Crimes Unpunished', first screened in March 2012.

The films themselves were built on the pioneering work of Channel 4 News which led the way in telling the world of the crimes committed at the end of the war.

The first two documentaries had a significant global impact and were aired in Parliaments worldwide and in the UN, the latter which commented that the film “was particularly powerful in informing member states of the violations reported to have taken place.”

The team behind the films were later nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 2012.

KLSCAH's civil right committee chairperson Liau Kok Fah (left) later told the media that the Sri Lanka High Commissioner had initially contacted the organiser after the event was publicised, asking them not to screen the film .

However the request was declined.

“We welcomed them to send their officers to attend the screening, because this would be a good platform for them to tell their side of the story.

“His (the commissioner’s) response then was that they might send their men, but now I guess not,” said Liau.

Ibrahim Ali kecewa BN layan DJZ, Hindraf ketepi Perkasa

Raanjhanaa banned in Pakistan. Even a Filmy love between Hindu Boy and Muslim Girl is not allowed in Pakistan.

Pakistan Bans Movie Showing Hindu-Muslim Love Affair. Why should we show our love with Pakistan and Muslims?

Upananda Brahmachari | Hindu Existence News Bureau | 3 July 2013:: Sonam Kapoor, Dhanush’s Raanjhanaa has been banned in Pakistan. The Pakistan Film Censor Board has banned the exhibition of actor Dhanush and actress Sonam Kapoor starrer Raanjhanaa because of its alleged “controversial theme of love affairs between a Muslim girl and Hindu Boy”.

Chief Executive Officer of IMGC Global Entertainment Amjad Rasheed, the importer of Raanjhanaa in Pakistan told that he received a letter from CBFC (The Central Board of Film Censors in Pakistan) with directives to shelve the film’s release. “The letter from CBFC states that the film portrays an inapt image of a Muslim girl [played by Sonam Kapoor] falling in love with a Hindu man and having an affair with him”, as the statement reached to the press.

Earlier the Censor Board had also banned films like ‘Ek Tha Tiger’, ‘GI Joe’, ‘Agent Vinod’ for their controversial themes and “anti-Pakistan” sentiments.

Rasheed said that he received a letter from CBFC with directives to shelve the film’s release.

“The letter from CBFC states that the film portrays an inapt image of a Muslim girl (played by Sonam Kapoor) falling in love with a Hindu man and having an affair with him.”

The Bollywood film’s plot portrays Muslim girl Zoya (Sonam) falling in love with Kundan (Dhanush) and later Jasjeet Singh (Abhey Deol). The film starts with Hindu Brahmin pundit’s son Kundan falling for Zoya at first sight. He follows her to school, after school, in the market — almost everywhere. After getting slapped 16 times by Zoya, Kundan finally gets to know her name, but his hesitation that she will reject him because of his religion leads him to introduce himself as Rizwan. She agrees to meet him behind a temple, but the meeting does not turn out well as Zoya finds out that he’s Hindu.

As the story unfolds, Zoya also develops feelings for Kundan, however, her parents find out about it and send her off to Delhi in order to protect the family’s honour. Later in Delhi, Zoya falls in love with Jasjeet Singh, a student leader who also leads a political party.

Pakistani singer Shiraz Uppal has also lent his voice for the title track of the film, composed by music maestro AR Rahman.

While the persecution upon Hindus and specially upon Hindu Girls are very much high, then such ban upon a film describing the heart of Muslim girl longing for Hindu boy is showing the fundamental attitudes of the Pakistan Govt and its agencies attached in the cultural and public relation affairs. Even, a Filmy love between Hindu Boy and Muslim Girl is not allowed in Pakistan. On the other hand, the Pak administration and agencies are not at all sincere to stop abduction, conversion, forceful marriage, rape and other crimes against Hindu and other minority girls and women in Pakistan.

In India, the Bollywood film industry is now overwhelmed with the series of projected star Muslim Khan progenies only to take care and ??? the Hindu actresses like in silver screen and in real life also. Every body knows the present story of SRK-Gouri, SAK-Kareena, Amir K-Kiran, Imran K-Avatika, Irrfan K-Sutapa, Fradeen K-Natasha, Zayed K- Malaika Parekh, Sohail K- Seema, Arbaz K-Malaika Arora and so on.

The Love Jihadists in Bollywood are very much active for their agenda to grab the industries and the star families with a staunch activation of film making (with the help of ‘D’ Company) by making script of love story between Muslim boy and Hindu girls in film and finally entering a wedlock with a pretty Hindu girl of film, sports or other industrialist world.

But these love jihadists in Indian film industries never contemplate to tie up a relation with any Hindu boys for their sisters or daughters. Nor the victim Hindu girls and women think to arrange marriage for their brothers with Muslim girls.

The sense of liberal attitude in India starts from lending Hindu interest to the Muslim conspirators even in the entertainment world. The reverse is rarely present and we are succumbing a permissiveness at the cost of easy prey to absurd Hindu-Muslim unity through film making and getting blasted by the same jihadists in Mumbai time and again.

We have forgotten a Dilip Kumar who suppressed his Muslim name (Yusuf Khan) to rise in his film career once and all the Muslim actress like Nargis, Waheeda Rehman, Madhubala (Mumtaz Jahan Dehlavi), Mumtaz, Saira Banu, Zeenat Aman, Parveen Babi to fall in the personality and wild attraction of Ashok Kumar, Raj Kapoor, , Pradeep Kumar, Shammi Kapoor, Sunil Dutt, Dev Anand, Manoj Kumar, Dharmendra or Amitabh Bacchan in the row.

The difference between the past and present is not made suddenly. The Pan Islamic terminators entered into Bollywood industries to ran over the Hindu sentiments, if any and to take supreme control of it by spreading a single message of ”Muslims are Mightier than Hindus and Hindu Girls and Women are the subject to the Muslims”, not the reverse. Subtle fundamentalists like Javed Akhtar, Sabana Azmi, Ameer Khan etc. are playing a very dangerous role to promote Islam and Islamic influence in very sphere in life including the film industries. These agents of Allah have the time to collect donations to raise funds for the flood victim of Pakistan. But, have you heard any thing that these maroons are doing something for the 50,000 victims of Kedarnath and Uttarkhand disaster in any manner? Why they should do anything for the Hindu infidels?

In this juncture of banning of the movie Raanjhanaa in Pakistan, we can do at least two things.

1. Hindus must ban all films starring by a Muslim Hero, story in film depicting love story between Muslim boy and Hindu Girl, rejecting products tagging advertisement by Muslim stars here and make awareness about the danger of Love Jihad before Hindu girls and women with top priority. and

2. Stop all relations and business with Pakistan.

Sharjah Shocker: Wife catches hubby on camera giving electric shocks to 12-year-old son

Man arrested, mother and child in safe house

Police in Sharjah have arrested an Asian man on charges of systematically torturing his 12-year-old son with electric shocks.
The man was arrested after he was captured on film by his wife, without his knowledge.

The boy and his mother have been moved to a safe place by the Emirate’s Department of Social Services, which has been directly involved in exposing the father’s cruelty against his family and in his arrest.

The department said it acted after receiving a report from a relative of the family that the father is involved in systematic torture of his son by making him sit in a chair and applying electric wires to his body.

Department officials and police raided the house and arrested the man after seeing a film of the torture taken by his wife.
“At one point, the boy fell off the chair because of the electric shock. The father then forced him to sit again and resumed torturing him,” Emarat Al Youm daily said, quoting Ahmed Al Tartour, Child Protection Director at the department.

He said the father already had “a record of violence” against his family as the Department had received a report before that he was beating up his wife.
“We could not follow up that case as we failed to reach the wife after her husband seized her mobile phone,” he said.

He said the father, whom he did not identify, would be tried according to UAE laws, which provided protection to children and punish those involved in child violence.

Censor Board bans Raanjhanaa in Pakistan

CEO IMGC Global Entertainment says a letter from CBFC states that the film portrays an inapt image of a Muslim girl. PHOTO: PUBLICITY

KARACHI: Bollywood movie Raanjhanaa has been banned by the Central Board of Film Censors in Pakistan shortly before its scheduled release, for its ‘controversial plot’. Previously, the Censor Board also banned films including Ek Tha Tiger, G.I Joe and Agent Vinod for “anti-Pakistan” sentinements.

Chief Executive Officer of IMGC Global Entertainment Amjad Rasheed, the importer of Raanjhanaa, told The Express Tribune that he received a letter from CBFC with directives to shelve the film’s release. “The letter from CBFC states that the film portrays an inapt image of a Muslim girl [played by Sonam Kapoor] falling in love with a Hindu man and having an affair with him.”

Anand L Rai’s Raanjhanaa’s release in Pakistan was scheduled during the last week of June. Pakistani singer Shiraz Uppal has also lent his voice for the title track of the film, composed by AR Rehman.

The Bollywood film’s plot portrays Muslim girl Zoya (Sonam) falling in love with Kundan (Dhanush) and later Jasjeet Singh (Abhey Deol). The film starts with pundit’s Hindu Brahmin son Kundan falling for Zoya at first sight. He follows her to school, after school, in the market — almost everywhere. After getting slapped 16 times by Zoya, Kundan finally gets to know her name, but his hesitation that she will reject him because of his religion leads him to introduce himself as Rizwan. She agrees to meet him behind a temple, but the meeting does not turn out well as Zoya finds out that he’s Hindu.

As the story unfolds, Zoya also develops feelings for Kundan, however, her parents find out about it and send her off to Delhi in order to protect the family’s honour. Later in Delhi, Zoya falls in love with Jasjeet Singh, a student leader who also leads a political party.

Raanjhanaa grossed INR1.31 billion in its second week of release.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 3rd, 2013.

Stay Islam Administration Bill, much to amend

 Honey Tan Lay Ean

The government has just tabled the Administration of the Religion of Islam (Federal Territories) Bill 2013 (the Bill). It is interesting to note that the government did not table a bill to only amend or add in new sections to the existing Administration of Islamic Law (Federal Territories) Act 1993 (the Act).

This Bill, when passed, will totally replace the Act. This means that all clauses of the Bill should and must be looked at to see if it is fair to all sections of Malaysian society: not just among Muslims, between Muslims and non-Muslims, but also between parents and their children.

There are many worrying clauses in the Bill, but I will only address Clause 107 (b) which provides that one parent or guardian of a non-Muslim child may convert her.

Do not be thrown off by people who say that Clause 107 (b) was already there as Section 95 of the Act - so what's the fuss now? The answer is this: we must fuss now because the Bill is tabled with all clauses up for debate so any clause may be amended or withdrawn.

In 1993 when the Act was passed, we were not vigilant. Maybe we thought it was a matter for Muslims, and it will not affect people of other faiths. We know better now after the cases of Shamala, Indira Gandhi and Subashini. Those women and their husbands were Hindus when they were married, and they married under civil law.

Suddenly, their husbands chose to convert to Islam and converted their children without their knowledge or consent. State laws with similar provisions to Clause 107 (b) enabled them to do so.

It is important to note that under the Guardianship of Infants Act which applies to non-Muslims, both parents are equal guardians of their children and have equal parental rights.

However, under Syariah laws in Malaysia, fathers are the guardians of minor children - not the mothers. By converting to Islam and converting their minor children to Islam, S Shamala, Indira Gandhi and R Subashini's husbands effectively took away those women's guardianship of their children.

Many also think that provisions in state laws similar to Clause 107 (b) of the Bill have been confirmed by the Federal Court decision in the Subashini case.

Legal opinions differ on this. What is clear is this: in Subashini's case, the Federal Court was not asked to decide whether conversion by one parent of his minor child to the religion of Islam was constitutional.

The relevant questions posed to the Federal Court in Subashini's case were these:

Question 1: "Whether in an application for an interim injunction a court can make a final determination on issues of law, in particular, where it refers to a question of jurisdiction, as opposed to a consideration of only the existence of a serious issue of law to be determined?" and

Question 2: "If the answer to question number 1 is in the affirmative, then:

"[...] Question 2.4: Is it an abuse of process for a spouse of the Law Reform to unilaterally convert the religion of a minor child of the Law Reform Marriage without the consent of the other parent?"

So whatever the Federal Court said in Subashini's case about one parent being able to convert a child is said in passing (obiter dictum) as it did not relate to the questions posed to it. All that is said in passing was do not bind other judges, and they do not have to follow it.

The net result of Subashini's case is that it is not good authority to say that Syariah law provisions such as Clause 107 (b) of the Bill are constitutional.

Leaving aside all the issues of law, and looking at it from a social justice viewpoint, is this the sort of law we want in Malaysia?

The sort of law that allows a parent to ride roughshod over the wishes of the other parent, and without even waiting for their child to attain the age of majority of 18 years to make up her own mind?

The government repeatedly says that national unity is key to our progress and development. In April 2009, the executive arm of the government (i.e., the cabinet) announced that children should be allowed to remain in the common religion of their parents at the time their parents married.

So once again, we can see that the government did not "kotakan kata": they have failed to keep to their word.

Let us lobby our members of Parliament - they form the legislative arm of government. Let us write, email, text, Facebook and Twitter them.

Tell them that they cannot vote for the Bill without amendments being made, and wider consultation with stakeholders from all over Malaysia.

To all our MPs - BN and Pakatan Rakyat alike, I urge you to be brave!

Do not vote to pass the Bill as it stands. You must do the right thing, especially when the executive has failed us.

‘Revoke controversial clause of Islamic Bill’

The provision under Clause 107B is fundamentally unjust as it denies the rights of one parent, says Senator Paul Low.

PETALING JAYA: Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Paul Low has called for the Administration of Islamic Law (Federal Territories) Act Amendment Bill 2013 to be amended by revoking Clause 107B.

“The provision under Clause 107B is fundamentally unjust as it denies the rights of one parent on the welfare of his or her children, and the children are also denied the protection of their right to receive guidance from both parents as to their well-being,” he said in a statement today.

The Bill which is being tabled at the Dewan Rakyat allows unilateral conversion of the religion of a minor by one parent.

Clause 107B states that a non-Muslim can convert to Islam if he is of sound mind, and if he has not attained the age of 18 years, and the mother or father or guardian consent to the conversion.

Low added that the clause provides an avenue for one parent to conveniently bypass due process of the law to gain custody of the children in the case of a family dispute.

“A responsible society cannot support an unrighteous law. It should uphold social justice,” he said.

Meanwhile, MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek expressed his party’s objection to the tabling of the Bill as it infringes the rights of the non-Muslims.

“The Bill is seen as an infringement of rights of the non-Muslims and although MCA no longer holds position in the Cabinet, we will still ensure the Chinese community’s interest is secured and maintained,” he said.

He however expressed his confidence that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin will consult all Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties because of the strong objection from MCA and MIC, as well as the public.

“I hope that the government will re-look into the Bill and obtain feedback from all relevant parties before making any further decision.

“Public consultation is crucial before deciding on any policies that will affect the nation,” said Chua.

Since the Bill was tabled in Parliament last week, critics have cried foul because it means seeking the consent of either parent instead of both – a move deemed to be unconstitutional and contravening the Cabinet’s prohibition.

Change occurred when Act was gazetted

Meanwhile DAP veteran leader Lim Kit Siang said a minor but far-reaching change had been incorporated into the 1993 Administration of Islamic Law (Federal Territories) Act by the time the Act was gazetted later that year.

Lim said today that when the Act was debated in the House in 1993, Section 95(b) allowed for unilateral conversion of minors to Islam with the dual parental consent.

What was passed by Parliament in May 1993 on Section 95 in “Part IX – Conversion to Islam” stated (English and Bahasa Malaysia):

“95. For the purpose of this Part, a person who is not a Muslim may convert to Islam if he is of sound mind and –

(a) has attained the age of eighteen years; or

(b) if he has not attained the age of eighteen years, his parent or guardian consents to his conversion.”

“95. Bagi maksud Bahagian ini, seseorang yang tidak beragama Islam boleh masuk Islam jika ia sempurna akal dan –

(a) Mencapai umur lapan belas tahun; atau

(b) Jika ia belum mencapai lapan belas tahun, ibu bapa atau penjaga mengizinkan kemasukannya.”

However, when it was gazetted, Lim said there was a minor but far-reaching variation in its Bahasa Malaysia version:

“(b) jika dia belum mencapai umur lapan belas tahun, ibu atau bapa atau penjaganya mengizinkan kemasukannya.”

“There should be a full inquiry as to how such a minor but far-reaching discrepancy could occur between the passage of the bill by Parliament and the gazetting of the Administration of Islamic Law (Federal Territories) Act 1993,” he said in a statement today.
- See more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/07/03/revoke-controversial-clause-of-islamic-bill/#sthash.A5obacOv.dpuf

Bakal ibu merayu mahu keluar dari Islam

Siti Mariana Abdullah atau nama asalnya N Santhi mahu kembali kepada agama Hindu.

SEREMBAN: Seorang bakal ibu Siti Mariana Abdullah, 24, yang akan melahirkan anak sulung dalam tempoh empat bulan lagi, merayu kepada Jabatan Hal Ehwal Agama Islam (JHEAI) Negeri Sembilan agar beliau dibenarkan keluar dari agama Islam.

Nama asal beliau ialah N Santhi ketika beragama Hindu. Beliau menceritakan kronologi di sidang akhbar yang diatur oleh Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (Adun) Senawang, P Gunasekaran (DAP).

Siti Mariana menceritakan bagaimana keretakan dan kerenggangan hubungan antara ibubapa menyebabkan ibubapanya berpisah di mana ibu Siti Mariana telah meninggalkan bapa beliau dan berkahwin dengan seorang lelaki Islam sepuluh tahun lepas.

“Ketika itu saya berumur 14 tahun dan saya dibawa bersama mengikut ibu. Bapa kandung pula patah hati dan selepas lebih kurang dua tahun, bapa kandung saya meninggal dunia.

“Ketika berumur 15 tahun saya diislamkan secara paksa dan tanpa kerelaan hati. Saya hanya bersama ibu dan bapa tiri untuk tempoh yang singkat iaitu lebih kurang dua tahun dan saya kemudiannya keluar rumah meninggalkan ibubapa tersebut.

“Saya mempunyai tujuh adik beradik iaitu empat perempuan dan tiga lelaki termasuk saya. Kesemua adik beradik saya beragama Hindu kecuali saya.

Adat dan budaya

“Setelah mengenali P Praganathan, 38, yang beragama Hindu dan dengan persetujuan pihak keluarga lelaki dan mengikut adat dan kebudayaan Hindu saya berkahwin dengannya lima tahun lepas.

“Saya kemudiannya menjalani kehidupan sepenuhnya sebagai wanita Hindu dengan mengikut tatacara dan kebudayaan Hindu baik dari segi pakaian, sembahyang di kuil Hindu, memasak dan memakan makanan yang tidak halal, mengikat ‘thali’ di leher dan sebagainya seperti wanita Hindu yang lain.

“Suami saya dan keluarga ibubapa mertua saya adalah golongan yang berpegang kuat dalam amalan Hindu dan memiliki kuil sendiri di rumah.

“Saya benar-benar meminati agama Hindu dan ingin meneruskan kehidupan sebagai seorang wanita Hindu dan mengamalkan agama

Hindu secara sukarela dan saya tidak mahu mengamalkan agama Islam yang bukan menjadi pilihan saya.

“Justeru itu saya memohon agar JHEAI mempertimbangkan permohonan pengistiharan keluar dari agama Islam,” kata Siti Mariana.

Siti Mariana juga mendakwa bahawa beliau kini berada dalam keadaan tertekan. Setelah disahkan mengandung, seorang doktor di Klinik Kesihatan Senawang memberitahu anak yang bakal beliau lahirkan nanti akan diambil oleh JHEAI kerana beliau mengamalkan agama Hindu. Suaminya pula memang seorang penganut agama Hindu.

“Malah nama suami saya juga telah dipotong dalam buku ‘Rekod Kesihatan Ibu,” jelas Siti Mariana.

Sementara itu Ahli Parlimen Ipoh Barat, M Kulasegaran yang turut hadir di dalam sidang akhbar itu berkata kerajaan harus tangani masalah ini dengan segera kerana ramai yang mengalami nasib yang serupa seperti dialami oleh Siti Mariana.

“Persetujuan menukar agama perlu mendapat persetujuan kedua-dua ibubapa, barulah ianya pragmatik dan praktikal. Kedua, penukaran agama dalam kes ini membabitkan gadis yang berusia 16 tahun ketika itu.

“Saya sendiri ada kendalikan sekurang-kurangnya lima kes seperti ini di Ipoh,” kata Kulasegaran yang juga merupakan seorang peguam.

Turut hadir ialah tiga Adun DAP, Cha Kee Chin (Bukit Kepayang), Ng Chin Tsai (Temiang) dan J Arulkumar (Nilai).

New Tamil daily MD gets death threat

The managing director of new Tamil daily, which will hit the streets on Aug 1, fears for his life as there are people who do not want him to go ahead with the project.

KUALA LUMPUR: The managing director of a soon-to-be-launched Tamil daily, who has been assaulted twice in the past month, has been receiving death threats every day.

SM Periasamy said he had been receiving phone calls threatening to kill him if he went ahead to launch the daily, Tamil Malar.

“Now I realise that the calls are not due to business rivalry but from people who feel their wrongdoings will be exposed if I launch the newspaper,” he told FMT today.

Periasamy is expected to launch Tamil Malar on Aug 1.

“An Indian man called my house today and told me to stop launching the newspaper or risk being shot dead in a week.

“Since, they know my house telephone number, I believe these people know me well,” he added.

Periasamy formerly served as the general manager in two prominent Tamil newspapers — Malaysian Nanban and Makkal Osai.

He lodged a police report after he was assaulted last month.

“I have lodged more than five police reports on the death threats so far. But, until today there is no action from the police,” he said, adding that he was also concerned over the safety of his family members.

Periasamy is well known in the Tamil newspaper industry. He began his career with Tamil Osai in 1988. From there he moved to Malaysian Nanban before joining Makkal Osai in 2005.

He was sacked from Makkal Osai last year after an management tussle.
- See more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/07/03/new-tamil-daily-md-gets-death-threat/#sthash.UT83fKuk.dpuf

DAP man warned for linking Umno with Perkasa

State assembly speaker ticked off A Tanasekharan for repeating his accusation that Umno was using Perkasa to incite racial hatred.

GEORGE TOWN: DAP’s A Tanasekharan was given a final warning by the state assembly for linking Perkasa with Umno.

The Bagan Dalam assemblyman was warned earlier by Speaker Law Choo Kiang not to repeat his accusation that Umno was using Perkasa to hold anti-state government demonstrations and inciting racial hatred.

When Tanasekharan, a lawyer, kept repeating the allegations from a prepared text, Law firmly told him to stop and issued a final warning to him.

Earlier when Tanasekharan made the allegations on Umno–Perkasa link, Umno assemblyman Muhamad Farid Saad (BN–Pulau Betong) interrupted and requested the House Speaker to demand the DAP representative to retract and not to repeat the remarks.

“Umno is Umno, Perkasa is Perkasa. I also can link DAP with so many things.

“I don’t want to do it,” said Farid when making the request to Law.

When Tanasekharan kept repeating the remarks by reading from prepared statement, Farid reminded the DAP representative for breaching the House standing order.

Under the standing order, he said a legislator should not be delivering a speech by looking through a prepared text unless for reference.

Following Farid’s complaint, Law issued the warning to Tanasekharan, who then did not repeat his allegations when debating the speech by Governor Abdul Rahman Abbas.

Earlier this morning, Opposition Leader Jahara Abdul Hamid (BN–Teluk Air Tawar) called on the state government to look into financial difficulties faced by Bumiputeras on property ownership in Penang.

She claimed that compared with other ethnic groups, Bumi households were earning lower monthly income of an average of RM4,457 in 2012.

She claimed that ethnic Chinese earned RM6,300 while Indians earned RM5,230.

She said that Bumiputera ownership of properties was only two percent eventhough they made up nearly 51% of state population.

“It’s the state government’s responsibility to narrow down these differences between Bumiputeras and other ethnic groups,” Jahara said during debate on the Governor’s speech.

She called on the state government to focus on providing affordable housing for Penangites.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the state government initiatives to build affordable houses thus far, she said such schemes must cater to needs, demands and aspirations of the people as well
- See more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/07/03/dap-man-warned-for-linking-umno-with-perkasa/#sthash.WeBhbsn4.dpuf

Animal activist decries inaction on animal cruelty in KK

A badly beaten stray dog while another lies dead on the cargo bed of a truck.

KOTA KINABALU: An animal activist has criticised local authorities for their alleged lackadaisical approach in dealing with stray dogs problem and animal cruetly.

Sam Lau pointed out that Section 428 of the Penal Code stipulates that the killing of a dog, an area that should be of concern to the police, may result in jail of not more than two years or a fine or both; whereas acts of willful cruelty towards dogs or other animals, under the jurisdiction of the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS), may result in heavy fines.

“In KK, however, these provisions seem to hold little sway, with the authorities being slow to act or choosing not to act at all,” he said.

“The tragedy of stray animals is a seemingly never-ending and all pervasive problem – a sight familiar to us all in KK.

“The slaughter and brutal maiming of five stray dogs recently in Country Heights Apartments, Penampang,is a case in point and not a sight residents will easily forget,” Lau said.

He claimed that the management of the housing estate had resorted to clubbing the dogs to death after complaints to the local council fell on dead ears.

He said a member of Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) present ordered the release of the one dog that was still alive, but no measures were taken to prosecute.

The perpetrators, using the developer’s lorry to remove the dogs’ bodies, left the scene unquestioned.

“Where is the voice of authority to speak out for animal rights in Sabah? Evidently it is muffled at best or non-existent in the main.”

Lau said that in a similar incident, a recent Trap Neuter and Release (TNR) initiative by SPCA in Taman Nelly Phase 9, Kolombong ended in tragedy.

“Residents sponsoring the neutering of local strays witnessed a red truck passing through the vicinity and meat being distributed to five neutered-and-released street dogs, two of which died soon after ingesting the meat,” he claimed.

“How, despite laws being in place to criminalize the killing of these animals, can they continue to be treated as rubbish to be disposed of rather than sentient beings with the right to life?”

“Perhaps Sabah can take a page from the book of those championing dogs’ rights to life in Selangor. Following the disastrous incident of an elderly woman’s long-time pet being shot by Ipoh City Council, an ensuing outcry from the public, NGOS and Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association (Petpositive), led to a ban on the shooting of dogs in Ipoh.”

Lau said it is high time for more firm action to be taken against brutalising strays in KK.

“Firstly, the ambiguity surrounding prosecutions under Penal Code 428 must be addressed by the relevant parties and penalties dealt more swiftly.

“Secondly, city authorities in KK would do well to engage in dialogue with animal rights and animal protection groups to discuss ways of improving its management of stray dogs in the city.

“Such efforts would ensure that the animals are not only given a chance to live well but also provide the long-term benefits of companionship to the pet lovers who adopt them.

“The cruel killing of dogs is unacceptable if we wish to live in a truly compassionate and caring Sabah.”

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/07/01/animal-activist-decries-inaction-on-animal-cruelty-in-kk/#ixzz2Y1Ea3iIf

Exciting And Shocking Findings In Maliau Basin Survey

By Emin Madi

LAHAD DATU (Bernama) -- Despite various efforts to monitor encroachment by the relevant authorities, the Maliau Basin Conservation Area (MBCA), dubbed as Sabah's 'Lost World', is still facing threat of environmental and wildlife disturbance as poachers and gaharu (sandalwood) collectors are occasionally intruding into the protected area.

This was the shocking discovery during a ten-day intensive resource and wildlife inventory survey to the pristine rain forest by local researchers, including this writer, recently.

Several members of the survey team not only found hard and fresh evidence of encroachment such as bullet casings, camping sites, hunting and fishing paraphernalia and graffiti on tree trunks but even came into close encounters with a band of suspected poachers or gaharu collectors.

Infact, three suspected poachers even 'registered' their presence by peeping into one of the 132 camera traps set up in scattered places by the survey team to capture wildlife presence in the Class 1 protected forest..

"After we destroyed the suspected poachers' camping site, we were surprised when they suddenly appeared and fearing for our safety, we had to run away," said Sharon Koh from World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF Malaysia), who participated in the field study.

A check with the Maliau Basin Studies Centre, an administrative centre for MBCA, revealed that the poaching and gaharu collectors' activities are mainly confined to the MBCA buffer zone area, which plays a critical role in the protection of the MBCA.

The buffer zone is where most immediate threats to the 58,840-hectare MBCA are addressed in a tactical sense, including blocking the intrusion of hunters, loggers and gaharu collectors from entering the core areas.

Yayasan Sabah rangers with the cooperation of other government agencies, especially the Sabah Wildlife Department have been regularly patrolling the buffer zone as well as MBCA's core areas to check out intruders, while rangers' posts were also set up in several places, including Sungai Kuamut and Lake Linumunsut.

The intensive field survey however produced an impressive listing of mammals and birds, including rare and endangered species living in the untouched wilderness, characterized by diverse assemblage of forest types with complex river systems and dozens of beautiful waterfalls.

The local researchers comprising 137 participants were from Yayasan Sabah, University Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Sabah Wildlife Department, Sabah Parks, WWF Malaysia, Sabah Institute for Development Studies (IDS) and Kinabatangan Orang Utan Conservation Program (HUTAN-KOCP), INIKEA and Sabah Environmental Trust (SET).

The flora and fauna inventory survey, which started on June 14, covered almost the entire conservation area, except the 15,000-ha heritage zone which was set aside for future generations to explore in the next 50 years (no sooner than 2050).

The intensive study confirmed that the protected area, which is slightly larger than Penang island, is home to some of Sabah's most rare and endangered species, including Pigmy Elephants, Orang Utans and Proboscis Monkeys.

Researchers also recorded the presence of other mammals through direct sighting or captured by camera traps such as Clouded Leopards, Malayan Sunbear, Barking Deer, Mousedeers, Banded Palm Civet, Bay Cat, Short-tail Mongoose, Borneon Gibbon, Porcupines, Pangolins and Langur.

The exciting list of birds recorded includes Bulwer's Pheasant, Giant Pitta, Bathawk, Red-Bearded Bee-eater, Borneo Ground Cuckoo, White-fronted Falconet, Crested Fireback, Borneon Bristlehead, Scarlet-rumped Trogon and Borneon Bristlehead.

Alim Biun from Sabah Parks who is also an expert on birds confirmed that all eight living species of Borneon hornbills, including the Helmeted Hornbill, are also found in the 588.4 sq km conservation area.

Augustine Tuuga, the deputy director of Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD), said the survey, headed by the department, was a huge success despite the many evidences of poaching activities.

"These poachers are a real threat to the wildlife population not only at Maliau Basin but to all the state's conservation areas like Danum Valley and Imbak Canyon. These are not only a national heritage but of world interest and we must protect it at all cost," he said.

Sabah Foundation group manager for conservation and environmental conservation, Dr Waidi Sainun, said the survey will provide baseline input about flora and fauna studies, human impact on the area, including rivers and morphology.

"The findings will be documented to help charter the inter-Agency Maliau Basin Management Committee's management plan, while the inventory survey will be a regular affair at five-year intervals.

"This (survey) is intended to be a regular affair, as we want to monitor the situation of the conservation area (including Imbak Canyon and Danum Valley conservation area) every five years.

"Through this effort, we would be able to know the increase or decrease of the wildlife population within the conservation area," he told Bernama.

Waidi, who also participated in this survey, said the field study was supported by INIKEA, a collaboration between Innopprise of Sabah Foundation and Ikea, a Swedish organization involved in environmental projects.

According to Waidi, intensive field surveys on Maliau Basin started in 2000, as part of the preparation of the Maliau Basin Conservation Area Management Plan, and in 2001 the first major expedition reached Linumunsut Lake in the northern part of the basin.

DATUK'S SON RAPE CASE: Thousands offer wreaths at murder scene

The verdict of Chee Gaik Yap's rape-murder case intensified further the agony of the Chee family while sparking widespread public outcry in the society.

People saw the accused being acquitted and walking out of the coutroom a free man as the victim's disheartened father attempted to throw himself out of the window.

The distress has transcended beyond the inflicted family to the entire community. Thousands offered the wreaths at murder scene on own initiatives, pursuing the lost justice at the same time.

The Chee family as well as the rest of us used to have high expectations for the verdict on this case, thinking that justice could be done through the country's impartial judiciary. Unfortunately, a heinous crime now comes to a perfunctory conclusion following the exasperating verdict.

The suspect once went into hiding in Australia to evade investigations and the court ruled that the semen specimen did belong to him.

Why then wasn't the suspect convicted even with the availability of material evidence (the semen)?

And why was he only charged for murder and not rape?

It would deal a severe blow to the country's judiciary as well as justice if the perpetrator was allowed to walk freely owing to some human negligence.

The case reminded me of the OJ Simpson trial plagued by human factors.

The celebrated American football player's ex-wife and boyfriend were murdered with multiple stab wounds and police clues pointed to Simposn as possible killer.

Knowing that he was being hunted by the police, Simpson tried to escape in his car, and a highway chase ensued. The entire process was captured by a TV camera from helicopter.

The intended escape consolidated the assumption of the police and society.

Traces of Simpson's blood were found at the crime scene that matched the DNA analysis. Simpson was not supported by an alibi while statements from several witnesses were all unfavourable to him.

The police were flushing with confidence for a murder conviction with all the evidences they had in hand, especially the blood specimen.

Simpson's vast resources allowed him to hire a good legal team of senior criminal lawyers, law experts and forensic scientists to his defence.

The lawyers were well aware the blood specimen served as the most effective evidence of Simpson's involvement, so they artfully claimed irregularities in the collection, analysis and retention procedures of the specimen, leading to possible inaccuracies in the identification.

They eventually succeeded in overthrowing the reliability of the material evidence, and under the principle of presumption of innocence, charges by the prosecution were overruled and the jury ruled that Simpson was not guilty.

Members of the jury later confessed they believed Simpson was guilty of murder, but thanks to the lapses in the police's evidence-collecting procedures and negligence on the part of the prosecution, they had not been able to convict the suspect.

This case remains very much unsettled to this day, the truth yet to be unearthed and the perpetrator yet to receive his punishment.

The two-decade-old case has become an important case study in the US judiciary that provides a good ground to trace areas of mismanagement, especially in prosecution works.

All that we can hope from Chee Gaik Yap's rape-murder case is that the prosecution would not give up hope and justice could be done some day.

- Sin Chew Daily

Read more: http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=123061%3Adatuks-son-rape-case-thousands-offer-wreaths-at-murder-scene&Itemid=2#.UdQmMG2ND86#ixzz2Y1AN1VSd
Follow us: @MsiaChronicle on Twitter

Anwar: Islamic teachings suggest mum's consent needed to convert child

MIC: Bawah 18 tahun sepatutnya tidak boleh tukar agama

Protest in Tamil Nadu and Kerala against murder of Hindu Munnani leader.

Sri S. Vellaiyappan

Protest against Tamil Nadu Hindu Munnani leader’s gruesome murder in Vellore.

Vellore | Hindu Existence News Bureau | 2 July 2013:: Hindu organizations in Kerala and Tamil Nadu observed Tuesday as ‘protest day’, following the brutal murder of S Vellaiyappan (45), state secretary of Tamil Nadu Hindu Munnani. Hindu Aikya Vedi also staged a demonstration in the evening protesting against the gruesome murder in various places in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

Sri S. Vellaiyappan, a prominent Hindutva activist and the Tamil Nadu State Secretary of the Hindu Munnani, was murdered near the Muthu Mandapam on the banks of the Palar River behind the New Bus Stand here on Monday evening in full public view. The assailants guarded their faces with scarfs as reported.

Police said the assailants, who were also on motorbikes, hit Vellaippan from behind and attacked him when he fell down on the road and fled the scene. Eyewitnesses said Vellaiappan sustained more than 15 injuries all over his body.

He was proceeding in his two-wheeler to the Ramakrishna Mutt when some unidentified persons attacked him on his head from behind. Sri Vellaiyappan abandoned the vehicle and ran towards the dry Palar River. The attackers chased him, hacked in his neck and beat him on his head repeatedly till he fell dead. They immediately escaped. On hearing of the incident, Hindu Munnani volunteers rushed to the spot and blocked the New Katpadi Bridge demanding action against the assailants.

When the body of Sri Vellaiyappan was being taken in an ambulance to the Government Vellore Medical College Hospital for post-mortem, the agitators blocked the ambulance and pelted it with stones. They also hurled stones at several buses on the service lane of the Chennai-Bangalore National Highway (NH – 4). A strong posse of policemen has been posted at the spot. After the body was taken to the hospital, the volunteers withdrew their agitation.

Vellaiyappan, a native of Thenkasi has been associated with the Hindu Munnani for over 20 years. An active pracharak, hailed from RSS, Vellaiyappan was always seen in the fore front in exposing and dealing with the social menace of love jihad and Govt’s conspiracy of encroachment of various Hindu Temples/Mutts/Trusts etc. Vellaiyappan was undaunted, even though he continually faced death threats while spearheading campaigns against love jihad.

Forty-five-year-old Sri Vellaiyappan, a bachelor, was the organiser of Hindu Munnani activities in Vellore district for the last 20 years. Only on Wednesday, he participated in an agitation by the Munnani at the entrance to the Fort in Vellore against the takeover of Jalakanteswarar Temple by the Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department. Vijay Kumar, Superintendent of Police, Vellore district, said several teams had been formed to nab the culprits. “The motive for the murder is not yet known and we are engaged in gathering the clues and evidence”, he told The Hindu Existence Reporter.

Condemning the murder, Hindu Munnani founder and state organiser Rama Gopalan said there were

Police pickets deployed on the service lane of the Chennai-Bangalore NH – 4  near the new bus stand in Vellore following an agitation sparked by the murder of Hindu leader.  Photo: C. Venkatachalapathy, The Hindu.

earlier instances of functionaries of the BJP and Hindu Munani being murdered in the region. In October 2012, V Aravindh Reddy, BJP’s state medical wing secretary, was murdered. Rama Gopalan said police should take stern action against the culprits. They should be arrested immediately, he said.

As news of Vellaiappan’s murder spread, angry Hindu Munnani activists damaged two TNSTC buses which came out of the Vellore bus terminus. No one was injured in the incident. Traffic was held up for about an hour.

The place witnessed tense scenes following Vellaiyappan’s murder. Police personnel have been deployed in the area to prevent any further outbreak of violence. With police yet to make a breakthrough in the case, police teams have fanned out to track the accused.

North zone inspector general of police S Kannappan said, “We don’t know the motive for the murder yet. We got some CCTV footage from nearby shops and from traffic signals, which will help us identify the accused.”

RSS Condemns

RSS State President R V Marimuthu has strongly condemned the brutal murder of the Hindu activist and pointed out that earlier BJP worker Arvind Reddy, Pugazendhi, Kaalaiyar Koil Padai ventraan Ambalam were also murdered in the same way. Hindu Munnani activist Anand of Mettupalayam, M R Gandhi (BJP) of Nagercoil, and Hari of Koonoor and many others had been attacked and injured seriously. The law and order in the State of Tamilnadu is questionable. He appeals to the Chief Minister of Tamilnadu to strongly take action against the murderers and render justice to the Hindus.

Hindu Existence Forum vehemently condemns the heinous murder of Sri S. Vellaiyappan by anti Hindu perpetrators.

Courtesy: The Hindu | Agencies.

KRudd’s Chosen Parliamentary Secretary Ed Husic Swears Loyalty to the Koran

‘Shame, shame, shame’: Australia’s first Muslim frontbencher abused for taking oath on Koran

The Prime Minister’s new parliamentary secretary, Ed Husic, has been subjected to a torrent of abuse online for being sworn in to his position with a Koran.
Mr Husic became Australia’s first Muslim frontbencher on Monday when he was appointed to Kevin Rudd’s new-look ministry as parliamentary secretary to the Prime Minister and parliamentary secretary for broadband.
“This is a wonderful day for multiculturalism, and everything it stands for in our country,” Governor-General Quentin Bryce told Mr Husic during the swearing-in ceremony in Canberra on Monday.
Governor-General Quentin Bryce is a rather dodgy kumbaya tart.

Ed Husic, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and Parliamentary Secretary for Broadband, during the swearing-in ceremony at Government House with Governor-General Quentin Bryce. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

.
However, after receiving dozens of messages of congratulations on his Facebook page, the comments quickly turned to disgust and outrage that he had chosen to be sworn in on the Muslim holy book.
Some called it un-Australian and unconstitutional.  (It is.)
“Our allegiance should have been to Queen and Country first Ed. That means saying the oath on the holy bible not the Koran…. Shame, Shame, Shame,” posted one user, Ross Peace. “I am so disappointed in this government that they don’t have the spine to stand up for the Australian way of life.”

 

Ed Husic, with the copy of the Koran with which he was sworn in as a parliamentary secretary. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

.

Another user, Therese Pearce, said she was “disgusted and embarrassed” for the Australian people.
So am I.
“Hell i might just have to use snow white and the 7 dwarfs next time i take the oath for australia,” she posted.
One user, Anna Dean, claimed his decision to be sworn in on the Koran undermined “our culture and country and constitution in this way”.
It does.
Another user, Carrie Forrest, accused him of disregarding Australia’s constitution and pushing for sharia.
Getting close.
Mr Husic has previously said that he is a moderate Muslim who does not involve himself heavily with most of the religious customs and behaviours of the faith.
If that was the case he wouldn’t swear on the Koran.
Asked about his religion in 2010, he told the ABC: “If someone asks me, ‘Are you Muslim?’ I say yes. And then if someone says, ‘Well do you pray and go to a mosque and do all the other things that are associated with the faith?’ I say no.
Taqiyya. Religiously mandated lying.
“I often get told that I describe myself as non-practising when in actual fact I don’t go round saying that. Like I just say ‘I’m Muslim.’ ”
That means he is a  Muslim. A”real one”.
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said people should respect Mr Husic’s choice. ‘‘I respect his choice,’’ he told reporters in Melbourne. ‘‘I think the Australian people should as well.’’
Delusional. Creepy. Stupid beyond belief. 
President of the Anti-Discrimination Board and chairman of the NSW Community Relations Commission Stepan Kerkyasharian said it was “a sad day for any society” when someone is abused because of their religion.
Stepan Kerkyasharian? Sounds like an Armenian. 1.5 million murdered Armenians send their regards.
He said Mr Husic could act as a valuable bridge between the Muslim community and would put Australia at an advantage in the international community.
BS. He will  be on the side of the ummah against Australia.
“It should be an interesting and positive milestone that someone of migrant heritage has come to Australia and has now, through our democratic process, reached a position of leadership,” he said.
I’m not interested in stupidity and interfaith kumbaya.
Mr Husic, 43, the son of Bosnian Muslim migrants, became the first Muslim to be elected to Parliament when he won his western Sydney seat of Chifley in the 2010 election with 51.58 per cent of votes, almost double that of his next competitor.
If demographics are the deciding factor we are toast.
In 2010, he was sworn into Federal Parliament alongside members from several religions. Kooyong member Josh Frydenberg and Melbourne Ports member Michael Danby were sworn in on the Jewish bible.
The AGE had to mention that. The Jewish bible is something we can all relate to. Few Australians know what the Koran teaches.
Frydenberg is another fake conservative who supports this:

Lawyer and community rights advocate Mariam Veiszadeh said there was too often an assumption that being a good Australian citizen and a good Muslim were “mutually exclusive concepts”.
It is.
“You can be a devout Jew and a good Australian parliamentarian who serves your country just as equally as you can be a practising Muslim and a good Australian citizen and politician,” she said.
You can’t.
“It is ignorant for people to conflate irrelevant issues and it stems from the Muslim bashing that has been going on in this country for a decade.”
“Muslim bashing?”  (You can’t make it up.)
Mr Husic played down the abuse on Tuesday afternoon by saying that people were entitled in a democracy to question his choice to be sworn in using a Koran and the public should not necessarily jump ‘‘because of harsh words out of dark corners’’.
‘‘[People] may have questions and they may have concerns and people are right to raise that,’’ he said. ‘‘But I also think you’ll have, from time to time, people of the extremes. There are people that are definitely extreme … and they will always try to seek ways in which to divide people. The important thing is [that] mainstream Australia wants everyone to work together.’’
He said he had been ‘‘heartened’’ by the huge number of congratulatory messages.
 I spit on these fools. So should you.
The establishment pollies support this:
MPs defend Husic, slam ‘appalling behaviour’
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/political-news/shame-shame-shame-australias-first-muslim-frontbencher-abused-for-taking-oath-on-koran-20130702-2p8l2.html#ixzz2XrVqq2Xx

Dutch Family Terrorised and Driven Out of Amsterdam by Moroccans

After years of constant harassment by boys from the neighborhood, the family of Rene Smit, from New West has had enough of it. They want to leave Amsterdam behind, and start looking for a house in Badhoevedorp .

Rene Smit explains why. "I’m doing it mostly for my children, they can’t walk safely in the streets. It started with an aggravated assault on my 14 year old daughter. Then my oldest daughter was robbed of her bicycle with a gun to her head. Sometime later one of my daughters gave a party at home. A couple of those guys insisted, uninvited, on entering the house. They demolished everything and stole a laptop and a mobile phone."

Last year Smit filed a complaint at the police station of New West district. The police, according to him, had still done nothing at all to change the matter since then. Last month, his 14-year-old daughter was robbed of 70 euros and then threatened by the same boy.

"It does not stop. We are already sending our daughter of 4 to school in Badhoevedorp and are trying hard to find a home. With pain in our hearts we have to leave Amsterdam," said Smit. “I'm the last one to judge the entire Moroccan community lumped all together. But these bad apples need to be addressed too.”

AT5 reported last week about a group of 10 young people who were arrested on the Osdorper Ban. The ten were systematically terrorizing the neighborhood. The mayor of Amsterdam district West, Achmed Baâdoud, said he was “busy with a plan to change the situation.”

Kamalanathan under fire over matriculation list

Why is the deputy education minister so afraid to reveal the list of names through media if he is being transparent about the matriculation figures? asks an NGO.

PETALING JAYA: Deputy Education Minister P Kamalanathan is involved in some sort of a ‘cover up’ by refusing to reveal the full list of non-Malay students awarded matriculation seats for 2013, charged an Indian-based NGO.

A Thiruvengadam, president of Malaysian Indian Education Awareness and Welfare Foundation (PKP-KIM) said the deputy minister’s statement by itself shows the ministry’s “opaque” stand on matriculation seats for Indian students.

Kamalanathan said that he will only reveal the list of names to individuals who approached him instead of disclosing the list to the media as requested by Ipoh Barat MP M Kulasegaran.

The Hulu Selangor MP has adamantly refused reveal the names, claiming it was not the practice of his ministry to release the names through the media.

“Why is the deputy minister so afraid to reveal the name list through media if he is being transparent about the seat allocations?” asked Thiruvengadam.

He added that revealing the list to media was not an offence under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) hence, it is clear that the MIC Putra coordinator is defending Umno’s racist education policies.

Who’s telling the truth?

Thiruvengadam slammed both the BN government and the MIC for giving contradictory statements on the matter.

“The public is confused. While MIC says the number of seats given to Indian students was 1,850 seats, Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin put the figure at 1,800.

Hindraf’s blueprint signed by BN government, on the other hand shows that the total number of seats meant for Indian students is 2,100. “Who is is telling truth and giving the right figures?” asked Thiruvengadam.

To complicate matters, it is learnt that on Friday during the cabinet meeting, Muhyiddin agreed to fulfill the 1,500 seats initially promised by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.

“From all these numbers we can assume that no one has any idea on the exact number of seats allocated to Indian students in 2013,” said Thiruvengadam.

Meanwhile, a group of angry parents is planning to proceed with a rally called “Duduk dan Bantah” in front of Education Ministry on July 4, at 12pm to urge the government to fulfill the matriculation places for Indian students.

“It will be a unique gathering where all the protesters will sit on mats and holding umbrellas as a sign of the protest,” said one of the organisers.

He said that several Pakatan MPs will also participate in the protest to show their support for Indian students denied their right to a decent education.
- See more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/07/02/kamalanathan-under-fire-over-matriculation-list/#sthash.Ggd2DP4z.dpuf

Syariah lawyers: Change to Section 107 not major

There is no major change to Section 107 of the Administration of Islamic Law (Federal Territories) Act 2013 as proposed in the bill before Parliament, says the Malaysian Syarie Lawyers Association (PGSM).
Therefore, said PGSM president Musa Awang, there is a need to explain the bill further to non-Muslims as such a provision was already in place, in Section 95 of the same Act, and has been in force since 1993.

"PGSM thinks the parties disputing Section 107 do not understand and this needs further explanation and clarification. If the amendment to Section 107 is withdrawn, Section 95 of the Act still stands," Musa (left) said in a statement today.

Such an amendment, he said, has adopted in other states, in Pahang in 2001 ; Malacca (2002); Selangor (2003); Johor (2003); Penang (2004); Kedah (2008); Terengganu (2008); Negri Sembilan (2009) and Perak and in fact the Federal Territory had been left behind.

There has been much debate on the amendment proposed to Section 107 of the Act, with Bar Council chairperson Christopher Leong calling it unconstitutional, since the meaning of the word `parent' in the bill should be in line with the federal constitution - to mean both parents, if they are still alive.
"We reiterate that the unilateral conversion of minor children to any religion by a parent, without the consent of the non-converting parent, is contrary to our constitutional scheme," Leong said.

MIC and MCA, along with Gerakan and the Malaysian Consultative Council on Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism, have also expressed concern over the matter.

Despite this, Musa argued that Section 95 of the Act, which pertains to the capacity of a person to embrace Islam, had been in place since 1993.

Section 95 states that a person who is not a Muslim may convert into Islam if he/she is of sound mind and

(a) Has attained the age of 18 years; or

(b) If he/she has not attained the age of 18 years, his parent or guardian consents to his/her conversion.

PGSM prefers the court decides on conversion

Musa said PGSM sees the proposed amendment to Section 107 to be in line with the Federal Court decision in the case of Susie Teoh and other cases that state an underaged child can embrace Islam with the permission of of the mother, or father or guardian.

Hence, he said, there was no issue of the Islamic Council trying to seize the rights of non-Muslims under the federal constitution.

"If there are any parties not satisfied with Section 107, it means that there should be an amendment to the constitution," Musa said.

PGSM, he said, was agreeable that the conversion of young children be decided by the courts, based on the individual facts.

However, Musa added, the crucial matter was how a father who embraces Islam with his children needs to maintain his relationship with his wife, who may not have embraced Islam, so that the rights of the mother over the children are not denied.
There have been many child conversion cases in the past that also involved child custody cases like the R. Subashini, S Shamala, and recently the S Deepa case in Negri Sembilan.

The non-resolution of these cases coupled with the 2009 cabinet directive where the government barred the secret conversion of children had resulted in such concerns, especially to the non-Muslims.

'Mum's consent a must for child to be converted'

The Islamic position on child conversion is that a child can only be converted with the consent of the mother, Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim said today.

Speaking to reporters in the lobby of Parliament House, Anwar said the Pakatan Rakyat parties would continue to discuss the move to amend the Islamic law on the conversion of minors with one another, before taking an official stand.

He was referring to the tabling of the Administration of the Religion of Islam (Federal Territories) Bill 2013 in Parliament last week, which will allow only one parent's consent, or that of the guardian, to convert a minor to Islam.

"There's a specific case where the Prophet Muhammad sent a child back to the mother because the mother did not convert to Islam and only the father did so," Anwar said.

"We are looking at it (the bill) thoroughly. I have had discussions with (PAS president) Hadi Awang and (DAP secretary-general) Lim Guan Eng," he said.

He said Pakatan was also meeting with NGOs to determine the situation, including Bersih co-chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan.

However, Anwar stressed, the conversion bill should not create a "divide" between Muslims and non-Muslims.

"We will sit with all the relevant parties," he added.

Subra blames translation error for conversion bill tiff

MIC deputy president Dr S Subramaniam has blamed a translation error for the controversy surrounding the recently tabled conversion bill.

Speaking to the press this morning, he said the Malay version of the bill was not in line with the English version.

According to Subramaniam, the English version of the proposed amendment to Section 107(b) of the Administration of Islam (Federal Territories) Bill 2013 says the conversion of minors requires the consent of a 'parent or guardian'.

However, he said the Bahasa version translates the word 'parent' to 'ibu atau bapa' (mother or father).
“We are stuck with the Federal Court decision and the interpretation of Article 12(4) (of the federal constitution) that pertains to this,” he said.

The article, read with Article 160 and the Eleventh Schedule of the federal constitution, expressly provides that all words appearing in the federal constitution which are stated in one gender also include the other gender, and all words in the singular also include the plural.

“The bill is totally new. I think this part was not seen by them (BN component parties). When they tabled it and we saw that particularly Bahasa Malaysia translation was not in line with our current thinking.

“We voiced our views in the cabinet and at the moment we are seeing how we can resolve the issue,” he said.

Asked whether the MIC would vote against the bill in parliament, he said: “I don’t think it will reach that stage.”
When further pressed whether this means the bill would be retracted, he skirted the question by saying “there are many options for us” and one of the them is to amend the controversial part of the bill.

‘Lack of communication’

He also added that “most” members of the cabinet agreed there had to be a consensus on the issue.

“There needs to be protection to prevent the conversion of minors just because one parent decides to convert themselves and uses that as a tool to convert minors.”

He said the BN government had discussed about the issue in 2009 and had decided to amend the law, but since then faced some issues tabling the bill in parliament.

Asked why the latest bill contradicts the cabinet ruling in 2009, he said: “Maybe there was a lack of communication.”

Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said that the government would look into finding “a fair solution to the matter”, but also reiterated that the current amendment properly reflects the current situation.

There has been widespread criticism of the amendments within the Administration of Islamic Law (Federal Territories) Bill from BN component parties MIC and MCA, with MCA urging its members to vote against the bill.

Last week the Malaysian Bar Council said that the use of the word ‘parent’ should mean plural as is in line with the constitution and that the current proposed amendment would be ‘unconstitutional’.

MIC prefers no conversion for children below 18

Joining critics of the recently tabled amendment to the Islamic law on conversion of minors, the MIC has asked for the Bill to be adjusted to ban the conversion of children under the age of 18.

MIC president G Palanivel said he had raised issues surrounding the proposed amendment to Section 107(b) of the Administration of Islam (Federal Territories) Bill 2013 at last week's cabinet meeting.

"(If) any child (is) below 18 years, a single parent cannot convert him or her. It will become a problem," he told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur this morning.

He said this when asked about MIC's position on the Bill, which gives the right to a parent who has converted to Islam to convert his or her underaged children.

"We will suggest that we need a slight amendment, that there should be no conversion for those under 18 years. No problem for those above 18 years."

According to him, Minister in Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom (left), who is in charge of Islamic affairs, has stated his willingness to study the issue.

"He also wants this to be discussed," claimed Palanivel.

The controversial bill was tabled last week, during the sitting of the new Parliament.

Jamil Khir said all MPs would be briefed before the bill moves into its second reading.

The controversial amendment to the Federal Territories Islamic law, which seeks to give just one parent the right to convert a minor to Islam, has been criticised widely, even by Umno's partners in the ruling coalition.

Earlier, the Malaysian Bar also pointed out that the amendment bill was unconstitutional, as the federal constitution has provisions for words such as ‘parent' required to convert a child to mean both parents, not one.

Other parties such as interfaith body Malaysian Consultative Council on Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST), the Malaysian Gurdwara Council and Catholic Bishop Paul Tan Chee Ing, have also all blasted the bill on various grounds.

Despite the chorus of indignation, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin insisted that the proposed law to allow one parent to convert a minor was consistent with the federal constitution, and said Jamil Khir has been tasked to follow it up.

BN MPs told to vote with conscience on conversion bill

A Penang Gerakan leader has urged MPs from the BN to search their hearts and vote with their conscience on the bill to amend the Federal Territories law relating to the conversion of minors to Islam, which he described as morally wrong.

The party's state legal and human rights bureau chief Baljit Singh (left) expressed deep disappointment over the matter, saying the bill was proposed without prior consultation with BN component parties, including Gerakan.

"This confirms the impression that only one party rules in the BN," Baljit told Malaysiakini, referring to Umno, whose members are Malay Muslims, as the prime mover of the amendment.

"You cannot put the cart before the horse. Consultation with various sectors must be done before proposing the bill to amend the Administration of Islamic Law (Federal Territories) Enactment in Parliament," he stressed.

Baljit was responding to the tabling of the controversial bill, which appears set to proceed in Parliament.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom said all MPs would be briefed before the second reading of the bill.

Legal action mulled

The controversial amendment to the Federal Territories Islamic law, which seeks to give just one parent the right to convert a minor to Islam, has been criticised widely, even by Umno partners within the ruling coalition.

Baljit said such a law, if allowed to proceed, could be abused as it was not fair to allow one parent to decide the faith of a child when both parents are responsible for the child's welfare.

"Why not let the child decide when she or he comes of age?" he asked.

Baljit backed his colleague, Kedah Gerakan Youth chief Tan Keng Liang (right), who threatened to file legal action against the government if Parliament passes the amendment.

The amendment will made to Section 107(b) of the Administration of Islamic Law (Federal Territories) Act to allow one parent to convert an underaged child to Islam.

Tan, in his declaration yesterday, said Article 12 (2) of the federal constitution should be defended at all times, especially since the proposed amendment "goes against the spirit of the federal constitution".