Wednesday, 6 May 2009

Chin Huat Arrest - Why the "Whisking away"?

Chin Huat whisked by cops to unknown location; Will you let them silence his attempt to turn M’sia black this Thursday?

I arrived at Bukit Perdana just before 10. There had been people there probably from 8.30 or 9, waiting to see Chin Huat.

As our patience wore on, a team of lawyers started getting more insistent on entering the building to give Chin Huat a chance to exercise his right to legal counsel.

Bar Council President Ragunath was present and leading much of the charge, intimating at one point that his office gave him access to the King, but he couldn’t seem to get through to some deadbeat police officer who was too cowardly to come down and face the crowd (instead sending down a sergeant who I had the pleasure of meeting during my time in the same building, who found himself arguing with a very tough crowd).

Datuk Ambiga, Sivarasa and Latheefa were all also there banging the table, so to speak. A number of DAP YB’s as well as PAS’ Dr. Dzulkifli were on hand at some point or another.

They forced the cops into a stalemate, as we refused to move out, and they refused to let the lawyers see Chin Huat.

Eventually, while we gave them the benefit of a little more time (after waiting more than 4 hrs), a car suddenly sped out of the compound, and some of us spotted Chin Huat in cuffs, bravely waving to us before the care was rushed out of sight.

:(

Presumably he is spending the night in some godforsaken lockup. The cops were too devious to let us know which one, but hopefully we will pick up on this the next time.

It is also presumed that he will be taken to court tomorrow to be either charged, or (more likely) brought to face a remand hearing.

I suspect the cops will once again purposely not inform Chin Huat’s lawyers of his remand hearing, which will leave the team scrambling around town trying to find out when and where the hearing will be held.

If they touch one hair of his head, or deny him even an iota of his full legal rights under the law, I think we can safely bury Najib’s already dying political credibility.

To imagine, all this because of they *know* they’ve acted against the people in Perak. As a result, one Ipoh boy born and bred, has been jailed for his struggle to return democracy to his home.

It now falls to you and me to keep the flames of indignation against injustice burning bright.

Make Chin Huat proud, make his sacrifice not in vain, make sure we turn Malaysia black this Thursday.

Tuesday, 5 May 2009

CHIN HUAT ARRESTED!!!

Wong Chin Huat arrested for sedition
5 May 09 : 8.34PM

By Jacqueline Ann Surin
jacquelinesurin@thenutgraph.com

PETALING JAYA, 5 May 2009: Political scientist Wong Chin Huat has been arrested for sedition and taken to Bukit Aman tonight.


Wong (Pic courtesy of Bersih)

His personal computer has also been seized by the police.

Lawyer Edmund Bon said he received a phone call from the academic at about 7.45pm to say that the police were at his apartment in Seri Sentosa, Kuala Lumpur.

Bon said he spoke to the police officer on the phone and was told that a police report had been lodged against Wong for sedition.

"However, the officer refused to say who lodged the report and over what," Bon said in a phone interview tonight.

Bon also said that Wong was in his car park and as of 8.15pm, was refusing to follow the police until someone arrived to accompany him.

"I'll be asking the police to record Wong's statement tonight and to release him immediately," Bon said.

However, under the law, the police can detain a person for 24-hours after arrest before bringing him or her before a magistrate.

Earlier this morning, Wong, as a representative of the Coalition for Free and Fair Elections (Bersih), held a press conference to launch the 1BLACKMalaysia campaign, and urged all Malaysians to wear black on 7 May to protest the "ongoing Perak coup" by the Barisan Nasional (BN) government.

Wong teaches journalism at Monash University (Malaysia). He is also a columnist with The Nut Graph.

==========================================

(from Jelas Info)

Chin Huat arrested; probable location: Bkt Perdana; heading over

Ok, from info I have so far, Chin Huat has been taken to the Commercial Crimes Dept, in Bkt Perdana, behind Bank Negara.

I’m leaving soon to head on over there, come by if you can in solidarity.

Word has it that it’s a sedition charge, probably related to 1BlackMalaysia. His location, if accurate, suggests that it may have been something written online as well.

Chin Huat is a really great guy. A little excitable, but about as far as seditious as one can be (if only the same could be said of say, Ahmad Said).

This arrest is probably about Perak.

Can you smell their fear? See it in their eyes?

And Mr. “review ISA” Najib. Mr. 1Malaysia. It looks like we don’t even have to wait a goddamned month to see your true colours eh?

I’ll try to get someone to update jelas while I’m away if possible.

A DIY History Lesson ...

ADDENDUM: Mahathir is to speak on "The Role on the Executive, Legislative, Judiciary and Constitutional Monarchy in the Governing of Malaysia" at the Perdana "Leadership" Foundation in Putrajaya, at 9.30am tomorrow!!!! Are they for real or what??!!!
Oh, Gawd Almighty!!! After the rape of the "institutions of state", subverting the Federal Constitution and destroying the principle of "separation of powers" in Malaysia (which he possibly masterminded), I cannot imagine him speaking on their roles!! I cannot wait to hear the hogwash he's due to spew ...... it's like asking Hitler to speak on democracy!!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

On one important point I definitely agree with Khoo:
sovereignty was never transferred from the Malay Rulers to the British Crown. I have here a copy of the treaty between Tuanku Muhammad and Queen Victoria’s government and indeed there is no such clause.
Even the MacMichael Treaties, which the Labour government needed to create the Malayan Union, do not mention the word, and include a clause acknowledging the validity of subsisting agreements. Apart from Penang, Malacca, Sabah (as North Borneo) and Sarawak, we were never formal colonies of the British Crown.

- Tunku Abidin Muhriz, The Sun
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I

There's been lots of talk about history of late- after Mahathir's call to take it seriously. Prof Khoo Kay Kim's take on how history was written by our guys is one interesting piece to note. de minimis gives a good rundown here.
Then there was this "debate" between Khoo & Colin Abraham in the interpretation of history (which includes all the old "Brit" MSM version which Prof Khoo claims to have read).

However, with the subtle twists and turns of the propaganda machinery at the disposal of the Umno/BN regime, I wouldn't bet on the Ministry of Education under Muhyiddin (who apparently callled recently called some people "ungrateful") to do anything worthwhile.

Yes sir - we're talking about rewriting the history of Malaya/Malaysia here.
Pure History - despite the fact that there can never be "One History" just as there cannot be "One Malaysia" (at least under the BN/Umno regime).
A history where there were no "pendatangs" who were accepted by an industrious and racially pure Malay race led by Umno Baru. An "ideal" that apparently existed even before Abdullah Munsyi, Hang Too Ah, Parameswara and Sang Nila Utama.
In this history, you probably will not see the role played by the Indians/ Pallavas/ Cholas, Hindus; Kadaram (Kedah), Sri Vijaya (Palembang), Malaiyur (the Malayu of the 7th century, i.e. Jambi Kingdom), Mayuradingan (the Je-lo-ting of the Chinese on the Malay Peninsula), Ilangosagam (Langkasuka), Champas, Chinese, Buddhists, and the Thais, the Portugese, Dutch and Bugis. No - you will not see that. Lembah Bujang and Kota Gelanggi might just be your imagination and a clever Jewish plot to discredit the purity of the Umno-malay race.

Yes- We will learn a history of a Nusantara descended purely from Alexander the Great, where everything was world class, and the sophisticated people were living glamorously cosmopolitan lives with space-age science and technology at their disposal, imported straight from the deserts of Arabia.


II

Anyways - we get many proponents of the idea that “Tanah Melayu” was never really colonised – that it was simply a trading post for the British East India Company, and the Sultans were the Rulers who never lost their power during the days of the “White Tuans”.
But hold on a minute – didn't the British East India company dissolve in 1874? If East India Company was dead by 1874, who then ruled Malaya (even if they didn't have it in balck & white)? Can someone tell me that the Sultans were "almighty" and controlled the territories at their disposal?
Of course - you can indulge in technicalities or semantics, and try to redefine the word "colony" - but that doesn't change the fact that the Brits held power (just like what Umno is doing in Perak) and RULED their subjects, who may have been glorified as "Rulers" officially.

Umno was created by the Brits as collaborators, while they snuffed out the Leftist nationalists (of all races) through their Emergency Ordinance- post WW II - so that they can pass the govt to some "cronies".
This was in line with the agreement between Churchill and FDR for a capitalist new world order of nation-states. After all, the real "war for independence" was fought on the beaches of Normandy, and the allies in the "west" shed their blood for it. It was their blood, and they were gonna make sure that it was bloody worth every drop- in terms of power and wealth.


III

Meanwhile in Malaya, we only had boy scouts who were happy eating ikan masin, belacan & tempoyak, who needed the white man to teach them how to fight. The exceptions are of course the leftists and those who took up arms against the Brits after the WW II. Who knows anything about the KMM, PBM, PRM, PSM, Putera, etc etc etc anyways.
The youngsters of today would probably have never heard of the roles of people like Rashid Mydin, Ibrahim Yaacob, Rahim Kajai, Burhanudin Helmi, Othman Kalam, Abdul Karim Rashid, Hassan Manan and Isa Mohd. Mahmud in shaping Malaysia into what it is today. The CPM were all apparently just crooks who took up arms against the Japs for the fun of it. No Indians were heroes in their fight against the Japs or communists. You can just take a wild guess, as to how many of them were detained by the collaborators with the crown, under the Emergency Ordinance.

They will claim that the Malay Leftists were dissatisfied with the presence of foreigners who apparently "displaced" the Malays from the world of trade. They will claim that the leftists sought to deport all "pendatangs" in hatred.
They will however neglect to tell you that the collaborators were the ones who suppressed the Malays and left them with an education restricted to basket weaving and Quran reading - while they enriched themselves. They will conveniently forget that the leftists were up in arms against the apparently "independent aristocracy" who ruled the Malay world with absolute sovereignty. And the Brits couldn't care a damn what these guys did to their own kind, as long as their business wasn't affected.

Umno's "Malaya/Malaysia" never really "fought for independence" as such - they elite/ aristocrats who collaborated with the Brits, & "peacefully" negotiated terms with the colonial powers. This was the "perjuangan they thump their chest every so often about, to the awe of the very "educated" urbanites and the kampung pakcik/makcik. These elite were British educated guys who were "civil servants" of the no less than the British crown. As Farish Noor put it - MCKK produced a number of compliant Malay clerks and peons (of royal birth, no less) to man the middle and lower echelons of the colonial bureaucracy.

It is my belief that the "Malayan Union" was just a smokescreen to fool the commoner, created by the "Brit educated heroes" for Umno - which was nothing compared to the leftist patriots they conspired to finish off with the Brits . It was just a technicality which didn't make a difference, and it was only one of the proposals towards the establishment of an "independent state". There was no need to officially declare Malaya a crown colony when they were set for Independence which was guaranteed by the US of A anyways.
It appears to me, like they shuffled some papers, passed some resolutions, changed many names, called the same thing different names (maybe some slogans for Umno thrown in for good measure too) - and yet never changed a thing. For some icing on the cake, there were of course some “undesirable elements and communists” who were thrown into the slammer due to a “threat to national security”.
And Bingo! - Out of nowhere, we suddenly got Law school flunkies and aristocrats become freshly minted instant Umno heroes!!

Nobody needs to know how elections were carried out in Umno in the early days. Nor do they need to know how Tunku & Razak won their leadership in Umno of old, or the margins by which they won it. That was the "perjuangan" - as Umno defines it, which they shout out.
Yeah man - that's history for you!
You know what they say about lipstick on a errr Pig .... never mind lets just stick to the Shakespearean "a rose by any other name .... "


IV
You guys remember the Ho Chi Minh story by an Umno aligned blogger - about how all agreements signed "under duress" needs to be discarded? We're lucky this blogger didn't suggest that we start a revolution to start our calendar with year-1 like Khmer Rouge and use Pol Pot as our guiding light for inspiration & enlightenment.
Now you get Mahathir talking about history .... and then, Prof Khoo joins in the fray.

Maybe I'm just paranoid about the "pretenders", but do you see a pattern?
Maybe - just maybe, they wish for a new Federal Constitution, after having chewed spat out the current. They will spin history so bad to make it look like they were forced to accept "pendatangs" in this country at gunpoint, and that these pendatangs didn't enrich them one but through backbreaking labour, blood, sweat and tears - while others whiled their time away in the good life as "masters".
All of a sudden, they realized that these pendatang became richer than them despite all the handicaps, through their enterprise and hard labour.

So now the agenda would be to "take back the country" and redeem their racist pride - demi "Perjuangan Agama, Bangsa dan Negara". Demi whatever! For that we need economic rape & plunder for the elite ala Idi Amin's Uganda or Mugabe's Zimbabwe, while their own kind will be taught basket weaving, and how to sell ketupat/lemang on the roadside as it the days of the "White Tuan". Okay - lets not forget the longest line of "satays".
This is the "perjuangan" which some people talk about. Only then can some people call themselves "patriots". History does repeat itself doesn't it?
For that to happen in full, after the "Rape of Perak", we need another 513 and an emergency- probably that's why there are plans for the Askar Wataniah in each parliamentary constituency.
Could this probably be the "1Malaysia" plan?

Come what may, you'll soon see the BTN version of history in the school textbooks ..... and in the MSM - something like the "Hari Ini Dalam Sejarah", with the Tun Razak's-makan-angin-trips propaganda of old days.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
A Malaysian Nursery Rhyme
.
There was a crooked man, and he'd walk a crooked mile
To sell a crooked bridge with his usual crooked style
He got his crooked cats to evict a crooked mouse
Now they all regard the nation as their little crooked house.
- LChuah (Renoir), comment on MalaysiaToday
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Saturday, 2 May 2009

While Zambry boldly flaunts his imbecility ....

The perception is:-
The "DogGodfather" is Alive
and Kicking


& soon enough (if it isn't already, with the OSA) "Omerta" will be firmly entrenched as part of the Malaysian/BN political culture/code of ethics ...

Friday, 1 May 2009

More of The "God-nundrum" on MT....


RPK recently had two posts on MT's No Holds Barred -What if the shoe was on the other foot?, and 'Hear ye, hear ye, PASOK, Chanatak and Tompios', on the issue of religion. The first appeared to be addressing the difference between "faithful" as opposed to the "faith" and "inter-faith relations". The latter was apparently in response to a comment I made saying "that some people just don't get it, even when you spell it out"(yeah, I know it was just an excuse).
There were of course enough guys who took it as an opportunity to articulate the "superiority" of their convictions/faith/theology, while some others took to becoming "myth busters". It is therefore no wonder at all that there have been so much strife in this world, all because of one factor - the afterworld!!!

"Mind-bending" aside, what transpired in the discussions, was to me, a fascinating insight into some "religious minds" around us - not that I haven't encountered them in some congregations around town before, though. Mind you - these guys aren't "Muslims" (who are often the subject of ridicule by many a non-muslim) though, who object/contest the writings of RPK, but holier-than-thou, (horrors!!!) truly born again, judgemental, "Christians" who hurl fire & brimstone towards the fellow men, while putting themselves on a pedestal!!

(For the information of the "damned" - Incidentally, these guys have booked their seats on "Starship Rapture" to their heavenly suites, for an eternal party with a "God" who has accepted their "offering"). So those of you who need a ticket, just contact these guys, okay .... it doesn't come free or at discounted rates, though - there is often a "10% sales tax imposed by God"!!

To give you a glimpse into the fascinating minds of these guys mentioned above by RPK, here are some (extracts only, though - Catholics, you can read them in full at the above links) comments, with my response to them.
**The first comment below, from the former post by RPK, is to articulate my take on "organized religion" and its relation to politics, statecraft & humanity at large.

##(Grab your Coke & popcorn, guys!)
written by cruzeiro, April 30, 2009 13:38:59

Man by nature are social & spiritual beings – and therefore, “religion” is a necessary evil in philosophy and statecraft, as it provides a “point of reference” - in a “higher authority” beyond man. While the intentions of most religions may be the same, their methods are quite different - depending upon the dominant culture/civilization which dictates the ideology. While many these days see religions as fairy tales, they may not see how the "concept" of religion has helped man evolve from their barbaric way in ancient times.

Kings of old saw the need for religion in giving man "HOPE" and "laws from a higher authority" for the sake of legitimacy in the eyes of the people. That is why we have had Divine/God-kings (or the so-called "berdaulat" in Malay), complete with tales of “miracles” to hoodwink the ignorant masses and instill fear in them. The "ruling class" who become the symbols of "godliness" however, more often than not, scorn the concept of religion and "God"- which to them are simply instruments of statecraft, used to manipulate the masses into submission or fire them up into a frenzy for political reasons. It is because of this that we often see them leading opulent & decadent lives – away from the glare of public eyes – while the masses toil away.

Fairy tales or not, all civilizations of old had religious foundations or orders/laws, upon which their society was built; and that determined their progress - using science & technology. They however only survived as long as the dominant philosophy/religion/school of thought in the state, remained relevant according to the times - and whole civilizations collapsed when they became dogmatic and/or backward looking, and advocated stagnation or refrained from evolving.

The same fate awaits all known religions of today, should they tread the same road taken by failed ideologies of past kingdoms. Despite all these, one has to admit there are forces beyond our comprehension that work in mysterious ways. Science & technology can only reveal small amounts over time - and the states which embrace ideologies which advocate its progress the most (through education), will eventually win the battle of ideas. This is a fact in history no matter how true one may believe his faith is.

Most people think that you can "find" God/peace/truth/humanity/love (call it what you like) through prescribed religion/ rituals, when the truth is you achieve that through spirituality, faith and wisdom. These are people who do things for rewards in the afterlife (whatever that means) & treat "God" as a businessman who trades for praises/worship/dressing.
"God" & religion is as simple as that to them.
No amount of holier/truer-than-thou scripture reading, praying, laws/rules, finger-pointing or politics of "religion" is going to help those who believe in the former - in fact without the latter, it becomes the prescription for trouble (as was seen throughout history).

The following are from the comments section in the latter article:

written by MasterYoda, April 30, 2009 21:01:53

AKIKO,
you asked if i saved? I say YES! I know within me, that if i died tonight, i would be in heaven with Yeshua. its an assurance from the Word of God and deep knowing within my spirit. (its like you know and you know and you know with a shadow of doubt)...


written by cruzeiro, April 30, 2009 22:28:23
Hear! Hear!
Master Yoda has booked a suite in heaven!
Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!

All you poor souls who don't look at things as MasterYoda - you are damned to the everlasting flames of hell!!

ps
MasterYoda shall meanwhile be battling evil spirits and demons (ala "Angel") till the final judgement - but then again, he may get upgraded to the limited edition express ticket on "Starfleet Rapture"!
The rest of us - we have roast pork in hell .......


BTW MasterYoda,
Don't think people envy you having your express ticket ....

written by chanatak, April 30, 2009 22:42:21
Hi Cruzeiro,
Pleased to let you know that like MasterYoda, I have also been given a berth in heaven.

written by cruzeiro, May 01, 2009 00:13:35
Dang! Chanatak - now there are two less of the limited seats on Starfleet Rapture!
Here I was hoping that I can somehow wangle myself into an extra low cost seat!
Anyways - good for you that you have a suite booked, and it's great that your theology provides the same as that of many others who book their seats through various other methods.
(Actually, even the Taliban and Hamas can suggest a few novel methods to "book seats", too).
Don't mean to say that you did it, but just don't go around with a chip on your shoulder with a holier-than-thou attitude.

Me ... I donno - I'll let the big man decide if I'm good enough. But no way in hell or heaven am I gonna try to bribe him with prayers and worship for a suite in his abode for an eternal party.

You see - there's a big difference between your perception of God and mine, and that makes all the difference. Cross or no cross, foolishness or not, I don't think he's a trader or businessman who decides based on what we believe .... if there is a God, I don't think he's so small as to base his judgements as per human perceptions/understanding/frailties - and I wouldn't presume to know the mind of God. If he's there, I believe that he's definitely gotta be bigger and better than all the earthly religions put together - after all few of them deny having a monopoly of truth.

Anyways - since you have so much faith in your destiny, good for you mate - and nobody can tell you that you're wrong!
Cheers!

====================================================


**Cruzeiro hopes the Coke & popcorn were worth it ......


Another "unGodly bushfire" on the front!!!

The Selangor Islamic Religious Council (MAIS) has forbidden the Ahmadiyya Muslim sect to perform Friday prayers at their mosque with immediate effect.
In a letter to the Ahmadiyya dated 24 Apr 2009 made available to The Nut Graph, MAIS said, "If [the Ahmadiyya] fail to comply with, defy or neglect the directive, the council will take legal action without any notice."
In a statement, Ahmadiyya spokesperson Ainul Yakin Muhd Zain said, "We ... feel deeply hurt and aggrieved at this unjust action to deny us our right to perform our religious obligations." MAIS issued its directive on the grounds that the Ahmadiyya mosque did not get the council's approval first.

- The Nut Graph
======================

This is probably the result of "somebody"'s threat to "bury" the sect some time back. These are the "holier than thou characters" who actually sat down with Umno to discuss the formation of a "unity govt", despite having promised to be in the Pakatan Rakyat pact to rule Selangor.
This is a problem in all political parties worldwide, that use religion as their political tool - they need to prove their "correctness" through persecution of the powerless.

The definition of "Islam" as many make it out to be, is debatable. As far as I know (I may be wrong, though) the five "pillars"/rukun, namely -
1. Shahadah,
2. Salah,
3. Zakat,
4. Fasting during Ramadan, and
5. The Haj
- constitute the definition. (But then again some deny that there is such a thing!).
As to where exactly the Ahmadiyyahs fail, I confess that I'm ignorant.
However, I'm quite aware that there are quite significant differences in interpretation of the scriptures (which offends the mainstream Muslims) by the Ahmadiyyahs. It is probably the fact that it is believed that Ghulam Ahmad declared that he is the "Mehdi" - the second coming (or something like that).
It is beyond me as a non-Muslim to touch on that matter.

The problem here is the fact that they profess the "five pillars" and yet are (unconstitutionally) subjected to "excommunication" (as the pope did to "heretics") - although these guys don't recognize the MAIS (or the state) as "the" authority in determining their religion or the validity of their theology. They are also forced to deny their belief of being Muslims, becos MAIS believes that the Muslim public are incapable of discernment, and may fall victim to these peace loving and progressive people.

The said premises they refer to do not "belong" to MAIS. So how is it that MAIS can stop someone from using their own premises to worship as they see fit?
Never mind how idiotic it may sound, but to make matters worse, they are now being threatened to be stripped of their status as "Malays"!!!

The beauty of Malaysia Boleh is this:
Some time back, there was a lady who wanted to declare herself an apostate on her legal documents - she was denied permission as she refused to submit to the Muslim authorities.
Then, now we have a whole community of them being "excommunicated" despite wanting to preserve their Muslim identity and "constitutional privileges".
This leads to the question of constitutional ethnic identity, as unlike anywhere else in the world, Umno wanted the constitution to define the Malay race as one who speaks Malay, practises the "culture of Malays" and professes the Islamic faith as per the "Five pillars of Islam".

Now - the Qadianis do practice the "five pillars of Islam" but interpret the scriptures differently, and are hence declared heretics.
So that means they "are Muslims" and yet "aren't Muslims".
Can you imagine being a Malay and yet not a Malay?

It is logical as some propose, that the Ahmadiyyah/ Qadianis should just consider themselves "non-Muslims" and non-Malay so as to avoid unnecessary persecution - but doing so does prevent them from performing their Haj, marrying fellow Malays/Muslims, using the scriptures in "worship" etc etc etc. (and that isn't a very nice prospect, considering that they have the constitutional right to worship as per their teachings without the interference of authorities).
The plus point here is - they don't have to worry about the "hudud cops" or "mat skodengs"!!!
smilies/cheesy.gif smilies/cheesy.gif smilies/cheesy.gif (just kidding!).

As a final thought - should the Qadiani Community should seriously consider sueing the agent provocateurs/ persecutors for denying them their Constitutional right?

Wednesday, 29 April 2009

Extinguishing "unGodly" Bushfires.


KUALA LUMPUR, April 23 — The government moved today to soothe uneasiness over Islamic conversion of minors when it decided that children should be raised in the faith of their parents while they were married even if one spouse becomes a Muslim.......
Minister in Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohd Nazri Aziz said Muslim converts
still had to meet their marriage commitments in raising their children
in their common religion at the time of their marriage.

-Government rules out children's conversions

======================================

========================================

There are many among us who see this as a "conciliatory" move by Umno/Bn towards the non-Malay/Muslim electorate who hold a significant vote bank. Nevertheless, it does indicate that we do have people who are beginning to listen to the cries of the minorities, are pragmatic, and are willing to bring about some change of attitude in Umno. This is a contentious issue which may fracture the nation further if not settled soon. Despite being suspicious of the motives of the Government in making this "goodwill gesture", it has to be admitted that it is a step in the right direction - "1-Malaysia" or not.

Having said that - the cabinet cannot just pass a toothless decree, sit pretty and hope to get away with it, while "the dust settles" - that's because in due time, it will be more than just dust, when it rears its ugly head again. And that is as sure as the sun rising in the east tomorrow! They must make it Law through the parliament, before it can be effective - and it has to be done as soon as yesterday!
The lawmakers must show real leadership, rather than just political acumen which caters to the "tyranny of the majority". They must show that they can see reason and understand humanity, the ability to rise above partisan politics and religious/sectarian chauvinism, to make the right decision for the sake of nationhood.


In saying that "the child should be brought up in the faith at the time of marriage", I take it that it simply means that one parent cannot unilaterally decide on a conversion of a minor, prior to gaining legal custody upon divorce. If the the marriage took place under the civil laws, then it has to be resolved in the same manner. It goes without saying that in cases where the parents did not espouse any religion prior to the dissolution, the child shall remain so until the question of custody is resolved. One cannot be expected to bring up a child without a religion if the guardian does have one, when it is a known fact that the child would instinctively imitate their role model at home as part of their natural milestones in growth.

Therefore, the courts should have no right to determine the manner/ faith in which the child is brought up by the party which gains custody (as long as the child grows up as a person, healthy in mind and body). The courts may however be empowered to determine that the parent who loses custody, accepts the fact that the welfare of the child is paramount- and hence does not contribute to creating conflict and confusion in the mind of the child by forcing a different religion from that espoused by the custodian, upon the child.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Article 12 (Federal Constitution of Malaysia)
3. No person shall be required to receive instruction in or take part in any ceremony or act of worship of a religion other than his own.
4. For the purposes of Clause (3) the religion of a person under the age of eighteen years shall be decided by his parent or guardian.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

There will be many more arguments which ask the many "what ifs", with many hypothetical scenarios - no religion at time of marriage, only one was this or that, rights of a Muslim/Hindu/Christian/Buddhist parent etc etc etc.
"Aisehman" says that there is some sort of "conflict" in that both parents have a right to decide on the religion of the child, as far as Article 12 (3) & (4) are concerned. IMHO, there is no such thing - the issue is simple actually.
The way I look at it, the rights of parent who is the guardian, takes precedence over that of the one who isn’t.
The main issue here is that of child custody - once that is sorted out, the rest will fall into place - and the court that has to decide/arbitrate on that is the court wherein that the contract of marriage was signed. The question of religion of the minor doesn't arise (as yet, at least). If it is the newly converted spouse gets custody, it becomes that party's choice - QED.

Meanwhile the fear is really in the case of conversions of minors to Islam by one parent without the consent of the other (this seems to occur more in Hindu couples or what?), as the Syariah appears to get involved at every instance - especially since the civil courts tend to chicken out at the first prospect of a challenge from chauvinists.

The Syariah courts should have the courage to boldly court wisdom, and nullify the conversion of under-aged and immature children who are incapable of making reasoned choices (in disputed custodial "battles"). In this age of ICT in the 21st century, the reasoning that attainment of puberty denotes "maturity" (as per primitive presumptions) has to be discarded. They must accept that "maturity" in this context isn't about physical maturity, but the state of mind of the child. And neither does the concept of "everybody is a muslim at birth", legally hold water.

The Syariah courts would be wise not interfere in matters beyond its jurisdiction, even if it involves a Muslim. (There will be those who argue that Islam is a 'complete way of life' and therefore involves all aspects - temporal & spiritual. To them, all I can say is that there isn't one religion in the world that does not make that claim, although they may not be assertive about it - and hence their priority should be that of harmonious coexistence, rather than chauvinism). It has to understand that cannot have jurisdiction over this matter, as it was not party to the contract between the two parties. To deny this fact, would render the syariah courts "irrational, incompetent & meddlesome" in the eyes of non-Muslims and right thinking men, and would consequently be despised as being biased. This breeds animosity, and sets the stage for further conflict, which all right thinking men or schools of thought seek to avoid.
The Syariah Courts, must show itself as a competent and viable alternative to the civil courts - that it can see reason and understand "universal values", so as to earn the respect and confidence of one & all - instead of going on a "jihadi" tangent to "defend Islam" (which an intellectual amoeba called Zul Nordin, might advocate). They must know that they must be seen to be just, and thattheir duties are critical in determining the path the country takes towards achieving nationhood.

"Zul Nordin" or not, all parties need to cooperate to make this reality, by enacting just laws that govern this contentious issue, for the sake of a higher ideal and goal- true Nationhood.
Let men know that they are neither master nor slave ...... That is what Democracy is all about - protection of rule of law & minority rights in the rule of the majority.