Dutch space firm responds to fatwa against living on Mars

The General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowment in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had issued an fatwa (Islamic ruling) prohibiting Muslims from volunteering to live the rest of their lives on Mars.

World Bulletin / News Desk

Mars One, a Dutch company that is planning to create a permanent human settlement on the planet Mars in 2023, has responded to criticisms in a religious ruling offered by Muslim scholars forbidding Muslims from participating in the project.

The General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowment in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had issued an fatwa (Islamic ruling) prohibiting Muslims from volunteering to live the rest of their lives on Mars.

“Such a one-way journey poses a real risk to life, and that can never be justified in Islam,” the committee said, adding “There is a possibility that an individual who travels to planet Mars may not be able to remain alive there, and is more vulnerable to death.”

However, Mars One replied to this quoting a verse from the Qur'an in a statement to the Telegraph: “The verse from the Quran ['and among His Signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the variations in your languages and your colors: verily in that are Signs for those who know (Quran 30: 22)'] encourages Muslims to go out and see the signs of God’s creation in the 'heavens and the earth'.”

Saying that the Muslim world has a rich tradition of exploration, Mars One gave the example of the Moroccan Muslim traveler Ibn Battuta “who from 1325 to 1355 travelled 73,000 miles, visiting the equivalent of 44 modern countries.”

“Space exploration, just like Earth exploration, will come with risks and rewards. It may seem extremely dangerous to send humans to Mars today, but the humans will be preceded by at least eight cargo missions,” the organization said.

“Robotic unmanned vehicles will prepare the habitable settlement. Water and a breathable atmosphere will be produced inside the habitat and the settlement will be operational for two years, even before the first crew leaves Earth.

“If we may be so bold: the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowment (GAIAE) should not analyze the risk as they perceive it today. The GAIAE should assess the potential risk for humans as if an unmanned habitable outpost is ready and waiting on Mars. Any progress requires taking risks, but in this case the reward is "the next giant leap for mankind". That reward is certainly worth the risks involved in this mission.”

It added: “Mars One respectfully requests GAIAE to cancel the Fatwa and make the greatest Rihla, or journey, of all times open for Muslims, too.

“They can be the first Muslims to witness the signs of God’s creation in heaven, drawing upon the rich culture of travel and exploration of early Islam.

Many Muslims including some 500 Saudi Arabians and other Arabs are reported to be among the thousands of volunteer applicants worldwide to participate in the Dutch-sponsored one-way trip to the Red Planet, according to UAE's Khaleej Times, after the $6 billion project was announced in April 2013.

19 Islamic words banned for non-Muslims in Brunei

newsdesk@thesundaily.com

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (Feb 23, 2014): The Brunei government will ban the use of 19 Islamic words, including "Allah" and "masjid", by non-Muslims, according to the Brunei Times today.

The ban will take effect from April, the paper said.

Under the Syariah Penal Code Order, these words cannot be used with respect to other religions.

They are azan; baitullah; Al Quran; Allah; fatwa; Firman Allah; hadith; haji; hukum syara'; ilahi; Ka'bah; kalimah al syahadah; kiblat; masjid; imam; mufti; mu'min; solat; and wali.

The Brunei Times quoted Hardifadhillah Mohd Salleh, a senior syariah legal officer of the Islamic Legal Unit as telling staff of the Industry and Primary Resources Ministry on key parts of the order during a briefing.

He also said certain provisions of the order also apply to non-Muslims, such as zina (adultery) with a Muslim partner, drinking alcohol in a public place, and khalwat (close proximity) with a Muslim partner.

If convicted, the penalty is a fine of up to B$4,000 and/or one year in prison.

For adultery between a married Muslim and a married non-Muslim, both parties can be punished by stoning to death if the offence is proven by confession, or the testimony of four eye-witnesses.

The paper quoted Hardifadhillah as saying that any person who instigates any Muslim man or woman to divorce, or neglect their duties towards their partner can be fined up to B$4,000 and/or jailed for a year.

"Additionally, any Muslim parent who surrenders his child into the care of a non-Muslim can be fined up to B$20,000 and/or jailed for up to five years," he was quoted as saying.

Brunei will enforce the Syariah Penal Code Order in three phases.

Muslim group questions motive of Christian missionaries in giving out Bahasa leaflets in Subang Jaya

 

A copy of the Bahasa Malaysia Bible. It was reported that a parent-teacher association head in Penang had caught three men handing out Bibles titled 'Kenalilah al-Kitab' at a school. – The Malaysian Insider pic, February 24, 2014.

 

Muslim group Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) has claimed that Christian missionaries are going around Subang Jaya and spreading their faith using leaflets written in Bahasa Malaysia.

The leaflets, titled "Semua penderitaan akan berakhir tidak lama lagi" (All sufferings will end soon), talked about how the people's lives are similar to what has been predicted in the Bible.

"Besides that, the leaflets also questioned who deserved to rule and whose leadership is the best. There were also questions on whether human beings could live more happily if God does not rule over them and why God didn't destroy Adam and Eve and create another pair of humans," Isma said in a statement today.

According to Isma, based on the information in a blog (akarimomar.wordpress.com), volunteers monitoring the USJ Subang Jaya, area had detained a foreign couple, believed to be from the United States, and a Chinese man.

"According to the volunteers, the Christian group was seen giving out the leaflets but had deceived them by saying it was only given to Chinese and Indians.

"However, when questioned about their intentions in handing out the Bahasa Malaysia leaflets to Chinese and Indians, and also if they could speak Bahasa Malaysia, the missionaries couldn't answer," Isma said.

Similar allegations were also highlighted in Penang after Bahasa Malaysia daily Sinar Harian reported that Sekolah Menengah Haji Zainal Abidin parent-teacher association (PTA) chairman Nor Amin Ahmad's had claimed that he had caught three men handing out Bibles at another school in the area.

Nor Amin was quoted to have said that the Bibles were titled “Kenalilah al-Kitab (Know the Bible)” and contained the words “Sebuah panorama Firman Allah dalam 366 bacaan dan renungan harian” (The Word of God in 366 daily readings and reflections), adding that there have been acts of proselytisation among the students themselves.

State religious exco Datuk Abdul Malik Kassim, however, revealed that the allegations were found to be false after the department conducted its investigations.

He said the allegations were brought on by "extremists" who wanted to create tension among the various races in the country.

"Extremists, including racial and religious extremists have no place in any society. It has to be curbed before the seed grows and affects the whole nation," he had said.

MP to table Bill to bar abuse of affirmative action

PSM's Sungai Siput MP Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj will table a Private Member's Bill on social inclusion in the next Dewan Rakyat sitting to prevent affirmative action abuse, including through political ties.

Termed the 'Social Inclusion Bill 2014', the Bill has been submitted to the parliament secretariat this morning for tabling in the sitting which commences March 10.

The Bill is supported by DAP's Serdang MP Ong Kian Ming (left). However, he stressed that this is in his capacity as a MP, and that he is not representing DAP's stand on the matter.

Addressing media on the matter today, he said that this is needed to create “checks and balance” and ensure that marginalised groups are receiving the benefits of affirmative action.

“In Malaysia, there is a tendency for institutionalised racism (where) certain groups are not recognised by the system.

“There is also a tendency for people who are not poor to benefit from affirmative action...based on political affiliations.

“The new Act will help provide a check-and-balance to ensure this aid goes to the group that deserves it,” he told reporters in a livestream of the press conference provided by Rakyat Times.

The preamble of the Bill states that its aim is to develop a “socially inclusive” society and to break inter-generational poverty cycles and yawning disparities.

“A socially inclusive society is one where the basic needs of all members of that society are met, so as to enable them to live in dignity,” it reads.

'Social Inclusion Commission'

Central to the Bill - which began its drafting and public consultation process in August 2012 by NGOs Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia and National Human Rights Society (Hakam) - is the formation of a Social Inclusion Commission.

The commission will develop social inclusion policies, identify marginalised individuals and their needs, as well as develop action plans to address the following:

• Reduce real poverty;
• Reduce income inequality;
• Eradicate institutionalised discrimination; and
• Built the capacity of marginalised communities.

The commission will also be tasked to prescribe “models of intervention” and monitor the implementation of social inclusion plans.

The Bill proposes that the commission have powers to conduct inquiries and surveys, along with being able to intervene in government agencies to ensure each plans are implemented in each parliamentary constitutency.

It will also have access to a special fund set up for the such purposes.

The Bill proposes that the commission is fully answerable to Parliament, with members appointed by the Agong among those recommended by a bipartisan parliamentary select committee headed by Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Meanwhile, Ong said he is backing the Bill due to the “transparent” process it proposes and the commission's powers, accontability to Parliament, and its bipartisan nature.

“Other commissions like the Human Rights Commission are doing a good job to the best of their abilities, but their powers are limited.

“A minister has a lot of discretion of whether to reject or implement (a policy recommendation),” he told reporters.

He said the Bill is consistent with Pakatan Rakyat's 2013 general election manifesto for needs-based affirmative action.

However, DAP, PAS, and PKR have not explicitly expressed support for the Bill. The Bill was included in the PSM and Parti Rakyat Malaysia election manifesto.

Waytha: I have hit the wall

Though Hindraf has been failed by BN, Waythamoorthy says he will persist its agenda and move forward.

PETALING JAYA: Hindraf chairman P Waythamoorthy will continue to engage other strategies and alternatives to ensure the success of the Hindraf blueprint.

In an interview with FMT, Waythamoorthy said the blueprint is not dead but rather not honoured, and calls the document as a great significance to give permanent solution to the poor and underclass Indians.

Last April, the five year blue print in a form of an MOU was signed between Hindraf and Barisan Nasional(BN) to move the poor and displaced Indians in Malaysia into the mainstream of national development.

The Hindraf blueprint covers proposals for intervention in four major areas, namely uplifting displaced estate workers, addressing statelessness among the Malaysian Indian poor, increasing educational opportunities from pre-school to university, increasing employment and business opportunities.

It also outlines a dedicated new unit in the Prime Minister’s Department to be established to carry out the programmes for the four major areas.

Upon resigning from all government positions due to his frustration with Najib Tun Razak’s lack of political will to honour the MOU, Waythamoorthy says he will now go back to his grassroots supporters to meet and explain to them his predicament.

He will be holding a series of meetings in various states with Hindraf members around the nation starting with Selangor and Johor. Other states will follow suit in due time.

“I will explain to the people what actually transpired and it’s our priority at the moment.

“The people also know what we are doing and they ought to understand what transpired during my days in the prime Minister’s office,” said Waythamoorthy.

On another note, Waythamoorthy agrees that MIC has failed the Indians in the country but he still puts the blame entirely on the BN government as a whole.

“Although they have failed the Indian community, I will not place the entire blame on MIC as they have a major role to play, every other Indian knows this.

“How much they have failed us, I don’t have to exert, and beyond that I think the government of the day is responsible towards its citizens.

“In this case the Prime Minister is for all, the Home Minister and Education minister is for all. It is the duty of all these ministers to take care of the citizens, but together they failed the Indian community,” added Waythamoorthy.

Warga asing kena bayar kos sebenar perubatan, kata Subramaniam

Dengan pelaksanaan langkah tersebut, kerajaan mampu menjimatkan sehingga RM100 juta setahun

PUTRAJAYA: Warga asing bakal dikenakan bayaran kos perubatan sebenar di klinik dan hospital kerajaan tidak lama lagi, kata Menteri Kesihatan Datuk Seri Dr S.Subramaniam.

Beliau berkata pada masa ini warga asing termasuk pekerja dan pelajar yang mendapatkan rawatan di klinik dan hospital kerajaan menikmati subsidi perubatan antara 30 hingga 40 peratus.

“Dengan pelaksanaan langkah tersebut, kerajaan mampu menjimatkan sehingga RM100 juta setahun yang wang itu boleh digunakan untuk meningkatkan lagi mutu perkhidmatan kesihatan dan perubatan di negara ini,” katanya pada sidang media selepas menghadiri perhimpuan bulanan kementerian itu di sini hari ini.

Beliau berkata kementerian sedang memuktamadkan kos tersebut sebelum dikuatkuasakan.

Beliau turut melancarkan logo rasmi kementerian dengan moto ‘Kami Sedia Membantu’ yang akan diguna pakai bagi jabatan, institusi, unit dan agensi kesihatan selain urusan surat menyurat dan portal kementerian.

Dr Subramaniam berkata di beberapa negara Eropah seperti United Kingdom, warga asing perlu memiliki polisi perubatan sendiri yang jika tidak mereka terpaksa menanggung segala kos perubatannya.

Beliau berkata oleh itu rakyat perlu menghargai perkhidmatan kesihatan kerajaan yang memberikan subsidi kepada mereka sehingga 98 peratus.

Sementara itu beliau berkata kerajaan memperuntukkan RM1.9 bilion tahun ini bagi pembangunan hospital dan klinik di seluruh negara merangkumi kos pembinaan blok tambahan baharu dan kerja-kerja menaik taraf.

“Kita cuba menyelesaikan seberapa banyak masalah yang dihadapi oleh hospital. Kita menerima hakikat bahawa kebanyakan hospital perlu di naik taraf dan ia tidak boleh dilakukan sekali gus tetapi secara berperingkat,” katanya.

- Bernama

PAS perlu tangani isu Melayu dan Felda jika mahu ke Putrajaya

Antara dakyah untuk menakut-nakutkan orang Melayu ialah, jika Pakatan Rakyat membentuk kerajaan, hak orang Melayu akan terhakis.

KUALA PILAH :PAS perlu menangani isu-isu yang melibatkan orang Islam, Melayu dan masyarakat Felda jika PAS mahu ke Putrajaya pada Pilihan Raya Umum ke-14 nanti.

Bercakap dalam Konvensyen PAS Negeri Sembilan di Hotel Melang Inn, Kuala Pilah kelmarin, Pesuruhjaya PAS Negeri Sembilan Mohd Taufek Abdul Ghani berkata isu-isu yang membelenggu orang Melayu dan masyarakat Felda perlu ditangani dan diurus secara professional dengan memperkasakan Lajnah Penerangan, Jabatan Penyelidikan dan Strategik PAS Negeri Sembilan supaya rakyat khususnya orang Melayu dapat difahamkan dan akhirnya mengundi PAS dan Pakatan Rakyat.

“Walau macam mana sekali pun, PAS harus menembusi kubu kuat Umno di kawasan majoriti Melayu khususnya Felda, kampung tradisi dan kawasan luar bandar jika berhasrat membentuk Kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat Negeri Sembilan dan seterusnya menuju ke Putrajaya (Kerajaan Pusat).

“Antara dakyah yang paling popular dimainkan oleh Umno untuk menakut-nakutkan orang Melayu ialah, jika Pakatan Rakyat membentuk kerajaan, maka orang Cina akan menjadi Perdana Menteri, seterusnya hak orang Melayu akan terhakis.

“Walaubagaimanapun sokongan rakyat bukan Islam khususnya pengundi Cina juga perlu dikekalkan bahkan harus ditingkatkan melalui penubuhan Dewan Himpunan Penyokong PAS (DHPP) di peringkat kawasan dan menerusi kerjasama Pakatan Rakyat iaitu DAP dan PKR dalam program-program yang dianjurkan.

“Berhubung dengan sokongan pengundi India, satu kajian dan tindakan oleh DHPP, Lajnah Perpaduan Nasional, Lajnah Penerangan dan Jabatan Pilihanraya akan kita segera laksanakan,” kata Mohd Taufek.

Sementara itu dalam sessi perbahasan, perwakilan PAS Jelebu, Khairul Azidi meminta PAS Negeri Sembilan melipatgandakan usaha di kawasan Felda kerana sokongan kepada Umno di kawasan Felda sangat kuat.

“Kita buat program penerangan ‘Jelajah Oren’ dan kita mengetengahkan isu-isu peneroka Felda seperti hutang tanam semula peneroka yang sangat tinggi dan beberapa lagi isu membabitkan peneroka termasuk isu saham Koperasi Permodalan Felda.

“Tetapi kita dihalang daripada masuk ke kawasan Felda sehingga ada ahli kita dicederakan dan cermin kenderaan pacuan empat roda kita dipecahkan.

“Oleh itu sesuatu harus dilakukan untuk menarik sokongan peneroka Felda dan Generasi kedua serta ketiga untuk menyokong kita,” katanya.

‘Anwar a brother to church, not politician’

Malaysiakini

Deflecting claims that it carried out a “political activity,” the Holy Family Church (HFC) in Kajang said today that it invited by-election candidate Anwar Ibrahim to its church last Sunday for the sake of inter-faith harmony and not to win him more voters.

HFC’s parish priest George Harrison said the unusual initiative originated from a church member and he allowed it only because it was consistent with the church’s mission to boost  ties between Christians and Muslims in the country.

“I have been talking to people about building bridges with our Muslim brothers and sisters and so the event was allowed because a parishioner proposed it,” he told Malaysiakini.

“It was not meant to back any political party,” he added.

Harrison said the event, attended by some 1,200 people was organised by a church member from the Centre for Reform, Democracy and Social Initiatives, who rented a multi-purpose hall.

He added that although it took place after the Sunday church service, it was not in the main church building and the event was open to all.

During the event, Anwar spoke at length about the needed brotherhood among multiple races and religions, quoting from both the Quran and the Bible.

Harrison said he too dropped by for the talk on Sunday but not to cheer the PKR leader on.
“I have told my people – that we must listen well to all and then make your own discernment and decision (on the by-election) – even BN’s view and all.

“This is my message all along – I have said nothing to side anybody and to Anwar, I have only said : ‘This is my brother, welcome,’ ” he added.

The 40-year old priest asserted that as a citizen, he too had a right to host a famous personality, and noted that it was the first time he and Anwar had met.

Asked to answer to Perkasa vice-president Zulkifli Noordin’s suggestion that the church also allow Umno or NGOs like  Perkasa or Isma to hold talks at the church after Sunday prayers, Harrison hesitated.

“If this happens now, it will be very political. Remember, I am not the one organising it,” he said, adding that the church facilities were usually reserved only for its members to use for wedding and community events.

Muhyiddin – stop bellyache, just issue a directive cancelling all punitive actions against Nor Izzat and all other teachers for criticising SBA

By Lim Kit Siang,

I advise the Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to stop belly-ache and just to issue a directive to revoke all punitive actions against Suara Guru Masyarakat Malaysia (SGMM) chief Mohd Nor Izzat Mohd Johari and all other teachers for criticising the student-based assessment (SBA) system.

What is Muhyiddin hoping to achieve by denying that he was involved in transferring Nor Izzat who had spearheaded a protest against the SBA system within 24 hours from Jerantut to a rural school in Pahang last week?

Let me tell Muhyiddin that Malaysians are not interested whether the transfer order came from the district education office or otherwise, but that as Education Minister he must take full and personal responsibility for punitive actions taken against Nor Izzat and all teachers who had criticised the SBA – and that his first duty now is to countermand all the punitive actions which had been issued not only against Nor Izzat but all other teachers who had been penalised for the courage of their convictions in speaking out against the disastrous implementation of SBA.

Will Muhyiddin next say that the suspension of the SBA did not come him and he should not be queried on the subject?
Actually, Muhyiddin should hold himself responsible for the SBA mess and give a full accounting why he had allowed the educational system to deteriorate to such a dismal state.

Teachers and school administrators who found it hard to cope with the SBA to track students’ performances, had fallen back on examinations.

This has led to a situation where many schools have two systems. On the surface is the SBA, which is done to please officials in Putrajaya, but beneath there is the old annual examination system.

The examination system is being implemented by individual schools without the knowledge of Putrajaya but the schools are using it to track students’ performances.

The use of the two system was causing a lot of strain on teachers and school officials – which is indeed an extraordinary “transformation” of the education system, from bad to worse and not from better to best!
Why did Muhyiddin take so long to wake up to the SBM disaster, resulting in the “shame-faced” back-door suspension of the SBA yesterday?

Developed, Developing World Must Join Hands For Successful Coalitions - Najib

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 24 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the most effective coalitions in the future will be those which involve both the developed and developing world.

In this regard, he said, Malaysia must be deft and nimble in building and participating in coalitions, seeking out those which shared its concerns.

He said there was also a need at the same time to exercise leadership within the shared platforms which were needed to tackle multilateral problems.

"A stronger foreign policy establishment here in Malaysia, which brings together think-tanks, academic chairs and foundations will strengthen our hand when it comes to building coalitions for change," Najib said in his keynote address when opening the 8th Heads of Mission Conference, here today.

Najib noted that Malaysia must react to the transformations around it with a transformation of its own, including having a foreign policy that would see the country through to 2020 when this country achieved a developed nation status, and beyond.

To this end, Najib said Malaysia must embrace its position as one of the region's Middle Powers, which he described as states which rarely acted alone, but had a significant, systematic impact in a small group or through international institutions.

"Come 2020, Malaysia will be a developed country with far-flung and expanding interests. The international community, as well as our own public, will expect that we assume our share of the burden of responsibility and leadership.

"As a Middle Power, that means playing a greater part in Asia, and helping Asia play a greater part in the world," he said at the event which was attended by, among others, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman and his deputy, Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin.

Najib said this meant Malaysia was continuing its commitment to Asean which groups 10 Southeast Asian countries.

"We swim or sink with our region. If we don't have an influential voice here, we won't have an influential voice anywhere," he stressed.

Najib said Malaysia must, therefore, devote adequate resources to strengthening its bilateral relations with neighbours and continue to value Asean as the fulcrum of peace, prosperity and stability in the region.

"Even as we undertake to do more, we must concentrate resources on initiatives that will generate the best returns, leading in areas that concern us the most, not aiming to be everything to everyone," the prime minister said.

He said Kuala Lumpur must sharpen the way it conceived and executed the cooperation and assistance programmes it provided at the bilateral, regional and multilateral levels.

"And we must assess the impact of such programmes more systematically to ensure they are effective and efficient," he said.

In the speech, Najib noted that the factors which shaped Malaysia's diplomacy -- its dependence on trade, strategic location and demographic change -- were in turn shaped by external trends.

"And here the grounds beneath our feet are shifting as old assumptions are being overturned and new ones emerging.

"These global and regional trends ask that we adapt our diplomacy to fit the pressures and opportunities of a new century," he added.