Animal Farm: Malaysian Edition

Welcome to a land where pigs, chickens and cows are the true messengers of the human word.

By Jasmine Wong

George Orwell wrote the satirical, dystopian Animal Farm in 1945. Through the use of allegory, Orwell tells the tale of an oppressed and suffering society (made up of animals in a farm), who after toppling their cruel government (made up of humans), elected new leaders among themselves, only to find these new leaders inflicting the same forms of oppression on them.

Suffice to say that such a profound representation of political tyranny and the dangerous promptings of the ego is lost on most Malaysians, who have instead preferred to assume a more literal interpretation of Orwell’s classic.

“The distinguishing mark of man is the hand, the instrument with which he does all his mischief,” so wrote Orwell and he couldn’t have been more right.

Animal Farm: Malaysian Edition involves humans of the most questionable intellect who think cow heads, pig heads and bloodied, dead chickens send a far clearer message than calm and fair discourse. Also, the more sacrilegious the better.

Cows are revered by Hindus, pigs are “haram” to Muslims and chickens… well chickens are simply cheaper and easier to slaughter and fling whole at the Chinese.

Falling short on the gift of rational speech, “concerned” citizens who have felt their very existence threatened by Rayer’s “celaka Umno” remark and Teresa Kok’s comedy sketch have reasoned that the head of a dead animal or two sums up their outrage better than words can. Much like the numerous pig heads thrown in front of mosques at the height of the Allah issue in 2010.

One does wonder how our multi-racial, multi-religious and for the most part peaceful society degenerated so fast into a carcass-wielding band of hooligans every time somebody took issue with what they saw or heard.

Having our own Home Minister punctuate these unruly acts with his “big mouth” remark clearly explains why we as a society are spiralling out of all control. When the top brass can do it, surely we can too.

And speaking of top brass, where’s our Prime Minister? His complete and utter silence has got many wondering if the cat has got his tongue.

When all the cackling and squawking with wings flapping goes on unabated by the likes of Isma, Perkasa and other like-minded radical, religious groups, it does seem that Malaysia has lost all semblance of a democratic and civil society and is sounding more like it is run by a brutish bunch of baboons having it out in the thick of a jungle.

Was Rayer right in shooting his mouth off? Was Teresa Kok’s video childish and totally uncalled for? Is the Allah issue wearing us down?

Our political leaders must fight a more dignified fight, regardless of which side of the political divide they’re on. Some leaders must really learn to speak up. Others who are too vocal should leave their arrogance at the door before opening their mouths.

Did the rakyat not elect you so you could make a difference with your wisdom? With your forward-thinking ideas? With your ideals of a better, more civilised and harmonious, progressive nation?

Today, religious extremists encircle us like ravenous hyenas, while we the rakyat are sitting ducks in the line of fire of vicious oppressors and impotent politicians who do not have an inkling of how to fight back and make things right, the right way.

Parliament is turned into a veritable circus by our MPs every time it’s in session. Our judiciary’s independence—or even wisdom—is suspect. And when a judge does make a wise ruling, it is happily ignored, even by those who are supposed to enforce it. Meanwhile the villains play a cat and mouse game with their ex-wives and hold on to children they have lost custody of.

Yes, the animal farm that is Malaysian society is a sad and disabled one. We lack respect for each other. We have a foolish and selfish sense of superiority over others. And race and religion have taken precedence over hard work, civility and honesty.

It is time we ditched the overemphasis on all things superficial and relearned the true meaning of tolerance in all its forms.

When our politicians act so immaturely for all and sundry to see, it sends out a dangerous message to our kids, who in turn feel it is acceptable to act out aggressively and immaturely every time they dislike something.

Mind you, Malaysia has on more than one occasion become the laughing stock of the world—for our tussle over the word Allah and the way we handled (or rather mishandled) the disappearance of MH370.

Instead of fighting about what words we can or cannot use in our religious texts, how about sending all our ministers and top corporate figures to brush up on their English? To speak more persuasively. To be more knowledgeable of issues at hand. And to carry themselves with more dignity so that when meeting the foreign press, they do not choke over their words, their hands and body trembling as their eyes dart to every corner of the room, and their voices, all but lost despite a microphone right in front of them.

If we are to achieve developed nation status by 2020—and that’s a measly six short years away—it’s about time our politicians got their act together.

As for those numerous religious based NGOs, they should not be given free rein to tear our nation apart, for theirs is the dangerous agenda of destroying, not uniting the people.

We should heed these words of Orwell: “There, comrades, is the answer to all our problems. It is summed up in a single word—Man.”

Jasmine Wong is a FMT columnist.

Arab Spring, Jihad Summer

By Pepe Escobar

Welcome to IS. No typo; the final goal may be (indiscriminate) regime change, but for the moment name change will do. With PR flair, at the start of Ramadan, the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS, or ISIL - the Islamic State of the Levant - to some) solemnly declared, from now on, it will be known as Islamic State (IS).

"To be or not to be" is so … metaphysically outdated. IS is - and here it is - in full audio glory. And we're talking about the full package - Caliph included: "the slave of Allah, Ibrahim Ibn 'Awwad Ibn Ibrahim Ibn 'Ali Ibn Muhammad al-Badrial-Hashimi al-Husayni al-Qurashi by lineage, as-Samurra'i by birth and upbringing, al-Baghdadi by residence and scholarship". Or, to put it more simply, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

IS has virtually ordered "historic" al-Qaeda - yes, that 9/11-related (or not) plaything of one Osama bin Laden - as well as every other

jihadi outfit on the planet, to pledge allegiance to the new imam, in theological theory the new lord over every Muslim. There's no evidence Osama's former sidekick, Ayman "the doctor" al-Zawahiri will obey, not to mention 1.5 billion Muslims across the world. Most probably al-Qaeda will say "we are the real deal" and a major theological catfight will be on.

After all, in Syria, ISIL as well as Jabhat al-Nusra were initially fighting under the banner of al-Qaeda, until the brand - in spectacular fashion - decided to dump al-Baghdadi. He and ISIL went too far - with all those videos of decapitations and crucifixions and serial profanation of Shi'ite, Sufi and Christian sanctuaries.

Al-Baghdadi, born Ibrahim al-Badri in Samarra, is an average Sunni Iraqi cleric with a degree in pedagogy from the University of Baghdad. His alter ago was born after Shock and Awe in 2003, and soon metamorphosed into a de facto serial killer - blowing up Shi'ite kids at ice-cream shops or scores of women at Shi'ite weddings.

ISIL's track record in Syria includes banning every flag apart from its own; the destruction of any "polytheist" temple or sanctuary (except if it is Sunni); and strict imposition of Islamically correct women wear. Most of all, it is a track record of terror. This is not an army, rather a well-trained militia of professional mujahid, European passport holders included, with battlefield experience in Iraq, Afghanistan and, to a lesser degree, Chechnya. Heavy weaponizing is petrodollar-financed - the usual, wealthy "Gulf donors", which does not exclude official connections.

Sources of income diversified mightily when ISIL captured the oilfields surrounding Deir Ezzor in Syria; and after the recent offensive across Niniveh province in Iraq, they were able to lay their hands on vast arsenals of heavy artillery, lots of cash and gold bullion and, why not, US Humvees left behind. Their trademark, of course, are those columns of brand new white Toyota Land cruisers - free off road advertising Toyota HQ in Japan may not find particularly welcome.

Loaded with oil and profiting from tax revenue, IS is now firmly on its way to provide (minimal) services and support a (mighty) Jihadi Army - much like the Taliban from 1996 to 2001. One may be sure IS will continue its massive "social engagement" strategy; talk about a chatty Caliphate which loves YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. No wonder they are a hit among Google generation recruits - as well as becoming fund-raising aces via gruesome videos. In thesis, indoctrination progresses hand in hand with "charity work"; residents of Aleppo, for instance, can dwell on how ISIL (gruesomely) looks and feels on the ground.

Mission forever unaccomplished
It's unclear how the new IS reality will play on the ground. The new Caliph has in fact declared a jihad on all that basket of corrupt and/or incompetent Middle East "leaders" - so some fierce "battle for survival" reaction from the Houses of Saud and Thani, for instance, is expected. It's not far-fetched to picture al-Baghdadi dreaming of lording over Saudi oilfields - after decapitating all Shi'ite workers, of course.

And that's just a start; in one of their Tweeter accounts IS has published a map of all the domains they intend to conquer within the span of five years; Spain, Northern Africa, the Balkans, the whole Middle East and large swathes of Asia. Well, they are certainly more ambitious than NATO.

Being such a courageous bunch, the House of Saud is now tempted to accept that imposing regime change on Nouri al-Maliki in Iraq is a bad idea. That puts them in direct conflict with the Obama administration, whose plan A, B and C is regime change.

Turkey - the former seat of the Caliphate, by the way - remains mute. No wonder; Ankara - crucially - is the top logistical base of IS. Caliph Erdogan's got to be musing about his own future, now that he's facing competition. In theory, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Jordan are all saying they're ready to fight what would be a "larger-scale war" than that gift that keeps on giving, the original, Cheney junta-coined GWOT (global war on terror).

And then there's the future of the new $500 million Obama fund to "appropriately vetted" rebels in Syria, which in fact means the expansion of covert CIA "training facilities" in Jordan and Turkey heavily infiltrated/profited from by IS. Think of hordes of new IS recruits posing as "moderate rebels" getting ready for a piece of the action.

It's easier for Brazil to win the World Cup with a team of crybabies with no tactical nous than having US Secretary of State John Kerry and his State Department ciphers understand that the Syrian "opposition" is controlled by jihadis. But then again, they do know - and that perfectly fits into the Empire of Chaos's not so hidden Global War on Terror (GWOT) agenda of an ever-expanding proxy war in both Syria and Iraq fueled by terror financing.

So 13 years ago Washington crushed both al-Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan. Then the Taliban were reborn. Then came Shock and Awe. Then came "Mission Accomplished". Then al-Qaeda was introduced in Iraq. Then al-Qaeda was dead because Osama bin Laden was dead. Then came ISIL. And now there's IS. And we start all over again, not in the Hindu Kush, but in the Levant. With a new Osama.

What's not to like? If anyone thinks this whole racket is part of a new live Monty Python sketch ahead of their reunion gig this month in London, that's because it is.

Pepe Escobar is the author of Globalistan: How the Globalized World is Dissolving into Liquid War (Nimble Books, 2007), Red Zone Blues: a snapshot of Baghdad during the surge (Nimble Books, 2007), and Obama does Globalistan (Nimble Books, 2009).

He may be reached at pepeasia@yahoo.com.

(Copyright 2014 Asia Times Online (Holdings) Ltd. All rights reserved. Please contact us about sales, syndication and republishing.)

‘Harmony bill not finalised yet’

The New Straits Times
by SHARANPAL SINGH RANDHAWA

KUALA LUMPUR: THE perception that the National Harmony Act draft bill has been prepared and will be presented by the government in Parliament is not true.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nancy Shukri said the bill had yet to be finalised as it was still going through the process of consultation with stakeholders.

The government would not do anything in a hurry or enact a law that could disrupt national harmony, she said.

“As I mentioned during the Parliament session in Dewan Rakyat recently, I, again, would like to clarify that I understand there were three working draft bills on national harmony, which were recommended by the Legislative and Policies to Promote National Harmony under the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC).

“However, all these remain as recommendations rather than something that has been finalised by the government.”

Nancy said the bill must go through a rigorous process of drafting and its contents shall not conflict with the Federal Constitution.

It will then be reviewed and examined by the Attorney-General to ensure conformity with the principles of law and in accordance with the Constitution and other related laws.

“Only upon completion of all negotiations and engagement process, the final draft bill proposed by NUCC will be forwarded to the Attorney-General for review and further refined as the process of drafting laws that apply in this country. Only then it can be brought for approval to the cabinet before being tabled in Parliament.”

On July 11, 2012, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had indicated the government’s intention to repeal the Sedition Act 1948 and replace it with a new act, known as the National Harmony Act.

The objective of the National Harmony Act is not only to strengthen the law but also to find a mechanism to determine the best balance between the need to guarantee the right to freedom of expression contained in the constitution and allow legal actions taken against those who use sensitive issues to undermine national solidarity.

NUCC, which is under the purview of the National Unity and Integration Department (NUID), an agency under the supervision of Tan Sri Joseph Kurup, had consulted stakeholders, including non-governmental organisations, for their input.

NUCC is an independent body set up by the government on Sept 11 last year in an effort to reduce the national unity and racial polarisation to build a united Malaysian nation.

It is intended to discuss complex issues in Malaysian society to pave the way for a solution and close the gap that prevents unity.

Nancy said the Sedition Act 1948 remained in force until its repeal was announced at a later date.

“The input of the proposed drafts are being researched and studied.”

She said the submission of the drafts did not mean the suggestions given had been agreed to, adding that elements such as the diversity of religions and races in the country, including Islam as the official religion of the Federation and the rulers as enshrined in the constitution, would be taken into consideration for each proposal.

Muhammad Joraimee Deemed To Be Cold And Reclusive

KUALA LUMPUR, July 3 (Bernama) -- One of the five individuals being hunted by police for being allegedly involved in militant activities, Muhammad Joraimee Awang Raimee, is deemed to be cold and does not socialise with his neighbours.

Joraimee Muhammad, better known as Abu Nur who lives at his mother's house with his wife and child in Taman Selayang Baru, Batu Caves here, is often seen by his neighbours coming home late at night.

Zalikha M. Hassan, 44, said Joraimee and his family members never came out to mingle with the surrounding community.

"They just stayed at home and even if they go out it is only to work and for prayers. The windows and doors of their house is always closed as if there is no one at home. Only certain people are allowed into the house," he said here, today.

Zalikha said Muhammad Joraimee's cold attitude came to the fore when he had a tiff with a neighbour who held a feast in the neighbourhood.

"Parking was restricted so guests were forced to park in front of Muhammad Joraimee's house. But he and his family were not happy and ordered the vehicle to be removed."

He said it was almost four months since Muhammad Joraimee was last seen returning home.

Ali Arsyad, 49, a neighbour for the past 30 years, said although they knew each other since childhood, Muhammad Joraimee was somewhat quiet.

"After SPM he worked with me for a while before he went to Egypt to continue his studies. During work he was his normal self but he was not one to hang out after working hours," he said.

A survey by Bernama found Muhammad Joraimee's home empty, a dusty Toyota Avanza was parked in front of his house.

Meanwhile, a security guard of the Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) identified only as Zulkifli, 46, said he knew Muhammad Joraimee, a MPS secretariat department staff, as a strong religious person, but they rarely talked to each other.

"Since the last three to four months I have not seen him entering the MPS premises," he said.

Meanwhile, efforts to meet Dr Mahmud Ahmad's mother failed after almost an hour of waiting in front of her house in Taman Selayang Baru. But two men believed to be the suspect's siblings were seen entering the house but refused to meet anyone.

Dr Mahmud is among the five suspects whom the police are looking for with regard to militant activities.

At 12.45pm, a team of policemen came out of the suspect's house after conducting an investigation.

In Tawau, efforts to meet the family members of another suspect, Mohd Amin Baco, 31, failed when the residents of Kampung Titingan claimed not to know or to have heard the name of the suspect.

The village head of Kampung Titingan, Ismail Amoo, 65, said he had never heard the name Mohd Amin and never knew that the suspect lived in the village. But he said he was not sure if the suspect used a different name because most people here used nicknames, he said when met at his house today.

Efforts to trace the family members of another suspect known as Jeknal Adil, 30, also failed because the suspect's last address in Kampung Kurnia Jaya Batu Empat Jalan Apas, Tawau, is currently empty as the village has no occupants anymore.

Most of the residents have moved to other places after a fire destroyed more than 80 squatter houses in the village on Dec 17 last year.

Yesterday, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar released a list of names of five individuals sought by police to facilitate investigations into the activities of militants in the country.

They are Mahmud or Abu Hanzalah, Muhammad Joraimee or Abu Nur, photostat shop and UM stationery shop owner Mohd Najib Husen or Abraham, 36, who lives at the Tainia Apartments, Kota Damansara, Mohd Amin and a labourer, Jeknal Adil or Jek.

IGP: Have we ever shielded errant cops?

 

Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar has stressed that errant cops are not protected, adding that if there is evidence, those responsible will face the music.

Khalid was commenting on the slew of exposes by MyWatch chairperson R Sri Sanjeevan (right).

Khalid told reporters that the whistleblower has refused to cooperate with the police on investigations concerning his allegations.

"If we have enough evidence, we will not protect our men. Have we ever protected our men in criminal cases? If there is evidence, bring it," he said.

"The same with Sanjeevan, he exposes this and that. But when I send my senior officers (to obtain information), he refuses to give.

"I don't know who he wants to give the evidence to. We will probe all complaints and take action," Khalid added.

Recently, Sanjeevan claimed that he has evidence regarding a sex scandal involving a top police officer.

However, he wanted an assurance from Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi that action would be taken before revealing the evidence.

On another matter, Khalid said the police were tracking down the five Malaysians, who are believed to have fled abroad, wanted in connection with militant activities.

"They are very dangerous. I wish to stress that this is related to terrorism. God willing, we are on top (of the matter). We are also working closely with other security forces," he said.

Yesterday, the police said that among those sought was a lecturer at Universiti Malaya's Academy of Islamic Studies.

Dr Mahmud Ahmad, 36, is a senior lecturer at the Department of Akidah and Islamic Thought.

'Biggest joker' IGP lying, says whistleblower

 

MyWatch chairperson R Sri Sanjeevan has launched a broadside against Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar, accusing the latter of churning out fraudulent statements.

"He is the biggest joker of all," the whistleblower told Malaysiakini.

Sanjeevan was responding to Khalid's claim that the MyWatch chairperson did not cooperate with the police in their investigations regarding errant cops.

The police chief also said that Sanjeevan refused to hand over the so-called evidence when he sent a senior officer to meet him.

However, Sanjeevan (right) claimed that no such police officer had met him over his allegations that ranged from corruption to sex scandals.

"That's a blatant lie," he said. "It is the IGP who refused to meet me."

Sanjeevan said that he sent numerous letters to the police regarding this matter, but the police chief "did not bother" to respond.

Earlier today, Khalid said the police never protected errant cops and called for investigations of such wrongdoings to be made public.

Recently, Sanjeevan claimed that he has information regarding the sex scandal involving a top cop but refused to divulge details without assurance from the Home Ministry and the police.

Sanjeevan was shot by two unknown gunmen in July last year in Bahau, Negeri Sembilan following months of exposes that he had made against police officers.

Cow head attack not Umno's work, says sec-gen

 

VIDEO | 0:51 min

Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan Mansor has stressed that the party has nothing to do with the skinned cow head that was placed at DAP assemblyperson RSN Rayer's home last Sunday.

"That is unbecoming. You shouldn't do it.

"I am answering as a secretary-general of my party (and) I don't think my party would do it.

"I don’t know who did it, but everytime something like this happens, Umno is to blame. Umno is not that evil," he told reporters in Kuala Lumpur today.

"As Umno secretary-general, I am confident that this is not Umno's work."

He added that as a Muslim, he, too, would not like it if someone placed a pig's head at his doorstep and urged all against such actions.

A motorcyclist wearing a full-face helmet was recorded on CCTV throwing the cow head at the Seri Delima assemblyperson’s house gate before speeding off.

Rayer had sparked Umno’s ire when he called the party ‘celaka’ (damned) in the Penang state assembly.

Wakil Rakyat DAP dihalau daripada pasar Ramadan

Michigan soccer ref dies after being punched during game

June 29: An undated photo provided by the Livonia Police Department is of Baseel Abdul-Amir Saad.The Associated Press

 
The Michigan soccer referee critically injured this weekend after he was sucker-punched during an adult-league game died Tuesday in an area hospital.

John Bieniewicz, 44, was left in critical condition Saturday in Livonia after witnesses say he was punched in the head as he reached down for a red card.

Police said Baseel Abdul-Amir Saad punched Bieniewicz after he indicated that the 36-year-old Dearborn resident was going to be ejected. Livonia police and the Wayne County prosecutor's office have not named the referee, whom Jim Acho, a childhood friend, identified as Bieniewicz.

"I speak for all his friends when I say we are devastated. Crushed. Just a senseless way for a great guy to go out," Acho said. "He deserved better."

One witness told MyFoxDetroit.com that Bieniewicz was punched near his throat and fell without raising his arms. The death was confirmed by the hospital and a family friend.

Saad was arraigned Monday in Livonia District Court on a charge of assault with intent to do great bodily harm. Bond was set at $500,000, and a probable-cause hearing was set for July 10.

"As the case progresses we expect to learn the cause of the referee's injuries," Brian Berry, Saad's lawyer, said.

Saad was reportedly not at the field when police arrived. Saad surrendered Monday, police said.

The charge could be amended now that Bieniewicz has died. A message from FoxNews.com left with a spokeswoman for the Wayne County prosecutor's office was not immediately returned.

Bieniewicz was a dialysis technician with a wife and two sons, said Acho. Acho says a fund is being set up to help pay for his friend's funeral and burial expenses, as well as his children's futures.

According to Acho, Bieniewicz was the only student-athlete in the class of 1988 to letter in both football and basketball at the ultra-competitive Detroit parochial school. Acho, who ran a basketball camp with Bieniewicz for four years after high school, said his 6-foot-5 friend would "wow the kids with dunks."

But much to the surprise of his friends, Bieniewicz gravitated to soccer and fell in love with the sport. He has been a well-respected referee for two decades. He was doing what he loved on Sunday when he was attacked at Mies Park, Acho said.

MyFoxDetroit.com reported that Saad’s team has been kicked out of the league.

In April 2013, a 17-year-old player punched referee Ricardo Portillo after being called for a foul during a soccer game in Taylorsville, Utah, near Salt Lake City. Portillo, a father of three, died after a week in a coma. The teen pleaded guilty to a homicide charge.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

A-G and IGP apply to be parties in two interfaith custody disputes - TMI

The Attorney-General and the Inspector-General of Police have applied to the Court of Appeal to intervene in two controversial interfaith custody disputes.

A-G Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail and IGP Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said the civil courts had exceeded their authority when they issued recovery orders to the police to locate the children of S. Deepa and M. Indira Gandhi, who are with their ex-husbands who had converted to Islam.

Both Gani and Khalid said, if their applications to be interveners were allowed, they want the Court of Appeal to suspend the High Court orders to compel police to locate Muhammad Ridzuan Abdullah and Izwan Abdullah.

The court papers were filed on June 26.

Khalid said he was in a quandary because there were two custody orders, from the High Court and Shariah High Court, and executing one would mean he was showing disrespect to the other. The Shariah courts had granted both fathers custody of the children.

Gani and Khalid said a stay of the orders was vital or else their attempts to appeal would be futile as the status of the High Court and Shariah Court under Article 121 (1A) of the Federal Constitution had to be determined.

One view is that the civil court is superior to the Shariah Court while another stand is that both are of equal status.

Lawyers K. Shanmuga, who is appearing for Deepa, and N. Selvam, representing Indira, said they had received copies of the court papers from the A-G's Chambers.

"I will be taking instructions from my client to file an affidavit in reply. We will be contesting the A-G's and IGP's applications," he said.

Selvam said their team of lawyers would meet in anticipation of "serious legal and constitutioal challenges arising from the case now".

Last week Gani said he was applying to suspend both orders issued as both cases in Seremban and Ipoh have become cases of public interests which touched on religious sensitivities and have the potential to threaten public order.

On April 7, Seremban High Court judge Datuk Zabariah Mohd Yusof had granted Deepa custody of Sharmila and Mithran, both of whom had been converted to Islam by her husband last year without her knowledge.

The judge allowed Deepa's application as the civil court had jurisdiction over the matter and provide the relief for custody and dissolution of the couple's marriage.

Two days later, Izwan abducted Mithran, saying it was for the child's "protection".

She then obtained a recovery order from the High Court on May 21 to get police to search for Izwan and Mithran.

In Indira's case, her ex-husband, Rizduan has also yet to hand over their youngest daughter to her despite a 2010 Ipoh High Court order awarding her custody of their three children.

Ridzuan has held on to Prasana Diksa since April 2009 when she was 11 months old.

The Shariah High Court in Ipoh had in 2009 given Ridzuan custody of the three children after he unilaterally converted them to Islam.

However, in July last year, the Ipoh High Court, in a landmark ruling by judge Lee Swee Seng, quashed the certificates of conversion of the three children and ruled that the certificates were null and void because they were unconstitutional.

Last month, the court also issued an order to arrest Ridzuan but police have yet to act on it.

Hindu mothers denied justice following A-G, IGP intervention in custody cases, say lawyers

Two Hindu mothers have been denied justice and protection under the law following the move by the attorney-general and the inspector-general of police to intervene in their controversial interfaith custody disputes, lawyers said.

They said the High Court had issued recovery orders to the women and police should have swiftly executed the directive.

The lawyers also said the court was not the forum to find a permanent solution to cases of unilateral conversion as such cases would crop up in future.

They were of the view that instituting legal reforms was a better option than asking the court to interpret the Federal Constitution and the law.

Last week, A-G Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail and IGP Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar filed applications in the Court of Appeal to be interveners in the disputes.

They also want the appellate court to stay the recovery orders granted to S. Deepa and M. Indira Gandhi to compel the police to locate their children who are with their former husbands.

Gani and Khalid said the court had acted beyond its authority in giving the orders under the Child Act 2011.

They said a stay of the orders was vital or else their attempt to appeal would be futile as the status of the High Court and Shariah Court under Article 121 (1A) of the Federal Constitution had to be determined.

Gani in a statement on June 26 also indicated that he might consider going to the Federal Court to get a legal opinion on constitutional issues arising from these cases.

He said the cases were of a public interest because they touched on religious sensitivity and posed a potential threat to public order.

Lawyer Meera Samanther said the authorities were acting as if they were above the law in refusing to act on court orders.

"The IGP should have instructed his men to act immediately once the orders were served on him," said Samanther, who is also president of the Association for Women Lawyers.

She questioned why the A-G and the IGP chose to ignore the plight of the mothers.

"Why have these cases become a potential threat to public order?" she asked.

Samanther said justice and legal protection for the two women were only a distant dream as the police have refused to comply with a directive from the judiciary.

She also said Putrajaya must act on the 2007 memorandum submitted by a group of NGOs calling for amendments to certain laws following the legal tussle in a 2004 unilateral conversion case involving S. Shamala and Dr C.M. Jeyaganesh.

The NGOs wanted the Federal Constitution, the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act, the Distribution Act and the Infants and Guardianship Act be amended to render justice to the non-converting wives and children.

Lawyer Ravi Neko said it was not common for a civil court to issue such orders as in custody battles the spouse would also be given visitation rights.

"However, in these cases, the mothers had gone to court because the Muslims fathers are still holding on to the children despite custody having been awarded to Deepa and Indira," said Ravi, a Bar Council member.

He said both Izwan Abdullah and Muhammad Ridzuan Abdullah were now in contempt of court for violating the custody order issued by the civil court.

Ravi said the marriages of these couples were solemnised by civil law and, therefore, dissolution of their union and reliefs must be decided by the civil court.

On April 7, Seremban High Court judge Datuk Zabariah Mohd Yusof granted Deepa custody of Sharmila and Mithran, both of whom had been converted to Islam by her husband last year without her knowledge.

The judge allowed Deepa's application as the civil court had jurisdiction over the matter and provide the relief for custody and dissolution of the couple's marriage.

Two days later, Izwan abducted Mithran, saying it was for the child's "protection".

She then obtained a recovery order from the High Court on May 21 to get police to search for Izwan and Mithran.

In Indira's case, her ex-husband, Ridzuan, had also yet to hand over their youngest daughter to her despite a 2010 Ipoh High Court order awarding custody of their three children to the mother.

Ridzuan has held on to Prasana Diksa since April 2009.

The Shariah High Court in Ipoh had in 2009 given Ridzuan custody of the three children after he unilaterally converted them to Islam.

However, in July last year, the Ipoh High Court quashed the certificates of conversion of the three children and ruled that the certificates were null and void because they were unconstitutional.

Last month, the court also issued an order to arrest Ridzuan but police have yet to act on it.
- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/hindu-mothers-denied-justice-following-a-g-igp-intervention-in-custody-case#sthash.OqSbYmvR.dpuf

Zainuddin’s ranting shows arrogance

The rantings and ravings of some prominent political figures show just how shallow their interpretation of Malaysian politics is.

By Chua Tong Ka

Dear Zainuddin Maidin,

As a former cabinet minister and chief editor of Utusan Malaysia, I am sure you are far wiser than what your rantings about MCA suggest of you.

I am assuming that what you wrote was more political in nature rather than based on national or public interest. Make no mistake – I am in no position to defend MCA. I am just trying to make sense of your arguments.

First, please don’t tell those who disagree with you politically to go to hell (pergi mampus). That is akin to cussing and rather tribalist of you. If you were from one of our many uncouth NGOs, I would be better able to accept it.

Asking others to go to hell takes absolutely no courage or heroism on your part as it only shows up your arrogance and bullying nature, thinking that others are powerless to rebut you.

I presume the notion of “ketuanan” and dominance is totally ingrained in your psyche. Hence, MCA must kiss the hand of BN and show gratitude now that the party is back in the cabinet.

By all means argue that UMNO has taken pity on MCA. On the other hand, has it ever occurred to you that MCA and other component parties in BN are hapless and have sacrificed too much in the past for UMNO’s wayward ways?

You are right – MCA was decimated in the last general election. But as a thinking man, you ought to know the reasons why unless your intransigence and parochialism have completely blinded you.

The Prime Minister appointed MCA to the cabinet out of political expediency and reality, not because he took pity on MCA. At least I could get that right.

What are you ranting about when MCA is trying to get the support of the Chinese back? Is this not what Barisan Nasional advocates – each party for its own race?

You fail to see that getting back the support of the Chinese is not about being anti-Malay. Just as criticising the Home Affairs Minister on his statement about the cow head incident is not anti-Malay.

I am sure you know the difference – anti-racism and anti-sectarianism are different from being anti-Malay.

You are a former minister – you should not behave like those unfortunate NGO personalities, who prefer to twist and turn everything into either anti-Malay, anti-Islam and anti-royalty rhetoric.

I expected much more from you.

State religious body rules Kassim Ahmad expressed ‘apostate’ thoughts

(Bernama) – The Terengganu Fatwa Committee has unanimously ruled that the statements made by social activist Kassim Ahmad (pic) at a seminar in February as “kufur” (disbelief) and apostate thoughts.

State Islamic Affairs Commissioner Datuk Mohd Rozali Salleh said the decision was made at a special meeting of the committee on March 9.

Such thoughts were deviant and a threat to public order and damaging to Islam, as there were elements of irregularities like disputing the “syahadah”, hadis, Islamic rules, women’s hair as aurat, the selawat, and condoning apostasy, Rozali told a news conference in Kuala Terengganu today.

Kassim was alleged to have uttered statements at “The Thoughts of Kassim Ahmad: A Review” Seminar organised by the Perdana Leadership Foundation on February 6.

He reportedly accused religious scholars of controlling Islam through a “priesthood caste” system, questioned the use of the hadis (Prophet’s sayings and actions) to explain Quranic teachings, and said it was wrong for Muslims to beatify the Prophet as “he was just a messenger of Allah”.

He also questioned the wearing of headscarf by Muslim women, saying “the hair is not part of the aurat” (parts of the body which need to be covered) in his lecture.

Rozali said the committee banned publication, broadcasting and dissemination of any books, pamphlets, films, videos and anything relating to the anti-hadis belief while Muslims were forbidden from possessing, printing, selling or distributing the material.

The meeting also agreed that the decision against anti-hadis movement to be gazetted as a fatwa and action could be taken against those who defy the ruling.

Missed opportunity to defend religious freedom

by Dr. Lim Teck Ghee

News that the Federal Court refused to grant leave to hear the appeal by the Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur in the ‘Allah’ case did not come as a surprise. As many Malaysians expected, the judges by a majority decision of four to three predictably upheld the earlier Court of Appeal's decision to ban the use of the word in the Catholic weekly, The Herald.

In the extensive media coverage given to the decision, much attention has been given to the reasoning provided by each of the judges, especially the three dissenting judges. Reading through the reports and analysis, what should be of utmost concern is the failure of any of the judges to touch on the central issue that was placed before them and which they circumvented – that of the threat to the freedom of religion that was stark and explicit in the case before them.

None of the seven judges – not even the dissenting three – found it necessary to cut through the political and legal thicket set up by the government to diminish religious freedom or to state the case against any diminishment of that freedom. None of them found it important to articulate or restate the need for fidelity and unfailing adherence to the core principle of religious freedom enshrined in our secular constitution.

In retrospect, the position taken by all the seven judges – including the dissenting – should raise alarm bells that professional independence and competency has been so compromised in our judicial system that we cannot expect redress from our courts when it comes to defending our fundamental liberties.

But what are the larger implications of this court decision?

If Umno leaders and hardline Muslim organizations such as Perkasa, Isma and others are celebrating this decision as a 'victory' they should think again.

Firstly, they should reflect on the origin of the dispute over the word. The initial damage to the previously stable relationship between Muslim and Christian Catholics on this particular issue which flared up in 2009 can be traced to the political ambitions of one man, the then Home Affairs Minister; and the subsequent lack of resolve from the Barisan government, including the non-Muslim Ministers in the Cabinet.

Earlier, following court appearances and negotiations, the Catholic publication received permission to use the word ‘Allah’ as long as it stated on its masthead that The Herald was “For Christians only”.

Syed Hamid Albar, the then Minister, had even signed the order permitting the publication.

However, 12 days after the order was gazetted on February 16, 2009, he backpedalled and reinstated the ban on the Herald from using the word Allah. It has been postulated that with the looming Umno election in March, Syed Hamid who was vying for a Supreme Council position and wanting to be retained in the Cabinet, was engaged in a last ditch effort to revive his political fortune. The 'Allah' case clearly provided him the opportunity to demonstrate his strong Islamic credentials to Umno members.

Since then, Umno leaders, wannabe Malay and Islamic 'heroes', the vigilante Malay media, and a phalanx of newly pious and devout Muslims have jumped on the bandwagon to defend their faith and assuage their newly arisen anxiety that Islam is faced with attack from an alleged insidious enemy, bent on destroying their religion and converting their weaker Muslim brothers and sisters to another religion.

Why did the Home Minister and his Umno colleagues start this fire over a word which East Malaysian Christians have used for decades even before Sabah and Sarawak merged with Malaya in 1963; and which the great majority of Malay Muslims – until the use of the word was politicised and dragged into the public spotlight – had no concern or problem with? If the use of ‘Allah’ is in violation of syariah law, then surely the ulama, Umno, PAS and others would have objected to it much earlier and more vehemently.

How can an in-house religious magazine circulating within the Catholic community and using the word ‘Allah’ which was halal under previous Home Affairs Ministers suddenly become haram in 2009 on the eve of the Umno general assembly meeting? How can anyone take seriously the claim by Umno leaders and a small group of Muslim zealots that their faith alone has exclusive right to use the word ‘Allah’ in Malaysia, and that any other religion using it, is seeking to proselytize Muslims and disrupting peace and harmony?

Umno members and its proxies may not want to ask these crucial questions but the rest of the world has.

What next?

A colleague has pointed out some of the larger implications and argued for one way forward. I am quoting his opinion* in extenso because it is an important contribution in pointing the way towards finding a solution when our religious and other basic liberties are under threat and when there appears to be no recourse from our own courts in safeguarding the sanctity of the constitutional provisions on them.

“The prohibition of the use of the ‘Allah’ word by non­Muslims is a clear violation of the Malaysian Constitution and a violation of the Malaysia Agreement (1963), which mandates freedom of religion in the former, and no imposition of any one of officially mandated religion on Sabah and Sarawak, in the latter.

Given that Iban people have used the term ‘Allah’ in their Christian prayers for Iban of varied Christian denominations, denial of the use of ‘Allah’, based on the legal judgment of the court and its interpretations, clearly imposes an Islamic restriction on BOTH the Peninsula, where Islam is only an official religion, and NOT THE SOLE NATIONAL RELIGION, and on Sabah and Sarawak,which per the 1963 Agreement, HAVE NO OFFICIAL RELIGION IN EITHER STATE.

.............................................

It is for Malaysia to meet its obligations, according to the Constitution and the 1963 Malaysia Agreement. The State may think it is ‘compromising’ by meeting its requirement. This is false.

Meeting a legal requirement and fulfilling Constitutional law is not ‘compromise’, it is MANDATORY by law. Nations that fail to meet their legal and historical obligations are not democracies, but autocracies that do not recognize their own laws. Any such nation must be held to account for illegal actions and their consequences. Malaysia has failed to meet its obligations, and therefore, it is patently clear that Umno has violated the right of freedom to believe and practice one's faith, unhindered by governmental interference, and it has violated the terms of the 1963 Malaysian agreement, in both failing to recognize and accept non­Muslim Bumiputera religious practices, and imposing a religious doctrine (Islam) on such practices, on two States within the federation, that legally are not mandated to have any of official religion, and therefore cannot be compelled to accept religious strictures from the Peninsula and Putrajaya, let alone coming from non­democratic Malay NGOs.

These violations of human rights of belief and practice, mandate international legal adjudication,as Malaysia has displayed no proof of judicial impartiality whatsoever, and redress of such violations can only properly be judged outside Malaysia. In fact judicial impartiality is rare, if not completely absent, from Malaysia's court and judicial system, whether civil or Islamic (Shari'a Law).

As Malaysia is a signatory to UN human rights provisions, and in fact at one time, a Malaysian even led the UN, as President of the UN General Assembly, 1996­1997 (Ambassador Tan Sri Razali Ismail), and was heavily involved in human rights issues at the UN, relating to Myanmar and human rights activist Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Malaysia's particular involvement in UN human rights activities, make such domestic human rights violations even more problematic and visible.

No nation can serve the UN as a fair arbiter of international human rights issues, while denying such fairness at home. Thus, Umno, as the sitting government of Malaysia, must be held to account for allowing the courts, upon whom it gives its imprimatur, by appointing judges to the High Court, the highest court in the land, to issue illegal rulings that abrogate already established Malaysian legal and constitutional provisions. Umno/BN is therefore part and parcel of the High Court, by virtue of judicial imprimatur and judicial appointments, and is therefore, ipso facto, responsible for the High Court's legal decisions, as Umno by law must implement all High Courtdecisions.

On that basis, Umno is in violation of its national responsibilities to the nation and should befound guilty of such violations, as it is required to implement legal decisions that are in violationof the nation's very own Constitution and historical legal agreements. If Umno does not put such legal decisions in abeyance, and implements contradictory and illegal laws, there is no known legal basis to judge the Malaysian Government as anything but illegal, in itself, by its own chosen actions. The notion that a national government would violate its own Constitution and historical legal agreements, is more than just odious; it is,in fact, entirely unacceptable, without any caveats.

A nation that violates its laws, as we know from history, inevitably results in its citizens also violating such laws. This situation cannot, and must not, be allowed.

Only an international court, like the International Court of Justice, in The Hague, Netherlands, can properly weigh the evidence against Umno and its judicial proxies, like the High Court, and assess whether, by international standards of human rights and the UN Geneva Conventions,

Malaysia, as represented by Umno/BN as the sitting Government, has violated the Malaysian Constitution and the 1963 Malaysia Agreement, and if such violations are found to be true and validated by the ICJ, and such violations are also found inconsistent with international law based on all known UN conventions, then an indictment of human rights (religious freedom) violations by the Malaysian Government becomes legally binding and internationally recognized. We propose that the Malaysian Government has indeed violated two cornerstones of Malaysia's own historical existence, and we seek remedy to such violations, in order to ensure that the Malaysian Government meets all its commitments to the nation, as required by law, and as required in fact for every nation on the planet, not simply Malaysia alone. To do less, is to allow flagrant human rights abuses and to tolerate the persecution and abuse of Malaysian people, by ethnic, cultural and religious intolerance and deprivation.”

He has also provided this addendum:

“The whole point of the Constitution is to protect ALL MALAYSIANS. No Muslim may fear, through irrational paranoia, that Catholics will try and convert them, because the Constitution says they CANNOT. Isma's and Perkasa's straw man about non­Muslim threats to proselytise and inhibit Muslims from practicing their faith, is wrong, and is as prohibited by the Constitution, as is Muslim proselytisation. The only diference being most non­Malays respect the Constitution and don't go around (usually) trying to turn Malays into Catholics or Hindus, while many Muslims break the constitutional legal requirement that they not interfere with non­Muslim religious practices. The Malays don't know the Constitution affords them protection, or they do know, and don't care, and really want the Constitution to ONLY protect Muslims, which the Constitution cannot do as currently written. Few sane Malaysian would accept a Constitution that only protects one group (Muslims), and this would be totally unacceptable.”

* I would normally disclose my source but the colleague whom I have quoted lives abroad, has family members in Malaysia, and has legitimate fears that he may be denied entry during his next visit should his name be brought to the attention of the authorities.

** The article is taken from “The Big Issue”, issue 7, July 1­15, pp. 23­8

1946, when it all went wrong for us

Wong Chin Huat - The Malaysian Insider


Where Malaysia is heading, with sensational news from Muslim-only Allah, Hudud for all, body-snatching, wedding gate-crashing, police defying the Common Law Courts, to now Muslims buying only from Muslims?

The common question asked by many Malaysians is either “what have gone wrong?” or “Where have we gone wrong?” The relevant question, to my mind, is neither of these but “when have we gone wrong?”

Yes, not what and where, but when. And my answer is 1946.

The ultimate question

What happened in 1946? The British who returned to Malaya after the war started their preparation for her decolonisation.

An utmost pertinent question emerged: can multiculturalism and common citizenship co-exist?

Put it bluntly, can the minorities ask for citizenship with equal rights if they refused to be assimilated?

The expectation of assimilation had its grounds, both globally and locally.

Then, the homogenous nation-state model – one nation, one state, one language, one culture — laid down by the French since their Revolution in the 18th century was the norm. Countries with diverse populations were anomalies.

Such a view was even shared by many liberals. Liberal thinker John Stuart Mill said, “Free institutions are next to impossible in a country made up of different nationalities. Among a people without fellow-feeling, especially if they read and speak different languages, the united public opinion, necessary to the working of representative government, cannot exist.”

In other words, cultural homogeneity or homogenisation is a pre-requisite for democracy.

Locally, thanks to the spread of both the Malay language and Islam in Nusantara by 17th-18th century, and later by the British colonial policy to back and consolidate the Malay kingdoms to facilitate their indirect colonial rule, Malays became a composite ethno-religious category.

If you embraced Islam and you spoke Malay, you could be absorbed as Malays. This was not limited to Minangkabaus, Bugis, Acehnese, Mendalings, Banjarese or later Javanese, but also the Arabs and Indian Muslims.

In early 20th Century, the last two groups were once called Darah Keturuan Arab (DKA) and Darah Keturunan Keling (DKK) and greatly resented by Nusantaran Malays for taking up economic shares as Malays.

The resentment against the Arab- and Indian-Malays subsided when the non-Muslim and non-Malay-speaking Chinese and Indians were seen as the real threat to the Malays.

Hence, by 1946, Malays – not withstanding their parochial loyalty to their states and cultures – had become a culturally defined “melting pot” ethnic group, not unlike America, France or even China.

The 1946 question, reframed in this lens, would be: should the Chinese and Indians be given equal rights if they refused to be “melted”?

The Yes and No struggles

Offering a liberal naturalisation scheme to the Chinese and Indians, the Malayan Union proposed by the British was a “Yes”.

Years later, “the Malaysian Malaysia” idea espoused by People’s Action Party (PAP) and later Democratic Action Party (DAP) is a “Yes”.

The Malays in 1946 answered the question with a loud “No”, which was embodied in the formation of Umno.

And the replacement of the Malayan Union by Persekutuan Tanah Melayu (Federation of Malaya) indicated the victory of the “No” camp.

It did not only establish Umno’s hegemony, but also dictated why we have a centralised and rigid federal system when most federations elsewhere exist to accommodate and manage differences between rival groups.

If accommodation was the goal, the Malayan Union – a multi-ethnic unitary state – should have been kept as the Federation of Malaya was really a federation of Malay ethnocracies.

The 1957 compromises

The “No” victory was however soon cut short by the eruption of the Communist insurgency. Malay nationalists were forced by the British to recognise the reality of the de facto civil war at home and cold war at the global level.

This led to Umno founder-president Dato Onn’s championing of the radical idea of opening up Umno to the non-Malays and his eventual departure from the party.

The electoral challenge posed by Dato Onn’s Independence of Malaya Party (IMP) then forced Umno to cooperate with MCA at the local level for the 1952 Kuala Lumpur Municipal Election.

The success of this ad-hoc experiment sealed the rule of the game for multi-ethnic politics. By 1955, when the Alliance swept 51 out of 52 seats contested in Malaya, it was already a tripartite coalition speaking the language of moderation and accommodation.

The ethnocratic aspiration of Umno was diluted but not completely abandoned. The outcome of pragmatism of all sides was the Merdeka Compromises with three important quid-pro-quo deals.

The first was on citizenship. In exchange for the jus soli principle which would allow most non-Malays to obtain citizenship, special status was granted for the Malays.

Interestingly and perfectly consistent with the historical evolution of the Malayan Malays, Malays are defined not by biological lineage, but by religion, language, custom and the geographical origin of Malaya or Singapore. In other words, this is an open melting pot that one can opt in.

The second was on religion. Religious freedom was guaranteed on two counter-conditions: first, Islam – already the official religion for the Malay states – was made the religion of the Federation; and second, written as a proviso to the constitutional provision itself, religious conversion can only be one-way, from non-Muslims to Muslims.

The third was on language. Linguistic freedom was guaranteed with the establishment of Bahasa Melayu as the national language as the corresponding parallel. At the policy level, the Chinese- and Tamil-medium schools would stay but the ultimate goal would be unifying all schools with the Malay language.

Reading together the three exchanges of the Merdeka Compromise and the constitutional definition of the Malays, Malaya was a gentle and gradual nation-building project to eventually make everyone a Malay.

The project had two tools: first, the differential in citizenship right as an inducement; second, the protectionist environment that prevents the minority faiths and languages from flourishing fully and competing with Islam and Bahasa Melayu.

The phrasing out of Malaya by the larger federation of Malaysia did not change this project. Rather, the project of building a Malay nation-state just became the de facto Malaysia.

East Malaysian leaders who stood in the way of the Malayanisation process were either ousted (Stephen Kalong Ningkan) or ousted then tamed (Donald Stephens and Pairin Joseph Kitingan).

The de-legitimation of plural society

The ultimate goal of building a mono-ethnic nation-state is well entrenched in the officialdom and indoctrinated through historical textbook. By secondary school, Malaysians are taught that the plural society is basically a threat or challenge to national unity.

And its emergence is reduced to two simple factors, both tied to the colonial history: first, the importation of the Chinese and the Indians as mining and agricultural workers; second, the failure of the Colonial Government to have them assimilated, primary by allowing the development of separate education systems.

This anti-diversity discourse in simplified anti-colonial language – using convenient short-hands like “divide and rule” – ignores two important facts.

First and foremost, if there was any ground of such discourse for Malaya, Malaya has been replaced by the larger Malaysia and the Bornean Malaysia was never Malay countries.

Sabah and Sarawak did have plural societies and melting-pot-style amalgamation by a single dominant faith or language never happened, as it did in Malaya.

Second, even in Malaya, the story was never thorough. Chinese miners in Perak and Selangor were much brought in by rivalling Malay chieftains, with whom they later took sides in the Malay civil wars. Most tellingly, Chinese immigrants in Johor were mai
nly brought in by Temenggung Ibrahim and his son Sultan Abu Bakar, who had not a single drop of English blood.

In other words, the immigrant communities were really more the natural consequence of capitalist development, much like why we have millions of foreign workers today, rather than some colonial conspiracy.

The crime of honesty

Lacking a nuanced and honest analysis of our colonial history de-legitimises our multiethnic society, making it something needs to be tolerated and contained rather than celebrated or advanced.

It also de-legitimises secularism and democracy, which are seen as part of the post-colonial order.

The 1957 order was shifted in 1969 to be more pro-Malay in the aftermath of the May 13 riot.

The 2008 political tsunami marked the beginning of a counter-shift towards centre, against the excesses of the 1969 shift.

The controversies staged by Perkasa, Isma and Utusan are but efforts to stop or reverse this counter shift. From their standpoints, these are rational moves that should not surprise anyone really.

After all, if the 1957 model of gentle and gradual assimilation is the unquestioned premise, then really the measure of moderation would be just really about gentleness and gradualness, much like how much heat you apply to a slow cooker so that a live frog in it would believe it is having a spa treatment.

Then, Perkasa, Isma and Utusan of course are gravely guilty of honesty.

108 nabbed under Sosma

The New Straits Times

A TOTAL of 108 individuals of various nationalities have been detained nationwide for involvement in militant activities since 2010, the Dewan Negara was told yesterday.

Deputy Home Minister Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the ministry was working with foreign intelligence agencies to prevent the infiltration of militant elements into the country.

“This includes the exchange of intelligence information between countries, especially between Asean countries.”

He said the ministry was monitoring the movements of suspicious groups and individuals who had been involved in militant activities.

He said the ministry was conducting programmes to rehabilitate those who were detained and their families.

Wan Junaidi was replying to a question by Senator Datuk Noriah Mahat, who asked about the total arrests involving militant cases and actions taken by the ministry to eliminate such activities.

Wan Junaidi said the repeal of the Internal Security Act in 2011 had made investigations into militant activities difficult for the authorities.

He said such investigations were time consuming and the maximum of 28 days’ detention provided by the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 was insufficient.

“We have to look forward.

“The ministry is working around current provisions and is striving to improve the steps taken (to combat militant activities).”

Karpal gets Public Service Award from Ghandi Memorial Trust (Updated)

The Sun
by Lee Choon Fai

KUALA LUMPUR: The late Karpal Singh (pix) has been posthumously awarded the Public Service Award by the Ghandi Memorial Trust (GMT) for his contributions to the country.

GMT chairman S. Radhakrishnan said Karpal had contributed much to the nation in politics, the judiciary, and social activism for the past 40 years before his untimely demise on April 17.

"His commitment to these principles did not waver despite an accident in 2005 that left him wheelchair-bound," he said during his opening speech.

The award came with a chrome pewter tiger, representing the moniker "Tiger of Jelutong", which was presented to his family who attended the ceremony.

Former Minister Datuk Mohd Zaid Ibrahim said in his speech that Karpal was a fearless lawyer and human rights defender who had contributed much to Malaysian parliamentary democracy.

"His greatest contribution as MP was his push for good governance, and for the government to be responsible to Parliament; he was also suspended many times due to his outspokenness," said Zaid.

Zaid said Karpal often paid a heavy price when doing what he thought was right and that he (Zaid) himself was not spared from Karpal's sharp-tongue during his short stint in the government.

He also commented on Karpal's conviction under the Sedition Act before his passing, saying "nobody who had contributed so much to Parliament and the public should be labelled seditious".

Former Bar Council president Datuk S. Ambiga said Karpal would be sorely missed, especially now when extremist voices are getting increasingly intolerable.

"This is where we miss Karpal as a statesman, extremism is getting out of control; there is a culture of 'might is right' that needs changing and Karpal will definitely speak up about it," she said.

She also said Karpal was never anti-Islam as alleged by his critics even though he opposed the implementation of hudud law and the claims that Malaysia is an Islamic state.

Ambiga said he was a staunch defender of the Federal Constitution, a voice for the voiceless, a warrior for the people, and a principled man above all.

Retired Court of Appeal Judge Datuk Mahadev Shanker said Karpal is the embodiment of Mahatma Gandhi's life principles of "plain-living but lofty in thought".

However, he pointed out that Karpal's voice was a loud roar, a call of redemption and the observance of the rule of law, that he was personally subjected to as compared to Gandhi's gentle and soft-spoken voice.

Veteran lawyer Datuk Jagjit Singh fondly recalled his years as a law student in the University of Singapore, where he met Karpal as a young student activist.

Jagjit said even then, the hallmarks and values of leadership was apparent in Karpal, and his excellent memory coupled with straight to the point arguments made him a formidable lawyer.

Karpal's daughter Sangeet Kaur also gave a short but emotional speech, saying her late father was a giant in life whose shoulders she stood upon for support.

Also present at the event were DAP national advisor Lim Kit Siang, Bar Council president Christopher Leong, lawyer and social activist Haris Ibrahim, and Bar Council Human Rights Committee chairman Andrew Khoo.

Najib Announces RM500 Financial Aid To Civil Servants Up To Grade 54

KUALA LUMPUR, July 2 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak today announced the payment of a Special Financial Aid of RM500 to civil servants in Grade 1 to Grade 54 as preparations for the Hari Raya Aidil Fitri .

The Prime Minister also announced a Special Financial Aid of RM250 to 684,000 government pensioners to appreciate their contributions, deeds and services.

"The payment of the special aid will be made on July 15," he said in a statement, here today.

Najib said the Special Financial Aid payment to the civil servants and government pensioners involved a financial allocation of RM890 million.

The government hoped that the special financial aid could ease the financial burden of the civil servants and pensioners in making preparations to celebrate the festive season at the end of the month.

5 Assyrians, Including Two Nuns, Missing in Mosul

Sister Utoor Joseph (left) and Sister Miskintah, who disappeared on late 

Saturday, June 28 in Mosul (photo: Ishtar TV).

Mosul, Iraq (AINA) -- The Assyrian television channel Ishtar TV is reporting that 5 Assyrians have gone missing in Mosul. Two Chaldean nuns from the Daughters of Mary Order, Sister Miskintah and Sister Utoor Joseph, as well as Hala Salim, Sarah Khoshaba and Aram Sabah have not been heard from for nearly two days.

Sisters Miskintah and Utoor managed an orphanage for girls in Mosul, in the Khazraj neighborhood near Miskintah Church. After Mosul fell to ISIS, the two nuns brought the orphaned girls to the city of Dohuk for safety. The Nuns returned late Saturday to Mosul, accompanied by Hala, Sarah and Aram, to inspect the monastery but there has been no contact with them nor any trace of their whereabouts since then.

It is believed they have been kidnapped by Muslims.

Nearly all of the Christians of Mosul have fled the city since it fell to ISIS on June 10. ISIS members bombed an Armenian church which was under construction in the Left Bank neighborhood, near al-Salaam hospital and looted The Church of the Holy Spirit (AINA 2014-06-12). Two days after taking over Mosul, imposed Islamic law (Sharia) (AINA 2014-06-14) and began collecting the poll tax (jizya) from Christians (AINA 2014-06-21). On June 21 ISIS members raped a mother and daughter and killed four women for not wearing the veil (AINA 2014-06-23).

From left: Hala Salim, Sarah Khoshaba and Aram Sabah.

IGP gets stay in Izwan vs Deepa custody battle

 

The Seremban Syariah High Court today granted inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar a stay of execution on an order compelling police to assist in the retrieval of the children of N Viran @ Izwan Abdullah, who is involved in a custody battle.

The court had earlier granted the IGP to be an intervener in the ex-parte application.

The decision was made by judge  Kamal Bashah Ahmad Tajuddin, after hearing submissions from lawyers Zulkifli Che Yong (left) and Azmi Mohd Rais in chambers.

The Seremban Syariah High Court had previously issued an order to the police to assist in the recovery of N Viran @ Izwan Abdullah's children from his former wife S Deepa.

Deepa had on April 7 this year obtained an order from the High Court in Seremban for the custody rights over her two children.

On Sept 19 last year, the Seremban Syariah High Court granted custody of Izwan's two children to him.

The decision today follows a separate order from the same Syariah High Court compelling the police to find and retrieve the children.

Zulkifli told reporters that the ex-parte stay order gained today is pending a decision on the jurisdiction of the civil and syariah courts on this interfaith child custody dispute, which would be decided by the Court of Appeal or the Federal Court.

It is understood that the IGP had, through the Attorney-General's Chambers, also filed an application in the civil High Court in for a stay of execution of an order on them brought by Deepa (right), who was granted custody of both children by the civil court.

Attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail had applied for the stay order for the IGP, through the firm of Zulkifli Yong Azmi and Co in the Seremban Syariah High Court last Thursday.

Application so as not to interfere in custody battle

Zulkifli told reporters that the IGP is filing the application so as not to interfere in the inter-faith custody dispute but as there are conflicting orders from the syariah and civil courts, it was difficult on the police to react.

He said there was conflicting jurisdiction as the civil courts relied on Article 121 while the syariah courts on Article 121 (1A)

“The syariah court has agreed to suspend the order they gave against the police sought by Izwan until the Court of Appeal or Federal Court decide on the jurisdiction of the syariah and civil courts in such cases and also determine Section 52 of the Child Act,” he said.

Following this, he said the IGP filed this intervener application and had sought the ex-parte order as this is an urgent matter and of public interest.

Viran was also present for a short while before the proceeding, while being accompanied by two non-governmental organisation members from Angkatan Skuad Mubaligh Malaysia.

The inter-faith dispute which is a personal matter had become a matter of public interest following the protracted custody dispute between Viran and Deepa.

Although initially Deepa regained custody of the two children in April following the Seremban High Court order, Viran took his six-year-old son two days after the order.

Now the couple’s nine-year-old son is staying with the mother.

It was reported that Abdul Gani had in a statement indicated its intention to intervene and get a stay order in Deepa and M Indiria Gandhi’s dispute to resolve cases of inter-faith custody dispute once and for all.

M'sian diplomat in NZ sexual assault case

A Malaysian diplomat has been accused by New Zealand authorities of sexual assault with the intention to commit rape, Malaysiakini understands.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry however did not confirm nor deny this matter when contacted by Malaysiakini today, with minister Anifah Aman saying that he would call a press conference on the matter tomorrow in Wisma Putra.

"I will conduct a press conference tomorrow at 12pm in Wisma Putra. Further advice would follow," the minister (right) said in a text message.

New Zealanders responded with outrage yesterday after the authorities revealed that the man, in his 30s, had followed a 21-year-old woman home and assaulted her.

The press in New Zealand is prevented from revealing the offender's name or country of origin after a New Zealand judge issued a suppression order on his details.

However, Malaysiakini understands the accused is a Malaysian diplomat who worked at the Malaysian High Commission based in Wellington.

Malaysiakini is withholding the man's name pending Wisma Putra's official response.

According to the Associated Press, police arrested the diplomat on May 9 and charged him with burglary and assault with intent to rape, both of which carries a maximum jail term of 10 years.

However, the man invoked his diplomatic immunity and has fled the country.

NZ wants diplomat extradited

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key broke his silence on the matter this morning, revealing that his government had demanded the man's diplomatic immunity be waived but was rebuffed.

"It was the government's strong preference that this person be held to account in New Zealand, but this was refused by the sending country," Key is quoted as saying by New Zealand news portal stuff.co.nz.

Key (left) did not reveal specific details about the diplomat, citing the court's suppression order which also applies on the government.

He said assurance had been made that the diplomat will be held accountable in his own country.

"As a signatory to the Vienna Convention our hands are effectively tied, but we still expect justice for the victim," he was quoted as saying.

Key has come under criticism for only summoning Malaysia's High Commissioner a month after the incident.

However, Key revealed his government has been in a diplomatic back-and-forth with the man's country of origin in the past month, without mentioning "Malaysia".

"There's been a series of meetings held at a variety of different levels with MFAT (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade) in New Zealand and the representatives of the sending country.

"I'm led to believe, and I strongly accept that advice, that the host country is absolutely aware at a very senior level about New Zealand's expectations and how seriously we're taking the issue," he is quoted as saying.

Labour foreign affairs spokesperson David Shearer, who represents New Zealand's largest opposition party, called for the diplomat's extradition to face the law in New Zealand.

What it means to be Malaysian

A foreigner reading the local news of late would be left with the impression that Malaysians were an unhappy lot – paranoid that their respective communities were under threat and quick to provoke or threaten other Malaysians in the name of their race or personal beliefs.

There are reports of Malay rights groups claiming that Bibles in Bahasa Malaysia containing the word "Allah" are a threat to Islam, despite the use of the word by Malaysians of indigenous descent – or Christian Bumiputeras – for more than a century.

Islamist groups, meanwhile, have made inflammatory remarks, including labelling Malaysians of Chinese descent "trespassers" and claiming non-Muslims wanted to remove Malay rights and destroy the sovereignty of Malaysia and Islam.

News of a Taoist funeral and a Hindu wedding being disrupted within the same week by Islamic religious enforcement officers, who claimed they were defending Islam by taking away the body of a Chinese and detaining the Hindu bride, respectively, have left many angry and bewildered that such incidents are occurring in a modern, multicultural society. That both incidents happened in states ruled by the federal opposition, Pakatan Rakyat, could also be a mere coincidence.

Then there are the bitter custody battles between mixed-faith couples into which the police have waded by refusing to act on court orders that favoured the non-Muslim spouse, leaving the spouses bereft of justice and opening up room for arguments whether civil or religious courts should have the last say on such matters.

A long-standing row between Muslims and Christians over the use of the word "Allah" has not ended despite the highest court upholding a ban on the Church’s use of the word in one of its publications.

Yesterday, a bloodied severed cow's head was found on the doorstep of a Penang state lawmaker, who had angered many from the federal ruling party when he said "Umno celaka" (Umno be damned) in the state legislative assembly.

The incident was roundly condemned by politicians from both sides of the divide, and was a reminder to ordinary folk that peace and harmony meant acceptance and tolerance.

Throughout all this, the spectre of May 13 is constantly raised – not only as a reminder of what could happen to Malaysia should citizens turn on one another, but a threat used by one racial community to quell another.

But it would be a mistake to stereotype all Malaysians based on what a few individuals, claiming to be their community’s representatives, say.

To prove this, The Malaysian Insider took to the streets recently to ask people from various backgrounds one question: “What does it mean to be Malaysian?”

Read more : http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/on-being-malaysian

Perkasa sokong Zahid, dakwa kaum lain singgung kedudukan Melayu

Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa (Perkasa) menyokong kenyataan Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi dalam isu kepala lembu yang ditinggalkan di rumah pemimpin DAP, RSN Rayer baru-baru ini.

Setiausaha Agung Perkasa Syed Hassan Syed Ali berkata insiden tersebut adalah sebagai peringatan kepada kaum lain agar tidak menyinggung perasaan orang Melayu.

"Perkasa bukan mahu membodek atau mengampu Zahid tetapi memang tepatlah komen beliau atas isu kepala lembu dilempar di depan rumah Rayer.

"Bukan Rayer saja. Mana-mana pihak yang menjadi punca kemarahan orang ramai perlu beringat keceluparan mulut boleh bawa binasa," kata Syed Hassan.

Beliau berkata, tindakan sedemikian berlaku kerana bukan Islam yang mula menyinggung mempersoalkan tentang kaum Melayu dan Islam.

"Pihak tertentu bukan Melayu yang membuat kenyataan terlebih dulu jelas membuat provokasi terhadap orang Melayu dan Islam.

"Pelbagai isu membabitkan pihak bukan Melayu dan bukan Islam lebih dulu membuat kenyataan singgung perasaan orang Melayu dan Islam," katanya.

Beliau berkata, sikap bukan Melayu yang bermain isu sensitif seperti menyentuh hak Bumiputera, kroni dan menyokong LGBT (lesbian, gays, biseksual dan transgender) antara yang boleh menyebabkan Melayu terguris.

"Kamu mula dulu kami menjawab. Jangan melenting kerana kamu memulakan dulu," katanya.

Zahid sekali lagi mencetuskan kemarahan pelbagai pihak apabila menyatakan insiden kepala lembu yang ditinggalkan di depan rumah Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (Adun) Seri Delima sebagai balasan ke atas keceluparan mulutnya.

"Sebagai ahli politik, saya simpati dengan beliau tetapi itulah harga yang perlu beliau bayar kerana mulut celupar," kata Zahid Sabtu lalu.

Zahid bukan sahaja dikecam oleh DAP yang lantang menyatakan menteri itu harus berundur daripada jawatannya malah parti komponen Barisan Nasional (BN) sendiri turut mengecamnya.

Gerakan berkata, Zahid perlu melihat insiden itu secara serius kerana ia bukan merupakan perkara main-main memandangkan ia melibatkan keselamatan wakil rakyat.

Rayer sebelum ini mencetuskan kontroversi susulan kenyataannya "celaka Umno" yang dibuat ketika sidang DUN Pulau Pinang bulan lalu.

Dr M: Chaos if Sedition Act is scrapped

The former prime minister says the new laws to replace the act will not be able to prevent all kinds of sedition from occurring.

KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad said today Malaysia could descend into chaos if the government went ahead with a proposal to abolish the Sedition Act 1948.

He said the proposed new law to replace the act would not be able to prevent all kinds of sedition that would occur.

“The people will be subjected to all kinds of sedition, including incitement to amend the Federal Constitution. It is not inconceivable that they would agitate for the institution of the monarchy to be abolished,” he said in his latest post on his blog, http://chedet.cc.

Mahathir said the abolition of the Internal Security Act (ISA) and the Banishment Act had resulted in a rise in various kinds of crime in the country.

“Sedition, despite its occurrence, has not exceeded the limits,” he said.

Mahathir said that without the Sedition Act, the extremists among the people would be free to openly criticise the rulers and the monarchy and eventually call for the abolition of the institution of the monarchy.

“No other law can stop them after the abolition of the ISA and the Sedition Act,” he said, adding that Malaysia did not have legislation that could prevent any ridicule of the rulers and the monarchy like the “lese-majeste” in Thailand. (Under lese-majeste rules, anyone convicted of insulting King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the queen, heir or regent faces up to 15 years in prison on each count.)

Mahathir said many people might be angered by the agitation to abolish the monarchy but, because sedition was allowed, those interested in making Malaysia a republic would have the right and freedom to proceed with their campaign.

“The possibility is that chaos will occur in the country. This is a result of the liberal attitude that we exalt now,” he said.

The government announced on May 30 a proposal to introduce a new law to replace the Sedition Act and confirmed having received the drafts of three bills on national harmony.

This followed an announcement by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak in 2012 to abolish the controversial act to, among other things, enhance freedom of expression among the people.

The three bills are the National Harmony Bill, National Unity Bill and National Unity and Integration Commission Bill.

Mahathir previously criticised the proposal to introduce the three new laws which he had said would be deemed to continue to marginalise a section of the people besides eliminating the advantage based on race, religion, ancestry, place of birth, gender or the needy. -Bernama

Indira files writ forcing IGP to act

The ex-wife of a Muslim convert is seeking judicial remedy to compel the IGP to arrest her ex-husband and return her daughter.

IPOH: Kindergarten teacher M Indira Gandhi is seeking a court order to compel the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to execute two High Court orders issued by Judge Lee Swee Seng on May 30.

Indira Gandhi has applied for leave of the High Court to get a judicial remedy to compel IGP Khalid Abu Bakar to execute the warrant of arrest of her ex-husband and to return her daughter.

Lee issued the warrant for the police to arrest Indira Gandhi’s ex-husband, Muslim convert Muhammad Ridzuan Abdullah, previously known as Pathmanathan Krishnan.

He also ordered the police and education department to search and return the divorced couple’s youngest daughter Prasana Diksa to Indra Gandhi.

She filed the application today through her legal counsel, M Kulasegaran, who is also the Ipoh Barat MP and DAP national vice-chairman. She named Khalid as the respondent.

Kulasegaran said Indira Gandhi filed the application after Khalid had made his intentions known to defy the court orders.

In April 2009, Ridzuan took away Prasana, then 11 months old, and converted her and two siblings, Tevi Darsiny, 12, and Karan Dinish, 11, to Islam without Indira Gandhi’s knowledge.

She won custody of her three children by a High Court order in 2010.

On March 11, 2010, the High Court ordered Ridzuan to return Prasana to the mother.

In her application, Indira Gandhi pointed out that initially, Khalid, instead of executing the court orders, had wanted the children involved in the interfaith cases to be placed in welfare homes.

She said the Perak police chief Senior Deputy Commissioner Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani later confirmed that he had been directed to arrest Ridzuan.

She added that both she and Kulasegaran met the Ipoh OCPD on June 25, who revealed that police had been to several locations to look for Ridzuan.

On June 26, Indira Gandhi said Khalid told reporters that he was not arresting Ridzuan but “merely seeing to the safety of the child.”

Kulasegaran said Indira Gandhi was compelled to take this action to prevent lawlessness and for fellow citizens to feel safe.

“I hope the court will give priority to hear this case.

“Law-abiding citizens need protection and the guilty ones must be arrested,” said Kulasegaran in a statement.

‘Break your silence on Indira Gandhi’s case, Najib’

The Prime Minister must show his political courage and will in resolving inter-faith custody issues

GEORGE TOWN: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak should break his silence and make a firm and uncompromising Cabinet decision on inter-faith custody issues.

Ipoh Barat MP and DAP national vice-chairman M Kulasegaran said Najib must inform the public if his Cabinet was committed to enforcing its 2009 decision banning unilateral conversion of minors.

He said if so, Najib must publicly inform when the law would be amended in Parliament to conform with and enforce the executive ban.

But, he said if the Cabinet had abandoned the 2009 decision, the Prime Minister must explain to the people the reasons for the U-turn and how the government would resolve interfaith custody matters.

Kulasegaran is the legal counsel for M Indira Gandhi, who is involved in a bitter legal battle with her Muslim convert ex-husband Ridzuan Abdullah, previously known as K Patmanathan, over the custody of their youngest six-year-old daughter, Prasana Diksa.

“The Prime Minister must show his political courage and will in Indira Gandhi’s case and interfaith custody matters,” Kulasegaran said in a statement here today.

He pointed out that Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Jamil Khir Baharom, had said in a written reply to him on June 17 in Parliament that the government had no intention of amending the law in compliance with the Cabinet ban.

Jamil Khir quoted the case of Shamala Sathiyaseelan vs Dr Jeyaganesh C Mogarajah L Anor (2004) and said that based on the decision, the consent of one parent is sufficient in deciding a minor’s religion as the word parent in Article 12 (4) of the Federal Constitution is parent or guardian, and not parents or guardians that means either father or mother or guardian.

The Prime Minister has yet to break his silence on Jamil Khir’s reply.

In April 2009, Ridzuan took away Prasana, then 11 months old, and converted her and her two siblings, Tevi Darsiny, then 12, and Karan Dinish, then 11, to Islam without Indira Gandhi’s knowledge.

The High Court later granted Indira Gandhi full custody of all three children.

On May 30, Ipoh High Court judge Lee Swee Seng issued a warrant of arrest against Ridzuan for contempt after he repeatedly failed to return Prasana.

“Indira Gandhi’s agony and trauma are not yet over after five years of pain and suffering, even after having obtained a court order,” said Kulasegaran.