Hudud Law Replaces Malay Rights As The New Battle Cry

Malaysians used to be fixated on Malay rights and vernacular education. Malay politicians would use Malay rights as their battle cry to gain the support of the Malays and Non Malay politicians would use the preservation of vernacular eduction as their battle cry to gain the support of the Non Malays.

The fixation is beginning to unfix itself.

The Malays themselves are beginning to see the ill effects of the New Economic Policy (NEP) which includes its abuse by the politicians themselves and the stigma of being unable to survive without a crutch. The Non Malays have realised that vernacular education is not able to provide the education necessary for globalised citizens in a globalised world.

The new tune that has been composed for the battle cry is Islamic law or Hudud. The now resurgent Islamist party, Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) which is the governing coalition partner in 5 out of the 13 states wants Hudud implemented in Malaysia whereas its other coalition partner, the Democratic Action Party (DAP) says over its dead body. Invariably the Muslim majority (mostly Malays) will side with PAS and the non Muslim majority (mostly non Malays) will side with DAP leading to possibly another generation worth of time wasting and politicking.

This fixation will continue with the minority, already weakened politically and almost invariably economically, having to tolerate increasing religious subjugation just like how they have tolerated Malay supremacy over the last 38 years ever since the NEP came into being - Justin A Santiago, 15th January 2009.

Mayhem in Mumbai becomes clear

Muslim religious extremists are once again being used to alter global geopolitics. The extensive and alarmist media coverage of the dire consequences of the attack on Mumbai - suggesting the possible decline of Mumbai as a financial centre - was totally disproportionate to the actual damage caused, close to 200 deaths and the destruction by fire of a few buildings.

Pointers are appearing to suggest certain elements want the competition to be eliminated in order to propel Shanghai to be the next major financial hub. The attacks appear to want to challenge the perception that India is unable to handle terrorists in its own backyard and as such a more democratically stifling China albeit one with financial freedom is a more legitimate choice.

The attacks in India will continue and more time, effort and money will be spent on tackling the problem, distracting India's eye on the ball of becoming the next superpower, helped in part by the powers that be which want China to play that role.


- Justin Santiago, 30th November 2008

Indonesia's New Anti-Porn Agenda

By Jason Tedjasukmana / Jakarta Thursday, Nov. 06, 2008

Indonesia watched its new anti-pornography law leap into action last weekend, as police raided a Jakarta nightclub and arrested three employees. The officers, according to the Kompas daily, detained three erotic dancers in the raid — the first arrests based on the controversial law since it passed last week by an overwhelming majority in Parliament. The women now face up to 10 years in prison.

It's a moment that has been many years in the making. The far-reaching anti-pornography bill, according to the Islamic parties that drafted it, is an attempt to define and regulate pornography in order to protect women and children who, they say, are vulnerable an increasing immorality creeping into Indonesia. The bills' critics, however, primarily ethnic and religious minorities, claim its provisions are a first step towards imposing Sharia law. Widespread protests to a previous, more severe version of the law in 2006 forced legislators to amend it, but efforts to shelve it altogether were defeated on Oct. 30.

While the bill has been watered down from its original pitch to exclude tourists and terms like "porno-action" in deference to minorities who feared their traditions could face persecution under the vague category, the final version retained a broad definition of pornography that many fear could be abused by law enforcers and radical organizations. "The law is wide open to interpretation and could even apply to voice, sound, poetry, works of art or literature," says Kadek Krishna Adidharma, one of many Balinese who see the law as an attempt by the Indonesian Muslim majority to impose their will on the rest of the country. "Anything that supposedly raises the libido could be prosecutable."

The law, first drafted in 1999 but resurrected this year by the nation's Islamic political parties as the country nears 2009 elections, has a long list of possible offenses. Anyone "displaying nudity" could be fined up to $500,000 and jailed for up to 10 years. Public performances that could "incite sexual desire" have been banned, and "civil society" groups will be allowed to help enforce the legislation. "The timing is very political," says Kadek. "The [supporting] parties want to use it to take the moral high ground as they enter the campaign season."

Parliamentarians who voted in favor of the bill deny this. "We are only giving voice to our constituents who are concerned with what they see on television and a sense of moral degradation," explains Zulkiflimansyah from the Muslim-oriented Prosperous Justice Party. Still other supporters say the law chiefly aims to regulate the distribution of adult materials, which circulate freely across the country in both big cities and small villages.

While it is true that loose regulation has made pornographic magazines and pirated DVDs easily available to minors in Indonesia, advocates for the rights of religious and ethnic minorities say the problem will not be righted by the new legislation. They point to existing provisions in the criminal law as sufficient to deal with the problem, and complain that the new law poses a threat to non-Muslim Indonesians. "The law imposes the will of the majority that embrace Islam, is a form of religious discrimination and against the spirit of tolerance taught by the country's founders," says Theophilus Bela, chairman of the Christian Communication Forum. "It is an effort to divide the country."

Four provinces with sizeable non-Muslim populations — Bali, Yogyakarta, Papua and North Sulawesi — have already rejected the law and said it will not be enforced in their regions. It remains to be seen how and if that will be tolerated by Jakarta. Major protests are planned for this month in Bali, where the governor has been a vocal opponent of the law and pledged that it will not be implemented. Many Balinese are now calling for greater autonomy and say dire consequences lie ahead if their demands are not met. "There is even a possibility that Bali will ask to separate from Indonesia," says Rudolf Dethu, a Balinese who has helped organize protests against the law. "It's that serious."

Alcohol ban: Trouble brewing in Pakatan

Alcohol ban: Trouble brewing Pakatan
Nov 26, 08 1:43pm, Malaysiakini

Trouble appears to be brewing in the opposition alliance Pakatan Rakyat over the move by the Islamic-based PAS to push for an alcohol ban in Selangor.

MCPXIn the wake of reports that Selangor PAS intended to impose a ban on the sale of alcohol at 7-11 outlets, mini-markets and coffee shops, a DAP parliamentarian warned that it could lead to fissures in the alliance.

Over the years, DAP had often found itself at loggerheads with PAS over the latter’s theocratic policies and goals.

In 2001, DAP had quit the then opposition front called Barisan Alternatif after crossing swords with PAS over the Islamic state issue.

The news reports were based on a purported draft by PAS-appointed municipal councillors for a motion to ban the sale of alcohol which was to be tabled at the Klang municipal council monthly meeting today. However, the motion was not tabled.

According to the reports, the motion was said to be the latest move after a similar proposal made by Selangor executive councillor Dr Hasan Ali from PAS was rejected during an exco meeting in October.

Remember, it's a joint government

Seeing red over the matter, DAP publicity secretary Tony Pua reminded PAS that Selangor was ruled by a joint government and the Islamic party only controlled eight of the 36 state seats won by Pakatan Rakyat in the March 8 polls.

"Therefore, any attempts by Selangor PAS to flex its muscles without due regard to its fellow coalition partners would be deemed as arrogant and uncooperative," he said in a statement today.

The Petaling Jaya Utara MP also warned that such a would move would only serve to weaken the governing coalition.

In view of this, he urged PAS to respect the spirit of multi-racialism since almost half of the population in Selangor comprised non-Muslims and non-Malays.

“If Selangor PAS chooses to ignore the multicultural mandate granted by the people of Selangor in the last elections, its continued unilateral attempts to impose its views in the Selangor administration would only lead to a break up in the Pakatan state,” he said.

Pua said DAP would never support the sale of 'haram' (prohibited in Islam) goods such as alcohol and spirits to Muslims but it also would not support a blanket ban on alcohol in the state.

"(This is) not because we encourage the promotion of alcohol consumption but because the proposed ban in essence infringes on the rights of others in the state of Selangor," he said.

Anwar: Present policy stays

Meanwhile Malaysiakini learnt that the Shah Alam City Council will be the first local council which will curb the sale of alcohol in Selangor, effective next January.

Sources said that the council had agreed to proceed with this at its meeting last month.

However Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim told reporters in Parliament this morning that there was a consensus among coalition parties to retain the current policy.

He added that any new changes will have to be done through the state exco and the menteri besar, and not implemented through local councils.

Selangor menteri besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim is expected to make an announcement on this matter later today after the exco meeting.

PAS policies in Kelantan

At present, the PAS-led Kelantan government has banned gambling, restricted the sale of alcohol and requires men and women to queue in separate lines at shops.

Since it was trounced in the 2004 general election, PAS has been trying to revamp its hardline image in order to garner support from the non-Muslim communities.

In the March 2008 polls, the party witnessed a marked improvement in its performance after joining forces with DAP and PKR to form the Pakatan Rakyat alliance.

Among the seats won by PAS include multi-racial seats with a significant number of non-Muslim voters.

The mosquito gets ready to fly

The egg was planted in Malaysian waters in 1969 when Tunku Abdul Rahman was elected the Sectretary General of the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC).

This egg germinated into a larvae in 1993 when Dr Mahathir got the Parliament to amend Article 121(1A) of the Federal Constitution which gave the Syariah Courts autonomy on Muslim affairs. After this amendment a lot of non Muslims who had married Muslims

The larva almost sprouted wings in 2002 when Dr Mahathir declared Malaysia an Islamic state. This enabled Malaysia to chair the OIC from 2004 to 2007.

The Islamists have declared that Malaysia will be fully Islamic by 2020. This is when the mosquito will be fully mature.

Muslim group lodges report against Penang Deputy CM

The Star, 18th November 2008

BUTTERWORTH: Ikatan Rakyat Insan Muslim Malaysia (IRIMM) lodged a police report against Penang Deputy Chief Minister (II) Dr P. Ramasamy on Tuesday.

The report was lodged over a statement he had made on certain Umno policies which he alleged had caused an imbalance in the number of Malay and non-Malay staff in the state civil service.

The police report was made by the special secretary to IRIMM's president, Zainol Abidin Ahmad, at the Butterworth police station.

Zainol said it was necessary for the organisation to lodge a report as Dr Ramasamy's words could cause ill feelings between the races.

"We want to keep the peace and harmony between all races especially among the Malays. We want him to publicly apologise for the words he has uttered.

"You can play politics but it must be with ethics. You just can't go around offending other people with insensitive remarks," he said when met at the police station.

"We would advise him to apologise on the matter so that it would not cause anger among the Malays," he added.

The issue of the race imbalance in the civil service broke out during the state legislative sitting last Thursday, when Dr Ramasamy reported that as of Sept 30, state governments and local authorities employed 81.95% Malays, 12.92% Indians and 5.05% Chinese.

A war of words then broke out between Barisan Nasional's Permatang Berangan assemblyman Shabudin Yahaya and Dr Ramasamy.

Shabudin said that it was "irresponsible for Dr Ramasamy to blame Umno" for the race imbalance.

The Bayan Baru Umno Youth division last week also lodged a police report against Dr Ramasamy, saying his remarks that Malays dominated the state civil service "had racial undertones and could spark racial misunderstandings."

Neither IRIMM nor the Umno Youth division have disputed Dr Ramasamy's figures.

Bali bombers executed by firing squad

Singapore Straits Times, 9th November 2008

CILACAP, Indonesia - Three Islamists sentenced to death for the Bali bombings which killed 202 people were executed by firing squad early Sunday morning, after five years of legal challenges.

"At around 00:15 am (1715 GMT Saturday) the three convicted men on death row, Amrozi, Mukhlas and Imam Samudra, were executed by firing squad," said attorney general's office spokesman Jasman Panjaitan.

"The autopsy results show that all three are dead. The family members are now bathing the bodies," he said, adding that more details would be given later on Sunday.


Amrozi, 47, his brother Mukhlas, 48, and ringleader Imam Samudra, 38, were killed with shots to the heart in an orange grove near their prison on Nusakambangan island off southern Java, TV One television reported.
A source in the prison told AFP they shouted "Allahu Akbar" (God is greater) as they were escorted out of their isolation cells by paramilitary police.

A brother of Mukhlas and Amrozi -- the latter dubbed the "smiling assassin" for his courtroom antics -- said the family had been informed.

"May our brothers, God willing, be invited by green birds to heaven now," Mohammad Chozin told reporters in the family's village of Tenggulun, east Java.

"We're now handling the preparations to bring the bodies back, which may take two hours," he said outside an Islamic boarding school, as supporters shouted "Allahu Akbar."

Some 200 Islamic radicals had gathered at the school, some carrying banners praising the bombers as "heroes," amid fears of a violent militant backlash across the mainly Muslim country.

The 2002 attack targeted packed nightspots on the holiday island of Bali, killing more than 160 foreigners including 88 Australians, as well as 38 Indonesians.

It was blamed on the Jemaah Islamiyah regional terror network, a group once linked to Al-Qaeda which has launched a series of bloody attacks in Southeast Asia over the past decade.

Security has been beefed up around sensitive areas like embassies, tourist spots, shopping malls and ports. On Hindu-majority Bali, 3,500 police are on the streets providing additional security, officials have said.

Australia has urged citizens to reconsider travel to Indonesia and the United States -- which lost seven nationals in the attack -- has warned Americans to "maintain a low profile" and avoid demonstrations.

The bombers were sentenced to death in 2003 under a new anti-terror law which was applied retroactively, leading to criticism from rights campaigners and fuelling anger among their Islamist supporters.

They repeatedly said they wanted to die as "martyrs" for their dream of creating an Islamic utopia spanning much of Southeast Asia.

But the executions were delayed by a series of failed appeals and legal challenges, and most recently by the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in September.

The bodies are expected to be taken by helicopter to the bombers' families in east and west Java, an extraordinary precaution designed to limit any demonstrations.

Hardline cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, the co-founder of Jemaah Islamiyah who was jailed on a conspiracy charge related to the bombings before being released, praised the bombers as "holy warriors" during a visit to Tenggulun on Saturday.

The 2002 Bali attacks were the bloodiest in a sustained period of Al-Qaeda-inspired jihadist violence in the world's most populous Muslim country.

Bombings at the JW Marriott hotel in Jakarta in 2003, the Australian embassy in 2004 and Bali again in 2005, among others, killed scores of people.

The alleged mastermind of the

Let this be an example

4th November 2008 is a historic day. Where someone who is not from the majority can win enough support from everybody and go on to lead the country. Let this be an example to all countries which practice racial and religous superiority, dhimmitude, apartheid or discrimination in whatever form. America the Great Satan? I don't think so.

PAS denies racism, sexism for opposing PKNS boss

Malaysian Insider, 1 Nov 2008

SHAH ALAM, Nov 1 - Denying racism or sexism for opposing Low Siew Moi's appointment as PKNS general manager, PAS Selangor commissioner Datuk Hassan Ali said it preferred "new blood" to manage the state corporation.

"I am prepared to support the appointment of a new PKNS general manager even if the person is not a Malay or a man, as long as they are professional and can provide a better future for PKNS," Hassan told the Siasah Daily news portal yesteday.

Hassan said his opinion was based on allegations that attacked the character of Low, who was corporate and accounts deputy general manager, and just-retired PKNS general manager Datuk Harun Salim.

His deputy, Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad, concurred that PKNS needed new blood.

"If we say that the PKNS management is bad, then I assume Madam Low is also bad as she is one of the senior managers there and not because she is not Malay. Anyone can lead PKNS as long as they understand its policies and aims and follow directives from the board led by the Menteri Besar," Khalid said.

"We don't want to appoint a Malay only to see the person not performing and causing Pakatan Rakyat trouble," he added.

Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim who appointed Low, a 35-year-veteran in PKNS, had said her new post was just a temporary measure. The 57-year-old Low has a one year contract starting today.

Her appointment had not only upset PAS but also did not go down well with the corporation's staff. At the Selangor State Assembly early this week, their representatives, led by PKNS Senior Officers Association president Idris Ishak, submitted a memorandum of protest to Khalid during the recess.

Hassan, who disclosed that Khalid had agreed to consider other candidates, said he had asked Khalid why the two most senior officers — Deputy General Manager (Administration) Md Nasir Md Arshad and Deputy General Manager (Technical) Abdul Ghani Hassan — were not appointed to succeed Harun.

He said Khalid had told him that Low was appointed because of her professionalism and administrative ability but PAS was of the view that the two deputy general managers had their own strengths and should have been considered for promotion.

Hasan said Khalid wanted the new general manager to bring reforms to PKNS and dignify the rights of bumiputeras in trade, business and economy in urban areas, town outskirts and new development areas despite the fact that Low was not a bumiputera.

He said PAS would hold a meeting soon to look at the list of party members who could take PKNS to greater heights.

Fatwa on yoga for Muslims

Wed, Oct 29, 2008
AFP

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - MUSLIMS in Malaysia may be barred from the ancient practice of yoga if they engage in Hindu 'religious elements' during the exercise, a top Islamic cleric said on Wednesday.

Mr Harussani Zakaria, a controversial cleric from the northern Perak state, said the government-backed National Fatwa Council would soon release a decree, or 'fatwa', which would decide if Muslims were allowed to practise yoga.

'If it involves any faith or religious elements it is definitely not permissible but if it is just a form of exercise that is all right,' Mr Harussani said.

'Muslims cannot practice yoga in its original form because it involves another religion,' he said in response to a call to ban Muslims from engaging in yoga.

Islam is the official religion of Malaysia, where more than 60 percent of the population of 27 million are Muslim Malays who practice a conservative brand of the religion.

The practice of yoga, a popular stress-buster in Kuala Lumpur, dates back thousands of years in India, where it was a favorite of holy men before becoming hugely popular internationally, especially among western celebrities.

Prof Zakaria Stapa, a professor in the Islamic faculty of the National University of Malaysia, had called on Muslims to stop practising yoga, saying it could cause them to 'deviate from their faith', news reports said on Wednesday.

Muslims in Malaysia practised yoga not just for exercise but also as part of the growing urban lifestyle and involved 'chanting mantras while in various positions', he said.

'Why should we look for other alternatives to exercise and search for peace? Yoga could cause (Muslims) to stray from their faith because its movements are according to the style and traditions of Hinduism,' he said.

The fatwa council, one of Malaysia's highest Islamic bodies, last Friday banned women from dressing or behaving like men and engaging in lesbian sex, saying it was forbidden by the religion. -- AFP

Let Iran Burn

"We do not worship Iran, we worship Allah. For patriotism is another name for paganism. I say let this land [Iran] burn. I say let this land go up in smoke, provided Islam emerges triumphant in the rest of the world."

THE STAR, TUESDAY, JULY 29, 2008

"Over my dead body"

Posted by: Tommy Peters

309 years ago a religionist in India said, “Over my dead body” in response to the ongoing Islamisation of the continent. He represented a 15th century doctrine, which stands to this day. His battle cry galvanized a movement that acted as a bulwark, which stemmed the brutal ‘Mughal steamroller’ at the time. It is said the current multicultural and multi-religious fabric of India remains secular, largely due to the advent of his movement.

18 years ago, in a more civilized setting, a politician in Malaysia said, “Over my dead body” in response to a notion that Islamisation of Malaysia was imminent. It is not a coincidence the politician echoed the battle cry of the religionist. The politician was asking that we draw lessons from history, which teaches that Islam in the public domain is incompatible with a multicultural and multi-religious fabric.

The recent position of PAS with UMNO revived the unifying sentiment of the ‘ummah’ within two opposing factions. Malaysians in multicultural and multi-religious fabric ought to be concerned of the religious angle such a sentiment would pose.

History has shown when the 'ummah' is the issue, partisanship has no justification in Islam. The 'ummah', the third in the hierarchy after Allah and his messenger, is regarded as ‘one nation’. Everything and everyone else is commentary.

A late Iranian spiritual leader said, “We do not worship Iran, we worship Allah. Patriotism is another word for paganism. I say let Iran burn. Let Iran go up in smoke, provided Islam emerges victorious”.

A late PAS leader said, “If Malaysia is truly Islamic, PAS is irrelevant”.

Paraphrasing the Iranian, it may be said, "We do not worship Pakatan, we worship Allah. I say let Pakatan burn, provided Islam emerges victorious"

Parallel between Anwar Ibrahim and Arabs Occupying the West Bank and Gaza

There is an interesting parallel between Anwar Ibrahim in Malaysia and the Arabs occupying the West Bank and Gaza. Like them, he is only focussed on destroying the ruling federal government and coming into power without thinking about how to govern in the states that are being ruled by Pakatan Rakyat, the loose coalition of parties that he is leading and which also includes PAS, an Islamist party. Those living in the West Bank and Gaza should focus on governing themselves, working the land and developing the economy instead of fighting among themselves and with others.

Teresa Kok and the supremacist minority

Malaysian Insider Commentary by Wan Hamidi Hamid

OCT 2 — Teresa Kok must be wondering why some Malays are adamant in portraying her as a Chinese chauvinist, villain of peace and enemy of Islam. With her impeccable record as the most hardworking wakil rakyat and the Member of Parliament with the highest majority votes in the country, she must be at a loss to fathom the attempts to assassinate her character.

From the blatant lies that she had opposed the azan (the Islamic call to prayer), to her wearing a skirt inside a mosque, the Seputeh MP has to live through the nightmare of racial politics almost on a daily basis.

Despite repeated denials of the azan issue — for which she was detained under the draconian Internal Security Act for seven days — Kok is still being chastised by some quarters linked to Umno, including the Malay daily Utusan Malaysia.

For the three-term MP, who is known among her close friends as a devout Catholic and a staunch believer in multiracialism, the detention without trial-ISA was not enough for her detractors. After her release, some extremist elements threw a Molotov cocktail into her parents' house.

To make matters worse, a whole lot of text messages were sent around justifying the violent act. The saddest part of the story is that some Malays actually believe that Kok is guilty of insulting Islam — which she is not.

The problem is those who believe the lies probably read one particular newspaper that is prone to promote racial supremacy. There are other Malay-language newspapers with higher circulation than the one espousing racist tendencies, yet they are not keen on resorting to false news. They seem to know the danger of playing up baseless racial accusations.

So what gives? Despite the many possible answers, it is likely that Umno, particularly in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, which suffered one of its worst election defeats, is venting anger in the only way some of its leaders know — racism.

Already many Barisan Nasional component parties are unhappy with recent racial episodes.

Now that the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) has left BN and Gerakan is mulling a similar move, the situation is critical for Umno-led BN. The fact that Umno is more concerned with its leadership transition, thus ignoring its partners, is likely to be a push factor for component members in the federal ruling coalition.

The tussle for the top leadership in Umno is expected to bring out the nastiest and dirtiest of tactics, especially when the party divisional meetings – the real backbone of Umno – begin next week.

As reflected during the branch meetings of the last three months, Ketuanan Melayu, or Malay supremacy, was the keyword among the grassroots leaders and members. Although top leaders have defined it as the struggle for the betterment of the Malays, others took it literally to mean the superiority of the Malays over other Malaysians.

This is especially true in the case of Teresa Kok when attempts to demonise her, despite being based on slander, continue to spread among the racist political element of the usually moderate and fair-minded Malays.

To this racist minority, Umno hegemony is their game, never mind that the basis of BN is racial harmony. They couldn't care less about muhibbah so long as their supremacist definition of the Malay is accepted by all.

Their only problem is that they are in the minority. Even Kok acknowledges it. She knows many more Malays accept her, not only as an MP or a Selangor state executive councillor, but also as a fellow Malaysian.

But spending a stint under the ISA and suffering the trauma of her parents' home being fire-bombed is not an easy experience to live with. She is hoping that more Malaysians, especially the Malays, speak up against racism and those who perpetuate the dangerous trend.

Even in high places she has good Malay friends. Former de facto Law Minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim quit the government in protest against Kok's arrest under the ISA and has even written an open letter to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to abolish the cruel law.

Kok has always been a popular figure with the Malay grassroots in the Klang Valley.

Immediately after she was released from the ISA, she attended a number of breaking-of-fast ceremonies, including at the Cheras Baru mosque, the one which she was accused of going into wearing a skirt.

The truth of the matter is the event was organised outside the mosque and Kok was wearing a long skirt covering her knees, similar to skirts she wears in Parliament, the Selangor state assembly and her state government office. She did not even enter the mosque.

But racists with agendas do not let facts get in the way of a good distortion in their favour. It's never too late, however, for some of these people to reflect on the good month of Syawal to ask for forgiveness from those who have been wrongly accused.

Maaf zahir batin.

MPAJ officers tore down temple despite state govt saying no

The Star, Friday September 26, 2008
By DHARMENDER SINGH, EDWARD RAJENDRA AND A. LETCHUMANAN

KLANG: The Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) officers involved in tearing down a Hindu temple in Ampang acted against a state government directive not to destroy places of worship.

Ronnie Liu, who is chairman of the state’s local government, study and research committee, said the state had issued a directive to all local councils to halt action against places of worship when it came into power but the officers defied the order.

He said that in taking the action last month the officers also bypassed the committee on non-Muslim affairs headed by state executive councillors Teresa Kok, Dr Xavier Jayakumar and himself.

“I contacted the council president a day after the incident and asked him to investigate the matter and identify those involved,” he said.

“I was told that he has submitted a preliminary report to my office but I have not read it since I am away in China now so it would be unfair for me to comment further.”

Liu had said a day after the incident that he was upset with the council officers’ actions and threatened that they would face stiff action.

Meanwhile Human Resources Minister Datuk S. Subramaniam said the MIC was extremely disappointed with the state government and MPAJ for allowing the demolition to occur.

“If a temple needs to be relocated due to road expansion or some major development, it can be relocated with the agreement that a new place of worship be built,” he said.

MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu has also condemned the demolition, saying that it went against the Opposition’s promise during the last general election not to demolish any temple.

“It is very uncaring of the local council to demolish the temple without first relocating it,” he said.

Malaysia proposes convention on Islamophobia

Bernama, Thursday September 25, 2008 MYT 1:09:12 PM

NEW YORK: Malaysia has proposed that an international convention sponsored by the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) be held as early as next year to tackle the anti-Islamic movement which is rearing its ugly head in several developed nations.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said Thursday that the OIC had asked Malaysia to play a major role towards rectifying the misconception of Islam within Western society.

He said this was conveyed to him by OIC Secretary-General Prof Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu during their meeting on the sidelines of the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly here.

He told Malaysian journalists that the OIC was confident that Malaysia would be able to take the initiative to counter the misconception towards the Islamic nations because of Malaysia’s commitment and effectiveness in past endeavours.

He hoped that the convention would be attended by influential people like leaders, department heads, intellectuals and non-governmental organisations which support religious tolerance.

“Malaysia hopes that another window can be opened for a more universal understanding of Islam to help in civilisation building,” he said.

He said the United States was chosen as the venue for the convention because of the polemic on Islam in that country as well as the wide media coverage it would get.

The proposal on the convention was made to the US representative to the OIC during an earlier meeting in Kuala Lumpur, he added.

Meanwhile, Malaysia deposited the Instrument of Ratification on the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) at the United Nations on Thursday.

“Malaysia’s ratification of the UNCAC is testimony to the Government’s commitment in promoting and strengthening measures to combat corruption at the domestic, regional and global levels.

“It also reflects the intention of Malaysia to be a fully engaged member of the Convention and a proactive member of the global anti-corruption community,” Rais said.

He is scheduled to speak at the UN General Assembly session on Saturday in place of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak who had cancelled his trip to attend to pressing matters in Malaysia.

Earlier, Rais had a bilateral meeting with his counterpart from Jordan, Dr Salaheddin AlBashir.

Religious tension simmers in Indonesia

The Straits Times, Singapore - Sep 24, 2008

Grassroots efforts at achieving harmony need state's full support
By Salim Osman

HUGE banners strung across entrances in some churches in Indonesia wish Muslims 'Selamat menunaikan ibadah puasa' - 'Wishing you well in your religious fast'.

A Christian church in Solo, Central Java, has been opening its doors to poor Muslims to break their fast during Ramadan for the past few years.

In the capital, government officials and political elite organise 'buka puasa bersama' events at their homes where their Christian friends are also invited to join in breaking the fast.

A mega-church, the Cathedral of the Messiah, opened last weekend in downtown Jakarta with official support from the government and almost no opposition from its Muslim neighbours.

All these developments seem to be a sign of harmonious relations between Muslims and Christians.

Well, not quite.

At one mosque near my house in Central Jakarta, an invited speaker at a ceramah just before the Tarawih prayers recently warned the congregants of attempts at converting them to another religion (read Christianity).

Then there were the attacks on a Christian church, a Christian theological college, and the headquarters of the Indonesian Communion of Churches in Jakarta - all within the month of August.

There is simmering religious tension in the country though not many would want to admit it.

Both sides are deeply suspicious of each other.

Muslims are fearful of 'kristenisasi' - a term they use to describe Christian proselytisation in the country.

They believe Muslims are in danger of being converted to Christianity through the setting up of churches and Christian schools in their midst.

The Christians, on the other hand, fear that Muslim groups are out to create a theocratic Islamic state through the enforcement of syariah or syariah-based laws which they fear would reduce them to second-class citizens.

Tensions today can be attributed partly to the activities of Islamic radical groups that have emerged since the fall of Suharto in 1998.

These groups claim to be protectors of Islam. They want to protect Muslims from being converted to other faiths and hence are intolerant of non-Muslim bodies.

The most prominent of these groups are the Front Pembela Islam (Islamic Defenders Front) and Forum Anti Gerakan Permurtadan (Anti Apostasy Forum), which have been blamed for many of the attacks on churches and deviant sects the past one year.

The groups' ideas about threats to Muslims and Islam are purveyed by several hardline publications that have also emerged after the fall of Suharto. The fortnightly Sabili magazine, for example, has a regular section criticising Christianity.

These radical groups and hardline Muslim literature thrive in the post-Suharto era because the government has been reluctant to take tough action against them, lest it be construed as being anti-Islam.

The government under President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono still needs the support of Muslims and Muslim-based parties in the coming elections next year.

There is also the fear of a backlash from the extremists. This is why even the police often turn a blind eye to the violence. No one has been prosecuted for attacking churches.

In the past, religious tensions tended to flare up most in the predominantly Muslim province of West Java, the birthplace of a radical movement in the 1950s which wanted to set up a Darul Islam or Islamic state in Indonesia.

Of late however, religious tensions have erupted in urban centres, including Jakarta, in areas where large numbers of migrants from the predominantly Christian Eastern Indonesia congregate.

Trouble usually erupts when the migrants insist on holding Christian worship services without permits in a house in the Muslim neighbourhood.

Another source of tension is the jealousy that Muslims feel when they see people of other faiths being better educated and financially better off.

Some of the churchgoers arrive in chauffeur-driven limousines, upsetting Muslims who feel that they are flaunting their wealth in a poor Muslim neighbourhood.

The reality is that tensions between communities living in close proximity cannot be eradicated but they can be minimised and any signs of escalation avoided.

Some optimists think that it can be done by having dialogues between the two communities.

For example, many Muslims cannot tell the difference between the different Christian evangelical groups. They cannot understand why some Christians in their neighbourhood would want a church of their own when there is already one not far away.

The dialogues should go beyond the elite to reach the grassroots, which is after all where tensions surface.

There have been efforts by interfaith committees over the past two years but theirs is an uphill task.

The committees, known as Forum Kerukunan Umat Beragama, first came about as a forum to settle disputes over the construction of prayer houses, but now they serve as channels for the two communities to get to know each other better.

These committees should also work at establishing ground rules on proselytising, the source of much mutual suspicion.

But grassroots efforts will need the backing of the state. Unfortunately, law enforcement has been woefully lax against those who perpetrate violence against worshippers.

Without the state stepping in more forcefully, there is a limit to how much grassroots efforts at religious harmony can achieve.

Christians and Muslims must know that the state will be neutral and fair in protecting their rights.

PAS Ancam Keluar Pakatan 16 September 2008

www.suaragenerasimuda.com
TUESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2008

Hari ini Sinar Harian Edisi Kelantan menyiarkan laporan yang mengatakan bahawa PAS akan keluar Pakatan Rakyat pada 16 September ini sekiranya pakatan rakyat enggan menerima Perjuangan Islam yang dibawa oleh Parti yang didominasi kaum Melayu beragama Islam itu. Kata dua itu keluar daripada mulut Presiden PAS sendiri Tuan Guru Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.

Pada hemat penulis, sememangnya PAS berhak mengeluarkan kenyataan berupa kata dua seperti itu kerana itu adalah perjuangan asal PAS, sesebuah organisasi sudah tentu 'tiangnya' ialah perjuangan sekiranya 'tiang' tu tidak kukuh, runtuhlah organisasi tersebut sepertimana rumah tanpa tiang.


Jadi perjuangan yang menjadi 'tiang' perjuangan PAS ialah Islam, maka sekiranya mereka berjaya sudah tentu mereka tidak akan gadaikan perjuangan mereka yang mereka perjuangkan sejak daripada dulu. Mereka tidak sanggup mengorbankan Islam demi kuasa sepertimana yang cuba dilakukan oleh Anwar Ibrahim berdasarkan kata-katanya yang berbunyi 'Saya tidak menyokong mana-mana tuntutan negara Islam' .

Penulis berharap komponen-komponen lain di dalam Pakatan Rakyat tidak mempertikaikan tindakan PAS tersebut kerana mereka sememangnya berhak berpendirian sedemikian. Dari dulu lagi mereka meletakkan Islam sebagai tonggak utama Perjuangan Mereka dan sebagai rakan dalam pakatan mereka sepatutnya perlu menerima kehendak PAS. Jika mereka tidak mahu menerima perjuangan PAS tersebut sama-samalah keluar Pakatan Rakyat dan hentikanlah sebarang pakatan kerana ia tidak akan memberi sebarang makna.

Pada ramalan penulis, ahli Pakatan yang paling sukar menerima perjuangan PAS adalah DAP kerana sejak daripada dulu lagi mereka terkenal dengan jolokkan 'kafir harbi' dan mereka sering menentang apa-apa sahaja yang mengenai Melayu malah juga Islam. Jadi kemungkinan besar DAP tidak akan tunduk dengan desakkan PAS tersebut dan bertegas menolak desakkan PAS tersebut.

Penulis juga menjangkakan PKR juga tidak akan tunduk dengan desakkan PAS tersebut ini kerana berdasarkan PKR merupakan parti yang bercorak 'multiculture' dan mereka selalunya 'tunduk' dengan desakkan kaum-kaum dan agama-agama lain di Malaysia. Tambahan pula bos mereka sendiri 'Anwar Ibrahim' Pernah berkata 'Saya tidak menyokong mana-mana tuntutan negara Islam' di hadapan penyokong-penyokong PKR berbangsa lain sewaktu Pilihan Raya Umum yang lalu. Jadi kemungkinan besar PAS tidak ada pilihan lain selain daripada keluar daripada Pakatan dan kemungkinan mencari mana-mana parti yang sanggup menerima perjuangan mereka.

Father Says Teresa Kok May Be Detained For Up To 28 Days

Bernama, September 15, 2008 21:43 PM

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 15 - Selangor state executive councillor Teresa Kok, who is serving detention under the Internal Security Act (ISA), will be held for 28 days, her father said Monday.

Kok Kim Tong, 74, said his daugther told him that she would be detained for 28 days effective Sunday.

Earlier, he and wife Pong Seh Kwon, 71, met their daughter for about an hour from 2pm at the police headquarters in Bukit Aman here.

Teresa Kok, who is Seputeh MP, was arrested under the ISA on Friday night.

"According to her, the police gave her a notice yesterday, explaining about the 28 days' extension of her detention. The police had also asked her to sign the notice but she refused to do so," he said.

Kok, who was accompanied by his daughter's personal assistant Mandy Ooi Haw Voon during the visit, said that her daughter told him that she was being investigated over three issues.

The three issues are the use of Jawi writing on signboards, alleged disallowing of Azan in two mosques and police reports lodged against her by several Islamic organisations, including the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais).

He also said that there were about 13 police officers in the room where he met Teresa Kok and said that their large presence was not necessary.

Asked about his daughter's condition, Kok said, "She looks calm but very weak and her face was pale... she had diarrhoea and stomach ache since Sunday night.

"Doctor told her she has low blood pressure," he said.

During the visit, Kok said he managed to give his daughter some Chinese herbal medicine and chicken essence.

Several DAP leaders, including secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, Fong Kui Lun, Tony Pua and veteran Lim Kit Siang were among those who waited outside the Bukit Aman.

Why Raja Petra, Tan and Kok were detained

The Star
Saturday September 13, 2008

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia Today news portal editor Raja Petra Kamarudin was arrested under the Internal Security Act for allegedly being a threat to security, peace and public order.

Raja Petra, 58, who was arrested under Section 73(1) of the ISA, is alleged to have posted articles deemed seditious and that also belittle Islam.

In custody: Tan (in the back seat) being taken away from the Bandar Perda police station last night.
Last week, the Department of Islamic Development (Jakim) and several Muslim organisations lodged a police report against him for allegedly insulting Malays, Muslims and Islam.

On Sept 6, under The Corridors of Power article posted on Malaysia Today, Raja Petra had hinted that it might be his last article until Sept 16, if he were to be detained under the ISA. He is banking on Anwar’s Sept 16 promise for an early release from ISA.

“Yes, I too have placed not only my money, but also my freedom on Anwar. And if Anwar fails to deliver his promise on Sept 16, not only he but I as well am headed for a fall,” he said in his posting.

Raja Petra, founder of the controversial news portal, was charged in the Sessions Court on Aug 15 on three counts of criminal defamation over his statutory declaration on the murder of Mongolian translator Altantuya Shaariibuu.

Sin Chew Daily reporter Tan Hoon Cheng is believed to have been arrested over her report on former Bukit Bendera Umno division chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail’s racist remarks while campaigning for the Permatang Pauh by-election last month.

Tan, 32, is an award-winning journalist with nine years of experience. She is a Mass Communication graduate from Universiti Sains Malaysia.

DAP’s Seputeh MP Teresa Kok is also assemblyman for Kinrara and a senior executive councillor in charge of investment, industry and trade.

Kok, 43, is believed to have been picked up in connection with a residents petition in Puchong over a mosque.

Former mentri besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo had allegedly accused Kok of being involved.

She subsequently denied the allegation and demanded an apology from Dr Mohd Khir and the newspaper which reported it.

White House News : Remembering 9/11

President Bush Has Kept Our Nation Safe In The Seven Years Following 9/11

Tomorrow, in remembrance of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, President and Mrs. Bush will participate in a moment of silence at the White House and deliver remarks at the dedication of the Pentagon memorial. Following the attacks of September 11, 2001, President Bush recognized the threat posed by terrorists and took action to protect Americans and defeat violent extremism. Because of the actions taken by President Bush, America is safer, more secure, and winning the War on Terror. Seven years later:

50 million people have been liberated, and two totalitarian regimes have been removed;

The al Qaeda network has been weakened;

We have not experienced another attack on American soil;

Our military has been transformed to meet the challenges of the 21st century;

We have expanded our intelligence capabilities to confront today's enemy; and

We have created new and essential institutions needed to wage the War on Terror, including the Department of Homeland Security and Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

We Have Been On The Offense Against Our Enemies Since The 9/11 Attacks

President Bush has kept us safe by weakening al Qaeda and its affiliates. Hundreds of al Qaeda leaders and operatives have been captured or killed, including 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammad, who is currently awaiting trial by a Military Commission. The United States also apprehended several leading figures in the al Qaeda East Africa network through intelligence sharing and military action.

Since 9/11, more than two dozen terrorists and supporters have been convicted in the United States of terrorism-related crimes. Several key financiers and facilitators of terrorism have been isolated and captured, while more than 400 individuals and entities have had their assets frozen and isolated from the U.S. financial system.

President Bush took the fight to violent extremists in Iraq and Afghanistan and across the world so that we do not have to fight them on American soil. The United States and its coalition partners removed al Qaeda's safe haven in Afghanistan and al Qaeda is on the run in Iraq, including in its former stronghold of Anbar Province. The United States also acted to prevent al Qaeda safe havens from emerging in the Horn of Africa and Southeast Asia.

There have been no attacks on American soil since 9/11, and the United States and our allies have disrupted key terrorist plots around the world. The President has built a 90-nation coalition to fight terrorism. The United States has partnered with nations in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and Latin America on intelligence sharing and law enforcement coordination to break up terrorist networks and bring terrorists to justice. Some of our counterterrorism victories include the following:

September 2007: German authorities disrupted a terrorist cell that was planning attacks on military installations and facilities used by Americans in Germany. The Germans arrested three suspected members of the Islamic Jihad Union, a group that has links to al Qaeda and supports al Qaeda's global jihadist agenda.

September 2007: Danish authorities disrupted a cell, which included an al Qaeda-trained individual, planning terrorist attacks using explosives.

June 2007: Four individuals were charged with plotting to blow up major fuel tanks at JFK Airport. Three of the individuals have been arrested, and the United States is pursuing extradition of the fourth.

May 2007: The FBI arrested six al Qaeda-inspired individuals plotting to kill soldiers at Fort Dix Army Base in New Jersey. The plotters purchased weapons for the attack, which they had been planning since January 2006.

August 2006: British authorities disrupted a plot to blow up passenger airplanes flying from the UK to the United States.

The United States supported the creation of a democratic Afghan government and fostered broad international support for Afghanistan through NATO and the U.N. Afghanistan has ratified a new democratic Constitution with strong protections for women's rights and civil liberties; held the country's first Presidential election; and held the first free and fair legislative elections since 1969. Today, six million Afghans are attending school, and 85 percent of Afghans have access to basic health care. The United States has committed over $10 billion in 2008 and 2009 for political and economic development. The Afghan government is preparing for the next round of elections in 2009 with U.S. and international assistance.

Iraq is now a young democracy and an ally in fighting terrorists. The President's decision to send an additional 30,000 soldiers and Marines into Iraq as part of the "surge" has resulted in improved security conditions that have opened up space for political and economic advances. Iraq has seen meaningful progress, but this progress is fragile and there will be challenging times ahead. This success has fostered the appropriate conditions for Iraqi authorities to take the lead in all security operations for Anbar province.

President Bush persuaded Libya to dismantle its Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) programs and renounce terrorism, leading to a normalization of our relationship with Libya. Just last week, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made a historic visit to Libya, making her the highest ranking U.S. official to visit the country since 1957.
The President worked with the international community to isolate the regime in Tehran, and won support for three U.N. Security Council resolutions imposing sanctions on Iran because of its failure to suspend its uranium enrichment and other proliferation sensitive activities.

President Bush has teamed with international partners to prevent the proliferation of WMDs. We have expanded international efforts to deny terrorists access to advanced conventional weaponry and to WMDs, their delivery systems, and related materials.

President Bush Has Transformed The Institutions And Tools To Fight Terror And Protect America

The President worked with Congress to implement reforms and create the institutions needed to wage the War on Terror. The President also integrated and unified intelligence gathering; disrupted terrorist financing; and created new legal and law enforcement frameworks to combat terrorism and deny safe haven to terrorist groups.

The President:

Transformed the United States military to meet the challenges of the 21st century. President Bush provided our military with the tools, equipment, and resources to combat terrorism and other new challenges. We started moving American forces from Cold War garrisons in Europe and Asia so they can deploy more quickly to any region of the world to confront emerging threats.

Strengthened our ability to protect the American people by directing the most extensive security reorganization of the Federal Government since 1947. President Bush and his Administration have enhanced our homeland security and counterterrorism infrastructure through the creation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), the Terrorist Screening Center (TSC), the Homeland Security Council (HSC), and U.S. Northern Command, a Department of Defense combatant command focused on homeland defense and civil support.

DHS consolidated 22 Federal entities and 180,000 employees under one roof to foster a comprehensive, coordinated approach to protecting the U.S. homeland. DHS and FBI, in partnership with Federal, State, and local authorities, created a national network of 66 fusion centers in 48 states to facilitate information sharing on terrorist threats and operational planning.

The NCTC leads our Nation's effort to combat terrorism at home and abroad by analyzing the threat, sharing that information with our partners, and integrating all instruments of national power to ensure unity of effort.

The ODNI coordinates and integrates and leads the work of the Intelligence Community as a unified enterprise, led by the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), to ensure information is shared among intelligence and law enforcement professionals.
The TSC maintains the Government's consolidated list of suspected terrorists and individuals with terrorist links and helps get this information into the hands of State and local law enforcement.

HSC ensures coordination of all homeland security-related activities among executive departments and agencies and promotes the effective development and implementation of homeland security policies.

Modernized the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to provide the tools needed to win the War on Terror and protect America from another attack. This vital legislation allows our law enforcement and intelligence professionals as well as future administrations with the ability to quickly and effectively monitor the plans of terrorists outside the United States, while respecting the privacy and liberties of the American people.

Strengthened our defenses to protect the American people by implementing the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission. Together with Congress, the President restructured and reformed the Federal government to focus resources on counterterrorism and took the necessary steps to improve the Nation's homeland security.

The President Has Implemented Programs To Secure Our Homeland And Fight The War On Terror

The President and his Administration have increased border and transportation security. President Bush is implementing an effective system of layered defense by strengthening the screening of people and goods overseas and by tracking and disrupting the international travel of terrorists.

The President:

Created the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). TSA instituted a process to screen every commercial air passenger in the country, launched credentialing initiatives to strengthen our ability to identify passengers, and expanded the Federal Air Marshal program. We have hardened cockpit doors, armed pilots to defend the flight deck, and strengthened air cargo security.

Enhanced U.S. port security and increased scanning for radiological and nuclear threats. The President coordinated Federal, State, local, and industry port partners through the establishment of formalized Area Maritime Security Committees and Plans that clarify roles and responsibilities. Today, more than 98 percent of all containers entering the supply chain via U.S. seaports are scanned for potential radiological and nuclear threats - prior to 9/11, zero percent were scanned.
Increased containerized cargo screening overseas. We have worked with our international partners to employ the Container Security Initiative in 58 foreign seaports, screening 86 percent of all U.S.-destined containerized cargo being screened overseas before it enters the U.S. supply chain.

Increased border security and interior enforcement funding more than 110 percent and equipped the Border Patrol with better technology and new infrastructure. We have also added more than 8,000 border patrol agents. The Administration has constructed hundreds of miles of fencing and vehicle barriers along America's southern border and is moving toward the goal of 670 miles by the end of the year.