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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Azmin: M’sia negara berhutang paling tinggi di Asia Tenggara

Disiplin fiskal yang lemah menyebabkan hutang negara terus meningkat daripada 36% KDNK pada tahun 1998 kepada 54.7% (jangkaan) pada tahun 2014.
UPDATED

KUALA LUMPUR: Bajet 2014 dilihat masih kekal sebagai bajet defisit, 16 tahun berturut – turut semenjak krisis kewangan Asia berlaku ekoran amalan dan pelaksanaan dasar fikal ekonomi.

Ahli Parlimen Gombak Azmin Ali berkata, disiplin fiskal yang lemah menyebabkan hutang negara terus meningkat daripada 36% Keluaran Dalam Negara Kasar (KDNK) pada tahun 1998 kepada 54.7% (jangkaan) pada tahun 2014.

Ini berdasarkan laporan Maybank Berhad bahawa hutang negara bagi tahun 2013 dijangka meningkat kepada RM 541.3 bilion dan akan terus meningkat kepada RM 578.4 bilion iaitu 54.7% daripada jumlah KDNK.

” Ini adalah rekod yang tertinggi di Asia Tenggara,” katanya semasa ucapan perbahasan Bajet 2014 dalam Dewan Rakyat hari ini.

Katanya, dalam tempoh 56 tahun negara mencapai kemerdekaan, Malaysia mengalami defisit fiskal selama 49 tahun dan hanya menikmati lebihan kewangan selama 5 tahun berturut-turut (tahun 1993-1998), iaitu ketika Ketua Pembangkang Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim menajdi Menteri Kewangan.

“Negara hari ini tidak mempunyai ‘fiscal space’ untuk berbelanja kerana hutang negara yang terlalu besar dan ianya juga tidak mempunyai ‘political will’ untuk memerangi rasuah dan menangani masalah ketirisan dan salahguna kuasa,” katanya.

Menyentuh mengenai cukai barangan dan perkhidmatan (GST), Timbalan Presiden PKR itu berkata, pihaknya menyokong sistem percukaian yang dilihatnya telus sekaligus mampu mengurangkan kebergantungan pendapatan daripada hasil sumber petroleum dan gas.

Malah GST juga dilihatnya boleh menjadi satu rangsangan kepada rakyat untuk meningkatkan simpanan serta tidak boros dalam berbelanja.

Bagaimanapun, tegasnya rakyat Malaysia hari ini masih belum bersedia untuk perlaksanaan GSTkerana lebih 40% rakyat berpendapatan isi rumah kurang daripada RM 2,500 sebulan; 80% daripadanya adalah orang Melayu dan Bumiputera.

Hal ini menurut Azmin bertambah serius apabila Bajet 2014 memotong RM 7.29 bilion jumlah subsidi kepada rakyat yang akan menyebabkan kos produktiviti meningkat dan kuasa membeli atau ‘purchasing power’ rakyat semakin lemah (inflasi).

“Persoalannya adakah kerajaan telah meneliti impak sosio ekonomi rakyat dengan perlaksanaan GST dan pemotongan subsidi rakyat?

“Penganalisis ekonomi mengunjurkan tahap inflasi akan meningkat sebanyak 2% apabila GST dilaksanakan.

“Jika perlaksanaan GST ini konsisten dengan langkah pemotongan subsidi yang diumumkan, maka dijangkakan kadar inflasi akan terus meningkat sehingga kadar 5% pada tahun 2015,” katanya.

Sementara itu, katanya langkah kerajaan menarik balik RM 551.25 juta subsidi gula dan subsidi minyak masak bernilai RM 505.4 juta akan terus membebankan rakyat.

“Kerajaan wajar memberikan perhatian di atas tuntutan Pakatan Rakyat supaya memecahkan monopoli industri gula.

“Belanjawan negara bukan sekadar bertujuan untuk meningkatkan hasil negara tetapi menguruskan perbelanjaan secara berhemah dan mengambil langkah proaktif untuk membanteras ketirisan dan amalan rasuah,” katanya.

Sementara itu Bernama melaporkan Timbalan Presiden PKR Azmin Ali menegaskan pakatan pembangkang tidak pernah menolak pelaksanaan Cukai Barangan dan Perkhidmatan (GST) yang mahu dilaksanakan kerajaan.

Nada

Berbeza nada dengan rakan seperjuangannya yang lain termasuk Ketua Pembangkang Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Azmin berkata pendirian pembangkang adalah GST merupakan satu sistem percukaian yang cukup telus, efisien dan dalam jangka masa panjang mampu memberi kebaikan kepada sistem ekonomi negara.

Bagaimanapun menurut anggota Parlimen Gombak itu, Malaysia dilihat masih belum bersedia untuk melaksanakan cukai baharu itu kerana lebih 40 peratus rakyat mempunyai pendapatan isi rumah kurang daripada RM2,500 sebulan dengan 80 peratus daripadanya adalah orang Melayu dan Bumiputera.

“Sudah pasti, jika dilaksanakan GST akan menekan golongan dalam kelompok berpendapatan rendah dan rakyat miskin,” katanya ketika membahaskan Rang Undang-Undang Perbekalan 2014 di Dewan Rakyat di sini, hari ini.

Beliau berkata dalam pelaksanaan sistem percukaian itu, perhatian tidak sewajarnya diberi kepada golongan miskin tegar samata-mata, tetapi juga kepada golongan yang mempunyai bebanan hutang yang tinggi termasuk pekerja muda, pasangan yang baharu berkahwin dan juga mereka yang mempunyai tanggungan yang ramai.

Hutang

Malah, katanya, FOMCA melaporkan sejumlah 47 peratus pekerja muda di negara ini dibebani jumlah hutang yang begitu serius, manakala Kajian Pusat Pendidikan dan Penyelidikan Pengguna menyatakan lebih 30 peratus daripada gaji golongan muda digunakan untuk membayar hutang sekaligus mengesahkan beban dan kesempitan hidup generasi muda dan rakyat secara keseluruhannya.

Azmin turut menyarankan satu reformasi sistem percukaian yang bersifat meluas dan komprehensif digubal segera bagi menggantikan Cukai Jualan dan Perkhidmatan (SST) yang menyumbang tujuh peratus kepada pendapatan negara.

Azmin dalam hujahnya berkata dalam pelaksanaan GST, kerajaan perlu memperbetul falsafah dan matlamatnya agar menjurus kepada menjadi satu rangsangan kepada rakyat untuk meningkatkan simpanan serta tidak boros berbelanja.

“Pendek kata, GST bertujuan untuk mengagihkan semula atau mempelbagai, dan bukan meningkatkan bebanan cukai…bukannya berobjektifkan memperoleh pendapatan RM27 bilion,” katanya.

Katanya kerajaan perlu belajar daripada negara maju di mana negara terbabit hanya mula melaksanakan GST selepas infrastruktur cukai sudah kukuh di samping kadar cukai pendapatan juga turut dikurangkan bagi memastikan rakyat tidak terbeban.

Ibrahim: Umno’s betrayal still hurts

Perkasa is more relevant now as Umno Youth has become increasingly irrelevant in championing the Malay agenda, says the Perkasa chief.

KUALA LUMPUR: Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali accuses Umno of betraying him in 2003 when he was sacked as Pasir Mas Umno division chief after the redelineation of boundaries.

Speaking to FMT in an exclusive interview, Ibrahim said that he was devastated for all the hard work he had put in for the party which led him to stand as an independent candidate in 2004 general election as a sign of protest.

“The feeling of being sacked is worse than being detained under ISA. I never shed a tear when I was detained under ISA because I believed in my struggle for the Malays and Islam,” Ibrahim commented on his bitter experience.

He also expressed his gratitude towards PAS for inviting him to join the party when no one else cared about him.

“PAS gave me a lifeline in politics after I was sacked by former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and totally forgotten by Umno,” he said.

Ibrahim appreciates PAS’ goodwill but does not agree to the party’s collaboration with DAP as his struggle was for the Malays and Islam.

“I supported Umno for the Malays and Islam, yet I was still sidelined,” he told FMT.

Perkasa more relevant now

Though upset with Umno, Ibrahim feels that the Pakatan Rakyat government will not be able to guarantee the stability of the nation like the ruling coalition.

“Who doesn’t want a change? Given a chance, I might opt for a change in the government every five years,” said Ibrahim.

He also said that Pakatan was not ready to rule Malaysia as it cannot agree to a common policy within the coalition.

“Everything is still the same, nothing has changed, except the leaders are becoming from bad to worse,” he chuckled while commenting on the new elected Umno line-up.

Meanwhile, speaking on Perkasa’s relevance, Ibrahim said the organisation was more relevant now, as Umno Youth has become more irrelevant now, leaving the championing of Malay agenda to Perkasa.

He also said Perkasa has helped increase support for BN in Malay states by organising events and rallies.

“What kind of liberalism and progressiveness is Umno Youth talking about when the movement has failed to get youths behind Barisan Nasional in the last election?” Ibrahim asked.

Ibrahim elaborated that liberalism means acknowledging the rights of the non-Malays to practice their culture and tradition, and to live their way of life with no intrusion.

Two Iranian women on death row to face ‘due process’

The government's insistence that two Iranian women sentenced to death for drug trafficking must face due process could anger Tehran.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia insisted Wednesday two Iranian women sentenced to death for drug trafficking must face “due process” despite a warning from Tehran that their executions would harm bilateral relations.

Shahrzad Mansour, 31, and Neda Mostafaei, 26, were sentenced to death in September for smuggling methamphetamine into Malaysia in December 2010. Defence lawyers are appealing the case.

The two Muslim nations both use the death penalty against drug traffickers.

But Iran’s foreign ministry warned last week that executing the women would have a “negative effect” on bilateral ties, and called for them to be spared.

In a statement sent to AFP, Malaysia’s Foreign Ministry said that while it valued relations with Iran it could not tolerate “illegal activities, which are detrimental to Malaysia’s image and security”.

“Any infringement of the laws, whether committed by foreigners or Malaysian citizens, will be dealt with in accordance with Malaysian laws,” it said.

“Malaysia assures Iran of the independence of the judiciary system… It is in this context that we hope for Iran to understand that any decision of our courts is carried out in accordance to the due processes of law,” it added.

More than 200 Iranians are jailed in Malaysia, mostly for drug-related offenses, the statement said.

About half of the 200 have been convicted, with 70 either serving a life sentence or on death row, it added.

The two women were arrested on arrival at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

The court was told that drug traffickers had promised them a free trip to Malaysia in exchange for transporting “food items” that were filled with methamphetamine without their knowledge.

The Malaysian judge in the case dismissed that defense as a “fairy tale”.

Though hundreds of people are on death row in Malaysia, the country has carried out few executions in recent years.

Iran has one of the world’s highest execution rates, with more than 500 cases last year and almost the same number so far this year, according to human rights watchdogs.

Malaysia is a predominantly Sunni Muslim country while Iran is predominantly Shia.

Suhakam, JKOASM kecewa tiada peruntukan untuk syor laporan

Suhakam berharap peruntukan wang akan disediakan oleh kerajaan untuk melaksanakan syor-syor laporannya.

PETALING JAYA: Pemangku Pengerusi Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia (Suhakam) Datuk Khaw Lake Tee berkata bahawa Suhakam kecewa kerana tiada wang diperuntukkan untuk melaksanakan syor-syornya berkaitan isu hak tanah Orang Asli.

“Suhakam kecewa kerana tiada peruntukan di dalam Bajet 2014 untuk pelaksanaan syor -syor seperti mana yang disebut di dalam Laporan Inkuiri Nasional Mengenai Hak Tanah Orang Asli.

Khaw berkata demikian ketika diminta mengulas mengenai ketiadaan peruntukan di dalam Bajet 2014 untuk pelaksanaan syor Suhakam di dalam Laporan Inkuiri Nasional Mengenai Hak Tanah Orang Asli yang dikeluarkan dua bulan lalu.

“Suhakam berharap kerajaan akan memperuntukkan sejumlah wang untuk pelaksanaan syor-syor tersebut sebaik sahaja jawatankuasa khas lantikan kerajaan selesai mengkaji syor- syor yang telah dikemukakan,” tambahnya lagi, sambil merujuk kepada jawatankuasa khas yang diketuai oleh Ketua Pengarah Institut Integriti Malaysia, Datuk Mohd Tap Salleh.

Penubuhan jawatankuasa khas tersebut diumumkan pada bulan Ogos lalu.

Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak merangkap Menteri Kewangan telah mengumumkan peruntukan sebanyak RM 50 juta untuk masyarakat Orang Asal Sabah dan Sarawak.

Peruntukan tersebut diberikan untuk tujuan pengukuran dan pemilikan tanah adat.

Selain itu, sebanyak RM105 juta telah diperuntukkan untuk pembangunan masyarakat Orang Asli.

Sementara itu penyelaras Jaringan Kampung Orang Asli Semenanjung Malaysia (JKOASM), Tijah Yok Chopil melahirkan rasa kecewanya terhadap Bajet 2014.

“Apa niat kerajaan? Kerajaan seolah-olah tiada tumpuan. Kami tidak faham,” kata Tijah yang menambah bahawa bajet yang dibentangkan tidak selaras dengan niat kerajaan untuk memberi pengiktirafan terhadap wilayah dan tanah Orang Asli.

Bajet itu juga katanya tidak mengambil kira pandangan Jabatan Kemajuan Orang Asli (JAKOA) yang sering kali berkata bahawa mereka tidak mempunyai peruntukan yang mencukupi untuk membuat pengukuran tanah.

Beliau turut mempersoalkan mengapa RM105 juta diperuntukkan tanpa tujuan yang jelas.

‘Most scholarships awarded based on ethinicity’

Teresa Kok disagrees with Shahidan Kassim that scholarships are no longer given based on race.

PETALING JAYA: Most of the government scholarships for overseas study were offered based on ethinicity in the past five years, unlike what Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Shahidan Kassim has claimed, Seputeh parliamentarian Teresa Kok said.

In a statement today, Kok said Shahidan had misled the public by saying that the Public Service Department’s scholarship were given based on one’s merit.

Shahidan had said non-Bumiputra made up closed to 45% of the government scholarships recipients such as in the case of 2008 where 1,100 Bumiputra students and 900 non-Bumiputra were offered the study aids.

In 2009, 924 out of 2,100 scholarships were given to non-Bumiputra students; in 2010, 779 of the 1,750; in 2011, 618 out of 1,500; and in 2012, 120 of the 300.

Kok said Shahidan’s statement was in direct contradiction with what his predecessor Nazri Abdul Aziz had said in 2010 and 2011.

On June 30, 2010, Nazri said the 3,000 scholarships for that year were allocated under four categories, of which only 300 were awarded based on merit while 900 were based on racial compositions.

In May 2911, Nazri said of the 1,500 scholarship offered, only 300 were allocated for the merit category with 900 for racial composition category. The remaining were awarded to the Sabah and Sarawak natives, and the socially disadvantaged.

“It is obvious that Shahidan has not been properly briefed about the PSD overseas scholarships and he should therefore seek the correct answers and retract his misleading remarks,” Kok said.

She also urged Shahidan to explain the reason behind the declining number of scholarships offered since 2009.

“The drastic drop to 300 in 2012 is simply shocking. It is not justifiable in view that the prime minister has failed to rein in his own department’s spending and has allocated RM16.45 bil in the 2014 Budget estimate for his department,” he said.

Make vehicle-free zone permanent in Penang’s Little India

CAP says this would enable shoppers to move around freely and safely, turn the area into a paradise for tourists.

GEORGE TOWN: The Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) wants the local council to turn the Little India area here into a permanent vehicle-free zone (VFZ), not just during festive season.

CAP president SM Mohamed Idris said turning the whole Little India area into a VFZ would enable people to walk around freely and safely while shopping.

He said it would also reduce high risk of fire and accidents to the public and properties.

He wants the whole length of Lebuh Pasar, and part of Lebuh Penang, Lebuh King, Lebuh Queen and Lebuh China to be made VFZ.

“It will be a paradise for tourists,” he told a press conference in CAP office here today.

He praised the Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) for granting permits to the Little India traders to set up canopies and carry out their business freely for Deepavali.

But he noted that the canopies had increased in sizes and numbers in each Deepavali shopping period and even petty traders had joined the bandwagon.

He said this year the congestion had reached maximum level in the area as both sides of parking bays had been occupied by canopies, forcing vehicles to be parked haphazardly and illegally at road junctions, alleys and service roads.

A check by FMT showed that even though currently vehicles had been blocked from entering into Little India area, some motorists had defied the traffic directive and removed blockade to drive through.

This not only had compounded the already congested shopping place but also puts pedestrians at risk.

“The canopies on both sides take up two thirds of the width of the roads, leaving only about one third of the space for shoppers, tourists and vehicles passing through, risking the safety of people and property.

“Should there be a fire, it would be catastrophic, as even fire engines may have difficulty coming in,” warned Idris.

Therefore, he said turning the whole Little India into a VFZ would be an advantage to shoppers, tourists and traders.

He said heavy vehicles coming in to the area to load and unload goods can be allowed at scheduled times during the day, while all private vehicles should directed to park in multi-storey car parks in bordering roads like Lebuh Pantai and Lebuh Union.

“Elderly people may be dropped off or picked up at the nearest point and they may use trolleys to transport their goods,” said Idris.

Mugilan’s defamation appeal against FMT dismissed

The Court of Appeal dismisses Mugilan's appeal on his defamation action and orders him to pay costs to the news portal.

PETALING JAYA: The Court of Appeal today upheld a High Court verdict dismissing MIC deputy youth leader V Mugilan’s defamation suit against online news portal Free Malaysia Today (FMT).

“In a brief oral judgment, the Court of Appeal made a unanimous finding that FMT had succeeding in proving its defence to the claim. Therefore, the appeal was dismissed,” said FMT lawyer Clement Lopez today.

He added that the court also instructed Mugilan to pay RM10,000 in costs.

On Oct 15, 2012, Judicial Commissioner Ahmad Zaki Husin of the Shah Alam High Court had said FMT’s article entitled “MIC’s Mugilan accused of swindling temple” did not, when read as a whole, impute that Mugilan had committed any criminal offence as alleged by him in the suit.

He then ordered Mugilan to pay RM30,000 in costs.

The FMT article was about a police report filed by the Serendah Indian Community Association alleging the sum of RM400,000 had been paid out without proper authorisation from funds held by the Sri Selva Vinayaga Temple.

The report also quoted Mugilan as denying the allegation, saying the money was used to pay a deposit to a contractor appointed to build a crematorium.

He sued for damages, claiming the article was false and constituted libel against him.

Girl crawls out of grave after being raped, buried alive

A 13-year-old girl has dug herself out of a muddy grave after being raped by two men who then buried her alive in Pakistan.

The teen was abducted from her local village in the Punjab province while she was walking to Koran lessons.

Her father Siddique Mughal told police his daughter had been taken, but they refused to cooperate, Outlook India reported.

The men took the young girl to an isolated place and raped her and then buried her alive as they believed she died during the brutal attack.

But the girl managed to dig her way out the muddy grave and caught the attention of passers-by who helped her to a local medical center.

After local police refused to investigate, the Lahore High Court Chief Justice’s Complaint Cell formally directed them to arrest the girl’s attackers and complete a report on the incident without delay.

A sessions judge for the local Toba Tek Singh region has also been asked to look into the matter.

Child rape remains a problem in Pakistan where local activist group Sahil said cultural myths persist such as HIV positive men believing they can be cured through sex with a virgin.

Statistic show cases of child rape have risen from 668 in 2002 to 2,788 last year, according to the International Business Times.

“We still think these statistics are just a fraction of what’s going on,” Sanihl’s executive director Manizeh Bano told the International Business Times.

 This story originally appeared on News.com.au.

Investors who 'lost RM12mil' fume at Najib in London

In a blow to Malaysia's overseas reputation, a group called British Victims of Investing in Malaysia (BVIM) protested in the streets of London on Wednesday, urging Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to help them recover their lost life savings.

BVIM protested outside the Excel exhibition and convention centre in London, the site of the World Islamic Economic Forum. Najib was the event's patron.

The group demanded that Najib act against Doxport Technologies Sdn Bhd, a firm owned by former Umno treasurer-general Abdul Azim Mohd Zabidi (left), which they alleged cheated UK citizens off some RM12 million.

"It is ridiculous that after over two years since we lodged a criminal case in Malaysia, that no charges have been made or people arrested - I tell all my friends, colleagues and the people I meet to never invest in Malaysia!" Steven, a bank worker, was quoted in a BVIM press statement.

Doxport had allegedly taken money from the British investors for the purchase and installation of telecommunication equipment in 2008 but the investors have received no payback since.

Sixty British investors, through Fiscal Capital Sdn Bhd, had filed a RM12 million suit against Doxport this year, following inaction even after a police report made in October 2011.

Another investor, Mohammed, a bus driver, was quoted saying: "I invested my life savings because I liked Malaysia, My family is really suffering and it seems the law means nothing in Malaysia. I hope no one invests there and suffers like us."

The protesters questioned if Malaysia followed the rule of law and warned others against investing in the country.

London Metropolitan Police gave permission for the protest and BVIM claimed they also had the backing of some 15 British MPs.

Kamalanathan, stay resolute and stand your ground

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

Take it up with the sultans, Perkasa tells Kamalanathan

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MIC to seek two-day public holiday for Deepavali

The MIC will put forward a proposal to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, urging the government to declare two days as public holidays for Deepavali.

MIC president G Palanivel said as a national festival celebrated by not only the Indians and the Sikh community in the country but all races, the government should consider declaring two days to enable the festival to be celebrated in a bigger scale.

“Currently one day is declared for Deepavali. I will submit a proposal to the prime minister during the MIC Deepavali open house in Batu Caves on Nov 2, seeking two days (public holidays) for Deepavali.

“Deepavali celebrations currently defers from the past as all races are involved in the celebration because it has become a national festival that is celebrated for 30 days when compared to the past when it was only a one day festival,” he told reporters in Putrajaya today.

Palanivel, who is also the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, said Deepavali or also known as the Festival of Lights, was among major festivals celebrated in the country, just like Hari Raya Aldilfitri and Chinese New Year.

To join in the festive season, the government has already enhanced its scope by allocating locations and providing facilities to set up temporary stalls where shopping carnivals are held for the convenience of those celebrating Deepavali.

Meanwhile, Palanivel said the MIC expects about 10,000 people, including tourists and well wishers from all races, to attend the MIC Deepavali open house on Saturday.

- Bernama

If so, restrict cow slaughter to religious schools

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

Cow slaughter part of school education, says MP

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dr.Subra use your Ministerial power under Section 8 (Medical Act) to recognize CSMU.

The administration of Crimea State Medical University (CSMU) of Ukraine has made a re-appeal on the 9th of October 2013 to the Health Minister, Dato Seri Dr S. Subramaniam upon receiving the Malaysian Medical Council’s (MMC) report recently. On the 8th of October 2013, CSMU received a fax from MMC highlighting several areas of concern to be addressed before re-appealing for its recognition.

Among the several highlighted concerns is for CSMU to increase the number of clinical hours for future Malaysian students and emphasis is to be given to Tropical Medicine. Besides the above, the medical council has also furnished the university with the Malaysian entry requirement.

In a written reply to Dr.S.Subramaniam, the chancellor of CSMU, Prof A.A Babanin has ensured that all compliance suggested will be met for Malaysian students. CSMU went a step further by ensuring Dr. Subra that they would employ Malaysian based lectures for several critical clinical key areas for the Malaysian students apart from the suggested increase in clinical hours. CSMU will also send several of its lectures to Malaysian public and private universities for exposure on the Malaysian system where the medical council will be updated on the process.

According to Prof Babanin, CSMU intends to find a permanent long term solution for Malaysian students hence resolving any future concerns. In order for the said mechanism to be put into practice, CSMU requires the Malaysian recognition and hopes Dr Subra will expedite his delivery.

All suggested changes is to be done without affecting the Ukrainian accreditation and MMC is welcomed to inspect CSMU at any time in future upon recognition.

It has been now over three weeks since the proposal has been brought to Dr Subra and we are awaiting for his prompt response as there is no further reason for any delay.

In another development, about 2800 medical students from Egypt have been given an offer to join 29 local public and private institutions with the aid of PTPTN. The only concerns raised by a MMC council member, Datuk Dr Abdul Razak is that the curriculum in Egypt and Malaysia are not the same. “In the local institutions, students enroll in the medical programme after foundation studies whereas students normally leave for medical schools in Egypt after finishing the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination”.

A check by Keadilan with the MMC entry requirement for local medical schools revealed that foundation is a compulsory requirement for entry into a medical program. The following regulation has been put into practice to ensure the highest quality and competence of the medical profession.

S.Jayathas
Deputy Chairman
Human Rights & Legal Bureau KEADILAN

Schools are not abattoirs

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

By Kua Kia Soong

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Teach our children to care for animals

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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