Wednesday, 22 October 2014
MAURITANIA, WHERE FLEEING ISLAMIC SLAVERY IS A CRIME…….
CNN) — Imagine being rescued from modern slavery, only to be charged with a crime.
That’s the apparent reality in Mauritania, the country with the world’s highest incidence of modern slavery. Located in West Africa, on the edge of the Sahara Desert, an estimated 4% to 20% of people there remain enslaved. It was the last country in the world to abolish the practice — in 1981. And it only criminalized owning humans in 2007.
That’s the apparent reality in Mauritania, the country with the world’s highest incidence of modern slavery. Located in West Africa, on the edge of the Sahara Desert, an estimated 4% to 20% of people there remain enslaved. It was the last country in the world to abolish the practice — in 1981. And it only criminalized owning humans in 2007.
I visited the country in 2011 to produce a documentary on modern slavery for CNN. I’ve witnessed these horrors first hand — met the victims of slavery and the slave owners.
But this latest news still surprised me.
Mbeirika Mint M’bareck, a 15-year-old girl, was rescued from slavery only to be subsequently charged with having sex outside of marriage, according to a letter activists drafted on her behalf. (It is unclear who fathered the child). That crime is potentially punishable by death by stoning, according to an expert I spoke with. The activists planned to send the letter to the country’s ministry of justice on Monday.
“We are shocked and appalled that the prosecuting authorities would bring the charge of (adultery), as this young girl is evidently the victim of the heinous crime of slavery as well as statutory rape,” according to the letter, which the activists provided.
The 15-year-old ex-slave was “heavily pregnant” during a court hearing, which apparently led to the charge of sex outside of marriage. Her alleged captor, meanwhile, was charged simply with “exploitation of a minor (without financial compensation),” as opposed to the charge of slavery, which carries a longer prison term.
Read more: http://tundratabloids.com/2014/10/83428.html
ISIS releases sickening video clip showing Syrian woman being stoned to death by group of men - including her own father
- Shocking footage understood to have been filmed in Syrian city of Hama
- Cleric seen ranting at woman and accusing her of committing adultery
- Woman told to be 'content and happy' at stoning as it is ordered by God
- She pleads for her life before asking if her father could ever forgive her
- He responds telling her not to call him father, then orders murder to begin
- A man was also stoned to death for adultery in a separate incident
Islamic State militants fighting in Syria and Iraq have released a sickening video of a young woman being stoned to death by a group of men - including her own father.
The shocking footage is understood to have been filmed in the city of Hama and shows a bearded cleric ranting at the woman in Arabic and accusing her adultery while she pleads for her life.
The woman turns to her father and begs his forgiveness but he coldly rejects her, saying he would rather please God. He then turns to the men to give the signal for his daughter's murder to begin.
Minutes later, as the men rain rocks down upon the helpless woman, her father steps forward with a large stone and the video fades to black.
It is believed he had been granted the barbaric 'honour' of being allowed end the life of the daughter he felt had betrayed both him and her religion.
In a separate incident a man was executed in Idlib province in an area controlled by Islamist groups including the Nusra Front, al Qaeda's official affiliate in Syria, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which tracks violence on all sides of Syria's civil war.
It is the first documented case of a man being stoned to death for adultery since Syria descended into civil war in 2011 and hardline Islamic groups emerged as powerful players in areas that slipped from government control, the Observatory said.
The sickening five-minute video emerged on ISIS-affiliated social media pages this morning. It is not clear when the footage was actually shot and has not been independently verified.
The exact accusations against the woman remain sketchy, although the cleric who appears at the start of mobile phone-filmed clip accuses her of committing adultery.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2801575/isis-releases-sickening-video-clip-showing-syrian-woman-stoned-death-group-men-including-father.html
Mais says ‘I Want To Touch A Dog’ manipulated its goals
The Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) today said that holding, kissing and hugging dogs during Sunday’s "I Want To Touch A Dog" event was not in line with the programme’s stated objectives as presented to the council.Mais chairman Datuk Mohamad Adzib Mohd Isa said he received a working paper on the programme from its organisers on October 3.
It outlined how it was aimed at teaching Muslims on the Islamic laws pertaining to dogs.
“The deliberate acts of holding, hugging and kissing dogs by Muslims like what happened that day is deeply regretted because such acts are against the ‘syarak’ laws.
“It was also not how the organisers had depicted it (to Mais) and was not in line with the programme’s objectives as mentioned in the organiser’s application’”
Adzib said the organisers had informed him that the objectives were: to explain the need to help dogs during emergency situations; situations when Muslims were allowed to keep dogs as pets; how to hold and manage dogs; and how to cleanse oneself after coming into contact with a wet dog.
“I understand that the intention or objection was to shed light and understanding on the laws related to the position of dogs from the Islamic perspective.
“Among the guidelines given to the Selangor mufti department as mentioned in the letter on October 9 was that while dogs provide many benefits to humans, Allah forbids that we touch them when we are wet and it is dry, or vice versa.
“This contact is considered unclean. But if both are dry, it is not considered unclean. That is why if dogs are kept to guard homes or to hunt, they must be kept outside the house.
"I Want To Touch A Dog" last Sunday drew a crowd of over 1,000 people, Muslims and non-Muslims alike.
But, the programme was criticised by several muftis and Malays who questioned the motive behind it.
Kelantan Mufti Datuk Mohamad Shukri Mohamad called for the organisers as well as the Muslims who touched the dogs to repent, saying that they had mocked Allah's laws.
Former Johor Mufti Datuk Nooh Gadut believed that the event was an attempt to insult the ulama and religious authorities.
The Johor Religious Council said deliberately touching a dog was haram (forbidden) because it was najis, or unclean, according to the Shafie and Hanbali schools of thought.
Former Perlis mufti Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin said that while the ulama unanimously agreed that a dry dog was not unclean, a person could still touch something unclean on the condition that they clean themselves afterwards.
"The Shafie school of thought is rather firm on this. But, other schools are wider and easier." – October 21, 2014.
- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/mais-reveals-i-want-to-touch-a-dog-went-against-its-initial-aims#sthash.XsGGvxZ9.dpuf
'Let AG sit in cabinet to avoid more buck passing'
Referring to the furore over the decision not to persecute Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali for threatening to burn Bibles, he said that this way, the minister need not answer for the AG.
He said that this will avoid the government and the AG’s Chambers from "blaming each other", especially in "controversial" cases and selective prosecutions.
"The
fact remains that the AG is part of the government of the day; namely
the executive and that is why the better arrangement is to have the AG
sit in the cabinet, as part of the administration."This renders the law minister portfolio unnecessary," Aziz (right) said in an email to Malaysiakini.
He added that this has been the practice before Dr Mahathir Mohamad took over as prime minister in 1981, with attorneys-general like Abdul Kadir Yusof and Hamzah Abu Samah sitting in cabinet meetings.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nancy Shukri has come under fire after saying that Ibrahim is not prosecuted as he was defending Islam, in a parliamentary reply.
She later said that she was only relaying the AG’s Chambers decision and that the government cannot meddle in the AG's decision.
Meanwhile, DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang contended that while Nancy was correct that the cabinet cannot meddle in the AG’s duties, it is not “impotent” in handling allegations of selective prosecution.
He said in a statement today that the cabinet cannot remain silent as public opinion views the attorney-general as being responsible for selective prosecution in this and other cases, such as the spate of charges under the Sedition Act since August.
“By the principle of cabinet collective responsibility, the other ministers should also have come to her assistance, but no minister is prepared to stick his or her neck out over what is clearly a totally unacceptable and indefensible action,” he added.
In response to Nancy’s plea today not to harp on the issue any further on grounds that it is “unhealthy”, Lim said what is truly unhealthy was for the Najib administration to fail to recognise this as a miscarriage of justice - that Ibrahim would get away scot-free while others were prosecuted without having made incendiary remarks.
Uthaya recounts horrors of a Malaysian prison
“This is shared by almost five of the prisoners in a cell - usually there are more. When I asked the wardens, they said it is because there is no budget for toothbrushes,” said Uthayakumar, who is bent on telling all about his imprisonment in Kajang prison.
Uthayakumar was sentenced to prison for sedition, but little was he prepared for what was to come.
He had served time under the now defunct Internal Security Act and thought it might be similar.
Now, after surviving his term in Kajang prison, he said it is something he would not even wish upon his worst enemy.
While in prison itself, Uthayakumar had written many complaints of his prison conditions in smuggled letters through his wife and lawyers.The Hindraf leader was sentenced to 30 months’ jail by the Kuala Lumpur High Court on June 5, 2013, after accusing Putrajaya of genocide against ethnic Indians.
The Court of Appeal on Sept 17 upheld Uthayakumar’s sentence but commuted the punishment from 30 months to 24 months. He was released last Oct 3.
Uthayakumar, a lawyer famed for having galvanised the Hindraf movement which brought tens of thousands of Indian Malaysians to a rally in 2007 demanding for their rights, said it was all he could do to keep his sanity while in prison.
He said the one thing that he did not leave behind when he entered prison was his activism - the only difference being that he spoke up for all races in prison, not only for Indian Malaysians, as he was wont to do outside.
“In prison, all are treated equally - equally badly. There’s really 1Malaysia in prison. There is equality for all.
“In prison, it doesn’t matter, you get equal treatment and you get the same food,” said the activist in an interview with Malaysiakini.
He admitted that this is contrary to deaths in police custody as well as deaths by police shooting, in which he had all the while claimed victims were mostly Indian Malaysians.
He explained that even during roll calls, which was several times a day and called ‘muster’, everybody got punished equally.
“There are no special privileges for anybody. And the natural reaction is that we are all in it together.”
‘Doctor checks from six feet away’
Uthayakumar said much is needed to better the conditions of the Kajang prison for men, especially when it came to medical care.
“What I feared most while in prison was that I would fall ill.”
His eyes glistened with tears when he spoke about the predicament of a fellow inmate.
‘The inmate had hepatitis C but the prison wardens said there was nothing wrong with him. One night, I saw him sitting on his bed, with a helpless look on his face.
“The next morning, he died, and I saw a prison officer erasing his name from the white board.
“I told the prisoner next to me, with that erasing, all the records of him having died in prison, are gone,’ he said.
Uthayakumar said for every ailment, the medication is the ‘KK’ pills - plain paracetamol.
“And
the doctor checks you from six feet away, without touching you,” said
Uthayakumar, who said he was usually appointed the spokesperson by his
fellow inmates to speak to the wardens. He said he had to be very careful and be at his utmost politeness while choosing the least strict of the wardens to ask for sickly fellow inmates to be given medical care.
He said his fellow inmates, before he left, lamented that in his absence, no one would speak up for them now.
Uthayakumar, however, said that he survived being sardine-packed in cells by keeping a journal, which at times was checked upon. They even took away his pencils and then he was moved on from one block to another.
Despite the ordeal, he said other prisoners had it worse.
He claimed that prisoners were persecuted on a daily basis and no one could answer the wardens, who struck fear with their violence and shouts.
He said inmates were treated like “mere slaves”; being beaten up, shouted at and ill-treated.
Despite that, the inmates stuck together for fear of the wardens.
He related how he witnessed inmates of different races helping each other - a Malay helping out a Chinese, or even of a Malay inmate cleaning up a paralysed Indian inmate every time the latter answered the call of nature, to the extent of using his fingers to ease the bowels of the latter.
Cultural Purity is an Oxymoron
The current discourse of ‘Malays being pendatang’ initially prompted me to write a letter in which I hoped to provide a researched and balanced historical overview.
Since RPK has written two articles on the subject, I shall refrain from doing so. In view of his framing of his dialectic that Malays are not pendatangs on the basis of historical timeline, I am in agreement with him.
There is too much research and information that covers the significantly heterogeneity of the category ‘Malay’ that it will be a futile effort to write it all, so what I would like to add briefly is similar in theme to my previous letter; that any assertion of ancestral, racial or cultural superiority is a social construct that should be done away with if we are all really serious about nation-building.
This transcends any pendatang or no-pendatang discourse.
The readership now knows that Malay as a language has its roots as an Austronesian language, with heavily borrowed Sanskirt words, and was spoken and written in Old Malay in the form of Jawi. In fact the word ‘Bahasa’ is a Sanskirt word. (Pollock 1998; Day 2002) We should also note that this has existed since the Sri Vijaya empire, which is Indian in origin. (Milner 2011) Note that Old Malay here in the form of Jawi is not something that belongs to what our modern concept of Malay is, nor is it an Islamic language. It has part of its roots in Hinduism and is Indianized.
To trace the Austronesian speakers, we know that their origins in our geographical region can be traced back to their colonization of the Malay Archipelago from southern China and Taiwan. (Collins 1998; Bulbeck 2004)
Additionally, many of the terms and words that are used in the language heavily references Indian concepts and vocabulary, especially about worship, potions, curses, and the afterlife. (Wheatley 1966; Coedes 1968, p81; Milner 2011)
1. So, from a language point of view, we have Old Malay/Jawi which isn’t Islamic in origin, that is heavily influenced by Sanskrit, and has a significant word-concept association based on Hindu cosmology. Additionally, with the Austronesians coming from China and Taiwan, we can assume that the current form of Malay as a tool of constituting the Malay category is syncretic and has certain roots in the other ethnic groups comprising modern Malaysia. Why then the 1930s slogan of Hidup Bahasa! Hidup Bangsa! (Hooker 2000) that has today been equated to be integral to Malayness and to describe the race itself. (Milner 2011)
When Sri Vijaya emerged as an empire in the late 7th century, this saw a mass migration of Sumatrans and Indians into the peninsula (Cortesao 1990; Milner 2011). In later centuries, there have been reports by Arab traders that ‘Kalah’ (believed to be in South Kedah) on the Peninsula are ‘inhabited by Indians’ as well as ‘Chinese’, as settlers to the region. (Tibbetts 1979; Jacq-Hergoualc’h 2001)
Additionally, in the fluid ‘social organization’ that was typified by the ruler-subject kerajaan in the later centuries post-Sri Vijaya, there was no segregation by the raja/maharajah/sultan as to ethnicity or descend but rather, propensity for work – all were known as subjects to the area’s Raja/Sultan, (Jawi Peranakan 26 September 1887; Dumont 1992; King 1993; Milner 2011) and these included people whom we now term Dayaks, Bataks, Ibans, among others. (Rousseau 1990) As we can see, unlike the ethnic currents today, the ‘Malays’ of old had a relative lack of concern about descent. (Bellwood 1985; Macknight 1986; Fox 2006)
Further, in an anecdote related in Hikayat Hang Tuah, the people of Melaka identified themselves to Hang Tuah as ‘hybrid Malays’. (Md. Salleh Yaapar 2005) Let us remember the significance of Hikayat Hang Tuah as a central text to Malay culture and literature, and the assertion of the Melaka sultanate as the golden age of the Malays.
2. As a racial category, ‘Malay’ has roots in Malay, Indian, Chinese, Arab, and Orang Asli categories. Why are we quibbling over racial purity? How more Malaysian can the category be? Similarly, the Chinese and Indians in Malaysia have no such claims to racial purity.
From an aesthetic or visual manifestation of ‘culture’, the wakaf design that is vernacularly Malay in origin, can be attributed to the Indic (Indian) element that represents ‘Mount Meru’ (Bosch 1960, p95-98) going back to the Indianization of the Malay Archipelago during the Sri Vijaya period; Mount Meru being the axis of the universe in classical Indian thought. Many originally Indian and Chinese zoomorphic motifs that typified traditional Malay carvings and architecture have also been changed to floral and plant-based designs after Islamic consciousness. It has also been well documented that many of the early Malay architectural forms are derivatives of architecture from Chinese, Indian, and Arab concepts.
It is also now commonly known that cultural practices such as cukur jambul and bersanding as it is practised, are essentially Hindu practices based on Hindu devotional beliefs that in its early days saw the couple seated on a dais with the motif of Mount Meru. (Nagata 1974; Karim 1992; Peletz 1997)
3. What is culture? With a wide range of influences from all communities inhabiting Malaysia, isn’t cultural purity an oxymoron?
The spread of Islam from the 13th – 14th centuries in the Peninsula and Sumatra has been attributed in large part to the Indian polities rather than the Middle Eastern traders as has been commonly thought. (Wheatley 1966; Bellina and Glover 2004; Milner 2011)
In the Islamic Museum in Kuala Lumpur (when I checked in 2003), there is also an exhibit that bears a plaque that communicates it is believed it was not the Arab traders that first brought Islam to the Melaka Sultanate but the Chinese traders. Further to this, one of the first conversions to Islam in Melaka was by the Sultan who was influenced by a Moorish Sufi (Moors originate from Africa who then controlled Spain). (Milner 2011)
4. What is this Melayu-Muslim? Is there a need for another social construction to further try and hem in what it means to be Malay?
Let us not be carried away by a presumed intent for me to offend or insult. I am merely trying to convey several points that I have highlighted above that stand in the way of Malaysia’s nation-building efforts.
Late in the 19th century, one of the observations that Sir Frank Swettenham made of the Malays was that they were “… extraordinarily sensitive in regard to any real or fancied insult.” (1907, p134-143; 1901) Governor Raffles noted that they were “alive to insult” (1992, p236). Chinese were also observed to be “hicksters” and “tricksters”.
Let’s move beyond that, as has oft been proven by later writers who debunk such stereotypical traits. We are each individuals with the same set of negativities and strengths. Those observations were made almost a century ago – have we not evolved as peoples? Why do we still insist on reconstituting the idea of race to these stereotypes?
While I should probably write a 4-parter of sorts on this topic providing more depth per-category, I think it is time we all did more research instead of just mouthing off – the references I provided are explicitly for that reason. This is especially pertinent if we want to contribute positively to the discourse at hand with any degree of sincerity towards a Malaysia that was envisioned at the time of our Independence.
Each of our communities has roots in many diverse influences that make any claims to cultural or racial purity a sham.
It’s about time we all stop with the Malay-nationalist/Chinese-nationalist/Indian-nationalist projects and truly start with the Malaysian Project.
P.s. Due to time constraints, the list below is not the complete bibliography. Please do request if you really want the full bib list.
Bulbeck, D. (2004). ‘Indigenious Traditions and Exogenous Influences in the Early History of Peninsula Malaysia’, in Glover and Bellwood (eds), Southeast Asia, 314-336.
Coedes, G. (1968). The Indianized States of Southeast Asia. Honolulu: East-West Center Press.
Cortesao, A. (ed.) (1990). The Suma Oriental of Tome Pires. New Delhi: Asian Educational Services.
Collins, J. (1998). Malay, World Language: A Short History. Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.
Day, T. (2002). Fluid Iron: State Formation in South-east Asia. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press.
Dumont, L. (1992). Essays on Individualism: Modern Ideology in Anthropological Perspective. London: University of Chicago Press.
Hooker, V. (2000). Writing a New Society: Social Change through the Novel in Malay. St Leonards: Allen and Unwin.
King, V. (1979). Ethnic Classification and Ethnic Relations: A Borneo Case Study. Hull: University of Hull.
Pollock, S. (1998). The Cosmopolitan Vernacular. JAS, 57, 1, 6-37.
Milner, A. (2011). The Malays. Sussex : Blackwell.
Swettenham, Frank. (1901) The Real Malay: Pen Pictures. London : John Lane.
Swettenham, Frank. (1907) British Malaya. London: John Lane/Bodley Hade.
Tibbetts, G. (1979). A Study of the Arabic Texts containing Material on South-East Asia. Leiden: Brill.
Jacq-Hergoualc’h, M. (2001) The Malay Peninsula: Crossroads of the Maritime Silk-Road (100BC-1300AD). Boston: Brill.
Wheatley, P. (1966). The Golden Khersonese. Kuala Lumpur: University of Malaya Press.
Vatican wants end to discrimination, violence
The Vatican in its Deepavali message wants people to 'foster a culture of inclusion'
FMT
PETALING JAYA: The Vatican, concerned with increasing discrimination and violence has sent a Deepavali message to Malaysian Hindus to foster together a culture of inclusion.
The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue said in the face of increasing discrimination, violence and exclusion throughout the world, ‘nurturing a culture of inclusion’ can be rightly seen as one of the most genuine aspirations of people everywhere.
Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the Council said globalization has opened many frontiers but it can also be said globalization has not achieved its primary objective of integrating local peoples into the global community.
“Rather, globalization has contributed significantly to many peoples losing their socio-cultural, economic and political identities.
“The negative effects of globalization have also had an impact on religious communities throughout the world since they are intimately related to surrounding cultures.
“In fact, globalization has contributed to the fragmentation of society,” he said.
The Cardinal said the negative consequences of globalization, such as widespread materialism and consumerism, moreover, have made people more self-absorbed, power-hungry and indifferent to the rights, needs and sufferings of others.
“As people grounded in our own respective religious traditions and with shared convictions, may we, Hindus and Christians, join together with followers of other religions and with people of goodwill to foster a culture of inclusion for a just and peaceful society,” he said.
PETALING JAYA: The Vatican, concerned with increasing discrimination and violence has sent a Deepavali message to Malaysian Hindus to foster together a culture of inclusion.
The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue said in the face of increasing discrimination, violence and exclusion throughout the world, ‘nurturing a culture of inclusion’ can be rightly seen as one of the most genuine aspirations of people everywhere.
Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the Council said globalization has opened many frontiers but it can also be said globalization has not achieved its primary objective of integrating local peoples into the global community.
“Rather, globalization has contributed significantly to many peoples losing their socio-cultural, economic and political identities.
“The negative effects of globalization have also had an impact on religious communities throughout the world since they are intimately related to surrounding cultures.
“In fact, globalization has contributed to the fragmentation of society,” he said.
The Cardinal said the negative consequences of globalization, such as widespread materialism and consumerism, moreover, have made people more self-absorbed, power-hungry and indifferent to the rights, needs and sufferings of others.
“As people grounded in our own respective religious traditions and with shared convictions, may we, Hindus and Christians, join together with followers of other religions and with people of goodwill to foster a culture of inclusion for a just and peaceful society,” he said.
IS mis-using Islam to gain support
Struggle for Islamic State (IS) is a political ideology, say experts.
FMT
KUALA LUMPUR: Claims of jihad with the so-called Islamic State militant group in the Middle East, specifically Syria, should be stopped because the objective of the ‘war’ was more to build up the ideology of the militant group.
Dean of the College of Law, Government and International Studies, Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), Associate Professor Dr Ahmad Marthada Mohamed said the IS was inclined to gaining independence for its country from rulers who had no direction.
“The differing ideologies led to feelings of being oppressed and created a desire to form a nation which reflects the policies and ideologies of the group,” he told Bernama here today.
Ahmad Marthada said it was important that a person has an understanding of the group’s ideology before joining.
He added that the name of the group itself, using the word ‘Islam’ would be a magnet to draw the attention of more Muslims to join.
“Muslims are easily attracted to the word ‘Islam’ whereas to the non-Muslims, the militant group claims that its struggle is to fight oppression and attain basic rights.
“The concept is not fixed but changes often, depending on the subject that is being approached. Which is why it has to be fully studied before it can be considered ‘jihad’,” he said.
On October 15, Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the police had identified 39 Malaysians, including a woman, who was involved with the militant groups such as the Islamic State
There are three militant groups in Syria believed to have Malaysian members – the Islamic State, Jabhat Al Nusra and Ajnad Al Sham – and they usually use Quranic verses and the word ‘jihad’ to attract the target group.
Ahmad Marthada said the religious authorities should disseminate information on the objectives, ideology and beliefs of these groups or organisations like them to avoid Muslims in this country becoming confused.
He added that even if the IS succeeded in having its own government, it would face difficulty getting recognition from the international community as well as 100 per cent support of the people of its country.
“The extreme action of the group, such as cruel killings which are against the teachings of Islam, has resulted in the group losing support of Muslim nations including Malaysia, as well as the Arab countries,” he said.
According to Universiti Putra Malaysia’s (UPM) head of the department of Government and Civilisation Studies in the Faculty of Human Ecology, Dr Ahmad Tarmizi Talib, those who joined the IS have been influenced by groups who are used by other parties for political purposes.
Meanwhile, religious speaker Assc Professor Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin said it was not right for individuals to join a group to ‘jihad’ under uncertain conditions about what was happening there.
The ex-mufti of Perlis said it was better if that struggle was left to the residents of that country as they would understand the geo-political situation better, based on their own experiences.
“Those people (citizens of other countries) go there just for jihad? Or are Muslims fighting among themselves to help create a group that has its own agenda?” he asked.
“The IS ‘struggle’ is still unclear in the basics, including its objectives,” Mohd Asri added.
He suggested that the government conduct a humanitarian mission so that Malaysians could channel their empathy while the mission could be a way to jihad as the meaning of the word was wide and not confined to using weapons.
“Medicating people is also jihad. If you really want to jihad, do it without weapons but by taking medicine or food to the right places,” he said.
Mohd Asri added that those who want to ‘jihad’ should emulate Muslim warrior Salahuddin Al-Ayubi who also treated the Christian forces who were wounded in battle.
- BERNAMA
KUALA LUMPUR: Claims of jihad with the so-called Islamic State militant group in the Middle East, specifically Syria, should be stopped because the objective of the ‘war’ was more to build up the ideology of the militant group.
Dean of the College of Law, Government and International Studies, Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), Associate Professor Dr Ahmad Marthada Mohamed said the IS was inclined to gaining independence for its country from rulers who had no direction.
“The differing ideologies led to feelings of being oppressed and created a desire to form a nation which reflects the policies and ideologies of the group,” he told Bernama here today.
Ahmad Marthada said it was important that a person has an understanding of the group’s ideology before joining.
He added that the name of the group itself, using the word ‘Islam’ would be a magnet to draw the attention of more Muslims to join.
“Muslims are easily attracted to the word ‘Islam’ whereas to the non-Muslims, the militant group claims that its struggle is to fight oppression and attain basic rights.
“The concept is not fixed but changes often, depending on the subject that is being approached. Which is why it has to be fully studied before it can be considered ‘jihad’,” he said.
On October 15, Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the police had identified 39 Malaysians, including a woman, who was involved with the militant groups such as the Islamic State
There are three militant groups in Syria believed to have Malaysian members – the Islamic State, Jabhat Al Nusra and Ajnad Al Sham – and they usually use Quranic verses and the word ‘jihad’ to attract the target group.
Ahmad Marthada said the religious authorities should disseminate information on the objectives, ideology and beliefs of these groups or organisations like them to avoid Muslims in this country becoming confused.
He added that even if the IS succeeded in having its own government, it would face difficulty getting recognition from the international community as well as 100 per cent support of the people of its country.
“The extreme action of the group, such as cruel killings which are against the teachings of Islam, has resulted in the group losing support of Muslim nations including Malaysia, as well as the Arab countries,” he said.
According to Universiti Putra Malaysia’s (UPM) head of the department of Government and Civilisation Studies in the Faculty of Human Ecology, Dr Ahmad Tarmizi Talib, those who joined the IS have been influenced by groups who are used by other parties for political purposes.
Meanwhile, religious speaker Assc Professor Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin said it was not right for individuals to join a group to ‘jihad’ under uncertain conditions about what was happening there.
The ex-mufti of Perlis said it was better if that struggle was left to the residents of that country as they would understand the geo-political situation better, based on their own experiences.
“Those people (citizens of other countries) go there just for jihad? Or are Muslims fighting among themselves to help create a group that has its own agenda?” he asked.
“The IS ‘struggle’ is still unclear in the basics, including its objectives,” Mohd Asri added.
He suggested that the government conduct a humanitarian mission so that Malaysians could channel their empathy while the mission could be a way to jihad as the meaning of the word was wide and not confined to using weapons.
“Medicating people is also jihad. If you really want to jihad, do it without weapons but by taking medicine or food to the right places,” he said.
Mohd Asri added that those who want to ‘jihad’ should emulate Muslim warrior Salahuddin Al-Ayubi who also treated the Christian forces who were wounded in battle.
- BERNAMA
Anwar has no hope of Canberra’s support
The Abbott government loves Najib, says analyst.
FMT
PETALING JAYA: PKR has no hope of support from Canberra in its Australian mission to champion Anwar Ibrahim, whose appeal against his sodomy conviction will be heard in the Federal Court next week.
This is the opinion of political science professor James Chin of Monash University.
“The Abbot government loves Najib,” Chin was quoted as saying in an article that appeared today in the Sydney Morning Herald.
He said Tony Abbot’s administration favoured Prime Minister Najib Razak’s government because of a long-standing view that Malaysia is a modern, Western, secular, like-minded power.”
But he added that the view was “based on a country that hasn’t existed for the last ten years.”‘
PKR’s seven-member delegation to Australia is headed by its secretary-general, Rafizi Ramli. According to a posting on the PKR President Wan Azizah Ismail’s Facebook, the mission is to update Australian parliamentarians of political developments in Malaysia.
The delegates would also address Malaysians in Australia in a series of forums in several cities, where they would provide information on Anwar’s court case and the recent sedition dragnet. The forums are organised by Malaysian Progressives, an organisation of students.
The delegation had a meeting with Australian MPs last Sunday. Yesterday, the delegation met with academics of the Australian National University in Canberra.
A meeting with the Australian Foreign Ministry is scheduled for today.
PETALING JAYA: PKR has no hope of support from Canberra in its Australian mission to champion Anwar Ibrahim, whose appeal against his sodomy conviction will be heard in the Federal Court next week.
This is the opinion of political science professor James Chin of Monash University.
“The Abbot government loves Najib,” Chin was quoted as saying in an article that appeared today in the Sydney Morning Herald.
He said Tony Abbot’s administration favoured Prime Minister Najib Razak’s government because of a long-standing view that Malaysia is a modern, Western, secular, like-minded power.”
But he added that the view was “based on a country that hasn’t existed for the last ten years.”‘
PKR’s seven-member delegation to Australia is headed by its secretary-general, Rafizi Ramli. According to a posting on the PKR President Wan Azizah Ismail’s Facebook, the mission is to update Australian parliamentarians of political developments in Malaysia.
The delegates would also address Malaysians in Australia in a series of forums in several cities, where they would provide information on Anwar’s court case and the recent sedition dragnet. The forums are organised by Malaysian Progressives, an organisation of students.
The delegation had a meeting with Australian MPs last Sunday. Yesterday, the delegation met with academics of the Australian National University in Canberra.
A meeting with the Australian Foreign Ministry is scheduled for today.
It’s a joke to say Chinese have no identity
Zaid Ibrahim says Chinese are quick to adapt while Malays get lost in rules and regulations.
FMT
PETALING JAYA: Former de facto law minister Zaid Ibrahim has made an honest observation, saying it is the Malays and not the Chinese who have no identity.
In his latest blog entry, Zaid writes, “So don’t make people laugh by saying the Chinese have no identity. It’s the Malays who are struggling to know themselves.”
Lamenting that Malays have still not found a firm footing in society, Zaid observed, “They (Malays) only know about rules and regulations, and if the world does not fit into this frame, they punish themselves and each other.”
He said this in response to a statement by a former Umno minister that the “Chinese are suffering from an identity crisis and becoming misfits in Malaysian society.”
He also ridiculed prime minister Najib Tun Razak for preaching moderation versus extremism to Gerakan delegates recently saying, “The Chinese may be selfish, parochial, greedy, egotistical and whatever other ungodly labels some may want to slap on them, but extremist they are not.”
Zaid said that in contrast, it was the Malays who believed that “instant success and reward in this life” was theirs if they followed the teachings of their “ulamak and preachers”.
Proving the Chinese knew that “To succeed, they have had to be adaptable and accommodating”, Zaid pointed to the Chinese Babas who married Malays, spoke Malay and wore Malay dress.
Zaid said the Chinese were also resilient in regard to the NEP. He wrote, “They didn’t care about what percentage of the nation’s wealth the Malays received, because they were shrewd enough to claw some back for themselves.”
Taking a direct hit at “those who are making the headlines”, Zaid was of the opinion that they were the ones in reality who were in denial about their identity and “unable to adapt to the real Malaysia.”
FMTPETALING JAYA: Former de facto law minister Zaid Ibrahim has made an honest observation, saying it is the Malays and not the Chinese who have no identity.
In his latest blog entry, Zaid writes, “So don’t make people laugh by saying the Chinese have no identity. It’s the Malays who are struggling to know themselves.”
Lamenting that Malays have still not found a firm footing in society, Zaid observed, “They (Malays) only know about rules and regulations, and if the world does not fit into this frame, they punish themselves and each other.”
He said this in response to a statement by a former Umno minister that the “Chinese are suffering from an identity crisis and becoming misfits in Malaysian society.”
He also ridiculed prime minister Najib Tun Razak for preaching moderation versus extremism to Gerakan delegates recently saying, “The Chinese may be selfish, parochial, greedy, egotistical and whatever other ungodly labels some may want to slap on them, but extremist they are not.”
Zaid said that in contrast, it was the Malays who believed that “instant success and reward in this life” was theirs if they followed the teachings of their “ulamak and preachers”.
Proving the Chinese knew that “To succeed, they have had to be adaptable and accommodating”, Zaid pointed to the Chinese Babas who married Malays, spoke Malay and wore Malay dress.
Zaid said the Chinese were also resilient in regard to the NEP. He wrote, “They didn’t care about what percentage of the nation’s wealth the Malays received, because they were shrewd enough to claw some back for themselves.”
Taking a direct hit at “those who are making the headlines”, Zaid was of the opinion that they were the ones in reality who were in denial about their identity and “unable to adapt to the real Malaysia.”
Nancy is forgetful and confused – Ravinder Singh
n one breath Nancy said that her parliamentary reply “would have been similar, if the threat was to burn the Quran”.
In the very next breath she said “But I had to answer based on what was done, what was carried out. Based on their analysis, there wasn’t enough evidence (to charge), that is their answer,”
So, can Nancy clarify: if the answer she gave was “their answer”, how could she assure the public that “if the threat was to burn the Quran”, “their answer” would be the same, for she would only be reading “their answer” again. No?
She is all confused. While saying that the answer she gave was “their reply”, she is at the same time asserting that it was her reply. For only if it were her own reply, could she give an assurance that she would give the same reply if the threat was to burn the Quran.
If somebody takes her courageous words to heart and threatens to burn the Quran, can she guarantee that her reply would be the same? How would that be since the reply would be prepared by the A-G Chambers, or would she do a ‘copy and paste’ job and would the A-G let her do so? He might charge her for plagiarism.
The A-G is being made out to be a human that is infallible. Let us just compare this case with the “celaka” case. ‘Celaka’ is not a vulgar word. The Kamus Dewan gives 4 meanings: 1) malang (bkn nasib seseorang), sial, tidak baik. 2) sesuatu yang menyebabkan penderitaan (kesusahan dll), kemalangan, kesialan. 3) makian, keparat, jahanam, bedebah. 4) seruan utk menyatakan kemarahan (kekecewaan dll).
The ‘celaka’ outburst was not pre-planned. It was something spontaneous. It was not a vulgarity and was directed at a few specific persons.
The call to burn bibles was obviously pre-planned. There were no such bibles. So why was it made without such an incident having taken place? It was directed to all and sundry.
Is the A-G not answerable to anyone in the country, not even to the PM or the Cabinet? Does any provision of law or the Constitution say that?
Said Nancy: “Actually, we the cabinet don’t make decisions for the A-G (attorney-general), okay? The A-G acts in accordance to the law, so if we give orders to the A-G, people would ask why are we meddling in A-G’s duties,” she said when asked to comment on the reports.
Is asking the A-G to be accountable for the way his chambers is charging or not charging people which the public sees as biased or on-e sided “meddling in the A-G’s duties”? Can’t Nancy, the PM or even the cabinet ask the A-G to give detailed reasons for the way he is charging or not charging people so that an assessment of the fairness of his actions can be made? Is it wrong for Nancy, the PM or the Cabinet to assess the A-G’s work?
What is the purpose of having ministers if they have no authority to ask people in their ministries to be accountable for their actions and inactions, if they have no authority to assess the performance of these people?
So Nancy’s bold assurance that her parliamentary reply “would have been similar, if the threat was to burn the Quran” holds no water at all. She forgot so quickly that the reply she gave was not her reply. – October 21, 2014.
*Ravinder Singh reads The Malaysian Insider.
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.
- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/sideviews/article/nancy-is-forgetful-and-confused-ravinder-singh#sthash.uDp96Pln.dpuf
In the very next breath she said “But I had to answer based on what was done, what was carried out. Based on their analysis, there wasn’t enough evidence (to charge), that is their answer,”
So, can Nancy clarify: if the answer she gave was “their answer”, how could she assure the public that “if the threat was to burn the Quran”, “their answer” would be the same, for she would only be reading “their answer” again. No?
She is all confused. While saying that the answer she gave was “their reply”, she is at the same time asserting that it was her reply. For only if it were her own reply, could she give an assurance that she would give the same reply if the threat was to burn the Quran.
If somebody takes her courageous words to heart and threatens to burn the Quran, can she guarantee that her reply would be the same? How would that be since the reply would be prepared by the A-G Chambers, or would she do a ‘copy and paste’ job and would the A-G let her do so? He might charge her for plagiarism.
The A-G is being made out to be a human that is infallible. Let us just compare this case with the “celaka” case. ‘Celaka’ is not a vulgar word. The Kamus Dewan gives 4 meanings: 1) malang (bkn nasib seseorang), sial, tidak baik. 2) sesuatu yang menyebabkan penderitaan (kesusahan dll), kemalangan, kesialan. 3) makian, keparat, jahanam, bedebah. 4) seruan utk menyatakan kemarahan (kekecewaan dll).
The ‘celaka’ outburst was not pre-planned. It was something spontaneous. It was not a vulgarity and was directed at a few specific persons.
The call to burn bibles was obviously pre-planned. There were no such bibles. So why was it made without such an incident having taken place? It was directed to all and sundry.
Is the A-G not answerable to anyone in the country, not even to the PM or the Cabinet? Does any provision of law or the Constitution say that?
Said Nancy: “Actually, we the cabinet don’t make decisions for the A-G (attorney-general), okay? The A-G acts in accordance to the law, so if we give orders to the A-G, people would ask why are we meddling in A-G’s duties,” she said when asked to comment on the reports.
Is asking the A-G to be accountable for the way his chambers is charging or not charging people which the public sees as biased or on-e sided “meddling in the A-G’s duties”? Can’t Nancy, the PM or even the cabinet ask the A-G to give detailed reasons for the way he is charging or not charging people so that an assessment of the fairness of his actions can be made? Is it wrong for Nancy, the PM or the Cabinet to assess the A-G’s work?
What is the purpose of having ministers if they have no authority to ask people in their ministries to be accountable for their actions and inactions, if they have no authority to assess the performance of these people?
So Nancy’s bold assurance that her parliamentary reply “would have been similar, if the threat was to burn the Quran” holds no water at all. She forgot so quickly that the reply she gave was not her reply. – October 21, 2014.
*Ravinder Singh reads The Malaysian Insider.
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.
- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/sideviews/article/nancy-is-forgetful-and-confused-ravinder-singh#sthash.uDp96Pln.dpuf
Don't Be Distracted By Extremist Views - Najib
KUALA
LUMPUR, Oct 21 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak
has urged Malaysians not to be distracted by extremist views as they
journey towards their common goals.He said they should prevail over those few who sensationalised narrow and sectarian views, by recognising and reaffirming their commitment to each other.
"What will keep Malaysia strong and stable is not the few who say things to divide us but the many who do things to unite us," Najib said in his Deepavali 2014 message.
Najib noted that Malaysians had brought together their unique cultures and traditions to enrich the national fabric and had worked hard and made sacrifices to make the nation what it was today.
"This is only possible because all Malaysians share a similar aspiration to live in harmony and prosperity with one another," he said.
"Of course, we may not always agree on the way to achieve our common goals, but we must remember that we have common ingredients to succeed.
"These ingredients are a love for our Malaysia, compassion for our fellow Malaysians and moderation in everything we do," Najib said.
The prime minister said Malaysia's formula for success had been acknowledged not only by its neighbours but also the wider world.
The latest manifestation of this, he said, was the country's recent resounding election to the United Nations Security Council.
"Our success in securing a seat is testimony to the respect the international community has for Malaysia, and, our moderate approach in overcoming domestic, regional and international challenges," Najib said.
Wishing "Deepavali Vaalthukal" (Happy Deepavali) to all Malaysian Hindus, Najib called for hands of friendship to be extended to each other during this meaningful time and once again, bring this diverse country together in harmony and happiness.
"As we share the joy of Deepavali together, let's remind ourselves that this Festival of Lights enjoins us to look forward to the future and embrace it with all our hopes and dreams.
"I urge the Indian community to continue their partnership with the government based on 'nambikei' (trust). We still have much to do to ensure that light and hope reaches all those in the community who need it," he concluded.
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