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January 31, 2006
Cartoon Network
And the flames are fanned taller and taller:
Cartoons in Danish and Norwegian newspapers depicting the prophet Muhammad in unflattering poses, including one in which he is portrayed as an apparent terrorist with a bomb in his turban, have triggered outrage among Muslims across the Middle East, sparking protests, economic boycotts and warnings of possible retaliation against the people, companies and countries involved.... The cartoons included one of the prophet as a crazed, knife-wielding Bedouin and another of him at the gates of heaven telling suicide bombers: "Stop. Stop. We have run out of virgins!" - a reference to the belief of some Muslim extremists that male suicide bombers are rewarded in heaven with 72 virgins. [Washington Post]
Obviously, the lines drawn on both sides are far, far apart:
Islamic critics charged that the cartoons were a deliberate provocation and insult to their religion designed to incite hatred and polarize people of different faiths.Defenders of the newspapers and artists said the 12 published cartoons simply were intended to highlight Islam's intolerance.
... In a statement, the 57-nation Organization of the Islamic Conference has condemned "the printing of blasphemous and insulting caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed," saying it "falls into the trap set up by fundamentalists and fosters acts of revenge."
But some have let their money do the talking:
A Denmark-based dairy group, Arla Foods - which according to a statement on its Web site sells about $421 million annually in the Middle East and has about 1,000 employees there - said that sales had come to a "standstill" across the region.
Although the beauty of it all is that:
Peter Mandelson, the European Union trade commissioner, told Saudi Arabia that the EU would take action at the World Trade Organisation if it found that it encouraged the shunning of Danish goods. The Saudi government denied playing any such role.Mr Mandelson, who is attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, told the Saudis that a boycott against Denmark would be treated as a boycott against the entire EU. [The Telegraph]
Finally, an apologist with a Muslim-sounding name for the Scandinavians:
"The question here is how far do you show sensitivity and self-control over issues without falling into self-censorship," said Medhi Mozaffari, a professor at Aarhus University in Denmark, who defended his government's stance not to apologize."It's unthinkable that the prime minister would make an apology," he said. "This is Islamists putting democracies on trial to see how far they can be pressured." [Washington Post]
That's a good one; a leap of logic of Olympian proportions.
MORE New York Times: Portrayal of the Prophet prompts a boycott
Posted by aisehman at 06:01 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
Kosher Deal
You want money?
The United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia agreed Monday that financial assistance to the new Palestinian government, which will be led by the radical Islamic group Hamas, would be contingent on the government's recognition of Israel and renunciation of violence. [Washington Post]
I agree with the renunciation of violence bit (although it must be stressed that both sides need to), but recognise Israel? Right away?
Define Israel.
And if you thought that if there was ever anyone outside the Middle East who would know Palestine as if they had lived there, it would be the US, because they really are interested in finding a just solution to the problem ... well, think again:
On Sunday, [Condoleeza] Rice acknowledged that U.S. officials were surprised by the extent of the Hamas victory."I've asked why nobody saw it coming, and I hope that we will take a hard look," she told reporters, "because it does say something about perhaps not having had a good enough pulse on the Palestinian population."
Frankly my dear, I don't think they give a damn.
Why is that so?
Posted by aisehman at 05:45 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
More Headache
UPDATE It's settled:
... the matter was resolved when the state religious department furnished proof last night that he had become a Muslim with the name Mohd Sani Abdullah. Mohd Sani was buried at the Muslim cemetery in Ayer Keroh this afternoon.His son, Henry, said the family was satisfied with the proof.
"We accept that he was a Muslim," he said, adding that family members viewed Mohd Sani's body this morning. [New Straits Times]
*****
It might be hot outside now, but when it rains, it pours, doesn't it?:
The Malacca Islamic Affairs Department (Jaim) is verifying the religion of an Indian man, who died in the hospital here early yesterday.Malacca Islamic Affairs Council Secretary Abdul Halim Tawil said a report from the Merlimau police station stated that the man, N. Antonysamy, 71, of Simpang Kerayong, Jasin, who died at 1.30am, had the Muslim name of Mohamad Sani Abdullah.
Abdul Halim told reporters the verification was being done at the request of Antonysamy’s non-Muslim family.
He said initial information indicated that Antonysamy embraced Islam in 1992 and registered his conversion at the Malaysian Islamic Welfare Organisation (Perkim) here.
He said Antonysamy, who had seven children, did not have any Muslim next-of-kin and that he had separated from his wife 15 years ago.
"In principle, the family has no objection in allowing Antonysamy to be buried as a Muslim so long as there is proof (that he was a Muslim)," he said. [Bernama via The Star]
Open and shut case? Not neccessarily, as there is a twist in the tale:
Inspector Nor Azlan Limat of the Merlimau police station said post mortem showed that Antonysamy had died of poisoning.
Poisoning. Inadvertant or willful?
Posted by aisehman at 12:31 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 27, 2006
Hamas Headache
UPDATE Pak Lah congratulates Hamas "for their success in the elections" and "wishes the new leaders in Palestine great success in their noble mission."
*****
PAS is delighted that Hamas won the Palestinian elections:
Malaysia's opposition Islamic party Friday cheered Hamas' victory in Palestinian parliamentary elections and said the militant group should be given a chance to prove it can contribute to peace in the Middle East.Hamas' triumph showed that the Palestinian people wanted a "clean leadership, that is transparent and anti-corruption," said Nasharudin Mat Isa, PAS deputy president.
"We congratulate Hamas for participating in the process of democracy to bring about changes," he told The Associated Press.
Nasharudin said there was no need for Hamas to disarm because "Israel is a terrorist nation," but expressed confidence Hamas will work toward peace.
He also urged the international community to put equal pressure on Israel to commit to lasting peace.
"It's unfair that the world is only asking Hamas to denounce violence but is silent about Israel's atrocities against the Palestinians. There is a need for commitment from both sides toward peace," he said.
"Give Hamas a chance to prove that they can also be a contributor to peace. They have only been there for a day." [Associated Press via Wall Street Journal; subscription required]
Malaysia and the Palestinians are kamcheng.
But as the report says:
The Malaysian government, which supports the Palestinians but has a tough stand against terror in Malaysia, has not officially responded to the election result.
Macam mana, Pak Lah?
Posted by aisehman at 05:16 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
January 26, 2006
Water Polo
Did you say open tender, Pak Lah?
Ranhill Power Bhd, which currently operates a 190mw power plant in Sabah, has received the green light from the federal government to build another power plant with a similar capacity, say sources.It is learnt that the proposal originated from Ranhill and was taken up at the federal level. Sources say even Tenaga Nasional Bhd was not consulted about it. The approval was given largely on the score that the second plant would despatch electricity at cheaper rates than existing power plants in Sabah.
"It was an unsolicited bid. Sabah Electricity [Sdn Bhd; SESB] did not have any plans for the plant. The new plant will sell electricity at cheaper rates than the existing plant. A PPA [power purchase agreement] is expected to be signed in the next few weeks," says a source.
What is baffling is that while the government has approved Ranhill's unsolicited bid, it is simultaneously calling for open tenders for a 300MW coal-fired plant, also in Sabah. [The Edge Daily]
Or maybe the question should be addressed to KJ?
I don't understand. In fact, it's all water polo to me.
Posted by aisehman at 02:51 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 24, 2006
More And More
Woohoo!
Scomi Group Bhd's unit has secured contracts that are expected to generate some US$400 million (RM1.5 billion) in revenue through the provision of drilling fluids materials, equipment and services.Its unit, Kota Minerals and Chemicals Sdn Bhd (KMC), had received the letters of awards from Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd, Sarawak Shell Bhd, Sabah Shell Petroleum Co Ltd, ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Malaysia Inc and Nippon Oil Exploration (M) Ltd.
"Based on the number of wells indicated in the joint tender document, the company estimates the revenue to be generated from the contracts to be about US$400 million (RM1.5 billion)," it said in a statement on Jan 24. [The Edge Daily]
C'mon KJ ... gotta keep up with the in-laws.
Posted by aisehman at 08:23 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
No Objections
Although he ought to explain his actions better, how about this for a lame excuse:
Told that the Article 121 (1A) was amended during his administration in 1988 to seperate the powers of the civil and syariah court, Dr Mahathir said:"Yes ... during my time there was no protest... nothing. So I suppose , I got away with it," he said. [Sun2Surf]
This should be the next item in the "Wasn't Me" category, right after Pak Lah's "I am not involved in any way. I don’t know."
Now, Dr M said there was no protest to speak of, that's why he "got away with it."
Was there indeed no protest?
Anyone in the MCA, Gerakan, or MIC remember?
Oh, wait a minute ... you were afraid of Mahathir then, weren't you?
After all, it was barely a year after the good doctor decided it was time to do some gardening and clear away the weed growing in his backyard.
BTW Isn't it ironic that as far as weedkillers are concerned, the brandname that immediately comes to mind is "Roundup"?
Posted by aisehman at 09:51 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
January 23, 2006
Nyonya Tahir Gets Her Wish
The Syariah Court has declared that Nyonya Tahir was not a Muslim when she died.
Her children can now give her a proper burial.
Posted by aisehman at 04:25 PM | Comments (14) | TrackBack
Watch This Space
If a ruling is made on the late Nyonya Tahir's case today, you can mark it down as another important day for our country:
The Negeri Sembilan Religious Affairs Department (JHEAINS) will accept whatever ruling made by the Syariah High Court on the religious status of Nyonya Tahir.Its director, Datuk Zaharudin Mohd Shariff said the matter would be brought before the Syariah High Court Monday. [Bernama]
Stay tuned for updates.
Posted by aisehman at 01:07 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
January 22, 2006
Mission Impossible
Here's an observation by New Straits Times' Brendan Pereira:
From the vantage point of Muslims, the move by the nine ministers to hand the memorandum to Abdullah had the subtlety of a smash-and-grab job.Instead of discussing percolating concerns over the power of civil courts to deal with Islamic issues at the weekly Cabinet meeting on Wednesdays, they chose to hand him a document.
To many Muslims, this looked like non-Muslims were:
>pushing Abdullah against the wall;
>railroading Abdullah into making a decision, which only meet the concerns of half of Malaysia;
>resorting to Opposition tactics to pressure Umno; and,
>all of the above.Several of the nine ministers interviewed by The New Sunday Times said they wanted the PM to read and digest the issues before deciding whether to bring them up at the next Cabinet meeting.
That may have been their intention. It certainly was not the perception on the ground, especially among Muslims. [New Straits Times]
Let's look at this from another angle.
Non-Muslims have no confidence in the Syariah court's adjudicature of matters in which they are involved.
Does that make it reasonable to expect Muslims to have confidence in the civil court's adjudicature of matters that involve Islam?
Non-Muslims want their rights upheld.
Does that mean it's OK to infringe the rights of Muslims in the process of upholding non-Muslim rights?
None of us are willing to step aside to let the other through.
Did any of you expect UMNO leaders to act in a manner other than that we have known in the last 25 years?
If they had, they would have been out the door faster than you can say "traitor", with PAS filling in the void.
At the end of the day, it's down to demographics.
That's why I say there is no way out of this mess.
Posted by aisehman at 06:58 PM | Comments (12) | TrackBack
Devil And The Deep Blue Sea
So here is where it stands right now: the memo has been retracted, and the Attorney-General is trying to find a way out of this mess.
The question is, is there a way out?
Article 121 (1A) is untouchable, says Pak Lah:
"To me there is no need [to amend it] ... it is not possible anymore ... The status quo of the civil court and the Syariah court will remain.
And the civil courts have basically ruled themselves out.
The PM indicated that he wants it to stay that way, when asked to comment on the view of "certain quarters ... that the civil court can decide on certain matters relating to Muslims":
"Don’t do that. Don’t bring [up] that kind of argument."
To me, the problem is simple.
Muslims want (and basically already have) total control of all matters and processes related to conversions into and out of Islam.
Non-Muslims do not want to be subject to something they do not believe in, and want their rights in this matter to be acknowledged and upheld.
So what's a possible solution (as in, UMNO doesn't get into trouble with the Malays if it is implemented) that would satisfy both sides of the fence?
You tell me.
Posted by aisehman at 01:01 AM | Comments (11) | TrackBack
January 21, 2006
Another Test of Faith
If Pak Lah was hoping for some respite, he will be disappointed:
The children of an 89-year-old Malay woman who died on Thursday said their mother, Nyonya Tahir, had left the Muslim faith and wanted her to be buried according to Buddhist rites.They produced a document from the Alor Gajah Islamic Religious Office and Mahkamah Kadi dated May 7, 1986 which stated that Nyonya had no intention of returning to the Muslim faith and had written a declaration that she wanted to live and be buried as a Chinese.
In her declaration, Nyonya, who was born in 1918, said that since her mother's death, she had been raised by her grandmother, who was a Malay married to a Chinese convert.
She was raised from a tender age as a Chinese and in 1936, married a Chinese man, Chiang Meng, and had 13 children who were all registered and lived as Chinese.
She said her husband never followed the Muslim faith and after her marriage, she too lived as a Chinese.
The declaration bears the signature of Chong Yong Mok, a Commissioner for Oaths in Malacca, and carries Nyonya's right thumb print.
Nyonya had made the declaration in Hokkien, which was translated into Malay. [New Straits Times]
If that was truly Nyonya Tahir's stated desire, then I say her children should be allowed to proceed.
Any objections?
Posted by aisehman at 07:00 PM | Comments (8) | TrackBack
"Memo 9" Backtrack
They have retracted the memo:
Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said some of the nine non-Muslim Cabinet ministers who signed the joint memorandum calling for a review of laws related to conversion of religion, had agreed to withdraw the document.The Prime Minister said he had met some of them and they agreed to withdraw the memorandum.
"I met them Saturday morning including MCA President (atuk Seri Ong Ka Ting), MIC President (Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu) and Gerakan President (Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik).
"In the meeting, I said that they should withdraw the memorandum and they agreed," he said in his speech at the launch of Umno's new membership drive here.
Abdullah said with the decision, he hoped that the memorandum would not be an issue from now. [Bernama]
While I don't agree with their act of submitting a memo on such a volatile issue, I think they should have realised the implications and potential consequences of such an act before they decided to go ahead with it.
It was not something you do everyday. It was something that had the effect of putting the Prime Minister in a defensive position, which forced him to brandish his Malay/Muslim credentials.
They must have known that. It would be unimaginable of them to not have known that.
The "Memo 9" have now lost much more than the extra credibility that came with the act of submitting the memo.
This could have consequences in the next elections.
Posted by aisehman at 06:46 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
January 20, 2006
Laughable Denial
What?
On the proposed merger of ECM Libra and Avenue Capital which involves his son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin, who is also Umno Youth deputy chiefAre you going to approve the proposed merger between ECM Libra and Avenue Capital?
I am not involved in any way. I don’t know. [The Star: PM: No need to amend Article 121 (1A)]
I thought he was gonna come up with a better excuse.
How can the Finance Minister not know, and worst of all, not be involved in any way?
This is not even a plausible denial. It's a laughable one, and downright impossible.
Posted by aisehman at 11:54 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
No Change
Pak Lah described the memorandum by 10 non-Muslim Cabinet members as something "not ordinary":
By right, if there is any problem it should be brought up in the Cabinet meeting rather than submitting their views in the form of a memorandum. I would prefer it that way.... it has never happened this way. It is not a normal procedure. [The Star: PM: No need to amend Article 121 (1A)
And here is his stand on Article 121 (1A) of the Federal Constitution:
To me there is no need [to amend it].... It is not possible anymore.
... The status quo of the civil court and the Syariah court will remain. The jurisdictions of the civil court and the Syariah court are clear.
... Certain quarters say that the civil court can decide on certain matters relating to Muslims. Don’t do that. Don’t bring [up] that kind of argument up.
The civil court and Syariah court have their own roles and responsibilities.
Read the full report here.
Posted by aisehman at 11:50 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Capital Gains
So here's the deal:
Financial services company Avenue Capital Resources Bhd. (2143.KU) is buying rival ECM Libra Bhd.'s (9784.KU) brokerage and other key businesses in a RM293 million deal that will create one of Malaysia's most politically well-linked investment banks.In an exchange filing, government-controlled Avenue said it will issue 442 million new shares in a newly-incorporated entity, Avenue International Capital Bhd., or AICB, to pay ECM for the units. ECM will distribute to its shareholders the new AICB shares, ECM said in a separate filing. Eventually, AICB will assume Avenue's listing status. [Dow Jones, via Malaysia Today: Avenue to buy ECM's units for RM293 mil]
How much of a stake will KJ have in AICB?
Say, 3%? That would be about 13,260,000 shares.
Since AICB is set to become "one of Malaysia's most politically well-linked investment banks" (Nazir Razak's CIMB is another), don't you think the sky's the limit, as far as the potential worth of the Deputy Umno Youth chief's 13.26 million AICB shares is concerned?
No wonder he got a loan to buy ECM Libra shares the other day.
Heck, I'd lend it to the Prime Minister/Finance Minister's son-in-law if I had that kind of money.
Honest, I would. After all, shouldn't I work with Pak Lah, not for Pak Lah?
Shouldn't I put my money where my mouth is, and cakap serupa bikin?
AND Wouldn't my efforts be in accordance with at least two of the ten principles of Islam Hadhari, which are to ensure that Malaysia has "a balanced and comprehensive economic development" [can't let Nazir run away with everything, can we?] and provide "a good quality of life" for its people [KJ could sure use some funds, couldn't he]?
But what about the Islam Hadhari principles of "a just and trustworthy government" and "moral integrity", you might say?
Maybe this is what is meant by keeping "the doors of ijtihad ... open, so that interpretations are suited to the developmental needs of the prevailing time and conditions."
What say you, dear Prime Minister of mine?
Posted by aisehman at 12:10 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
January 19, 2006
Wasn't Me
Read Khairy on his share purchase in The Edge.
And later, if anyone in our mainstream media has the balls to ask Khairy and/or the Finance Ministry on whether he was told of, or was involved in any way with, Avenue Capital Resources' designs on ECM Libra beforehand, read what they have to say in reply.
These should be enough to provide you with a basic understanding of the phrase "plausible deniability."
And since we're on this transparency thing, how about telling us the size of your stake in the merged entity, and how much larger it will get, KJ?
Posted by aisehman at 03:04 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 18, 2006
Fooled Again
Daim Zainuddin used his position to favour his boys, so the accusation goes.
KJ, son-in-law of the Minister of Finance, buys a stake in ECM Libra mere weeks before Avenue Capital Resources, whose largest shareholder is MOF Inc, proposes a takeover.
See any fundamental difference?
I don't.
The NST, on whose board sits a major ECM Libra shareholder, went to town with the Daim-Halim-Metramac story.
Will it now do the same with the ECM Libra-Avenue deal?
Miracles do happen, but I doubt it.
So do you see, in these instances, any fundamental difference between the Mahathir-led Government of the past and the Pak Lah-led one of today?
What was it again ... cakap serupa bikin? Islam Hadhari? Work with me, not for me?
Here's my middle finger.
Posted by aisehman at 06:14 PM | Comments (6) | TrackBack
Bringing Them To Book
Here we go again:
Selangor’s religious snoop squad has come up against of public criticism on just its second day of existence.Sceptics, including a Cabinet minister, the Bar Council president, and representatives of women’s organisations, raised numerous questions about the Federal Territory Religious Affairs Department’s moral "police" team.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz summed up what may be the opinion of many when he said: "It should not be in existence." [The New Straits Times: Religious snoop squad comes under fire]
I'm not in favour either, but before you come out with guns ablazing against the religious authorities, I recommend you get Commanding Right and Forbidding Wrong in Islamic Thought by Michael Cook of Princeton University.
It is a "most comprehensive exploration of the history of Islamic ethics" by "one of the most important Islamic scholars writing today", as publishers Cambridge University Press puts it, and I agree.
The book won the Albert Hourani Award in 2001 and the British-Kuwait Friendship Society Prize the same year.
Cook is Cleveland E. Dodge Professor of Near Eastern Studies at the Department of Near Eastern Studies, Princeton University.
If you don't have US$75 to spare, get Cook's much shorter Forbidding Wrong in Islam: An Introduction, which I think is available at Kinokuniya.
The Muslim World Book Review, which is published by the Islamic Foundation in the UK, describes it as "the best (and probably the only serious) work on forbidding wrong [in Islam]."
For the moment, allow me to quote a few lines from the editorial review of what the Times Literary Supplement calls "a masterpiece":
What kind of duty do we have to try to stop other people doing wrong?The question is intelligible in just about any culture, but few of them seek to answer it in a rigorous fashion.
The most striking exception is found in the Islamic tradition, where "commanding right" and "forbidding wrong" is a central moral tenet already mentioned in the Koran.
I urge you - Muslim and non-Muslim - to read the book.
Posted by aisehman at 12:49 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Avenue To Riches
Did Khairy Jamaluddin know about Avenue's intentions when he bought a 3% stake in ECM Libra?
What will be the size of his shareholdings in the merged entity, and how much will it be worth now?
Isn't it wonderful, in this instance, to be related to the Finance Minister?
Aroma Teraju Sdn Bhd, a vehicle of the Minister of Finance Inc (MoF Inc), is presently the single largest shareholder in Avenue Capital with 29.5%, followed by Pantai Holdings Bhd with an indirect shareholding of 16.71% held through several companies including Seraya Sensa Sdn Bhd.In the merged entity, MoF Inc will remain the single largest shareholder with a 17% stake. [The Edge Daily: ECM, Avenue to merge]
Hang nak buat apa ka, hang tak nak buat apa-apa ka, suka hati hanglah, Pak Lah. Tak tau nak kata apa dah.
It's the same like it ever was.
Posted by aisehman at 09:41 AM | Comments (7) | TrackBack
January 17, 2006
Blooming Trade
Malaysia Boleh? You ain't seen nothing yet:
A top scientist has been jailed for smuggling more than 100 "priceless" orchids -the world's most desired flower -into Britain.Pharmaceutical researcher Dr Sian Lim, 32, was caught smuggling some of the rarest species of the beautiful, fragrant and delicate plant into Britain from his native Malaysia.
... In all 126 specimens seized from Dr Lim fall into the CITES' "Category A" which means they are banned from all trade. [Life Style Extra: Scientist caged for smuggling rare plants]
It gets better:
Lim, who is head of research and development at Medpharm Ltd - described as a "spin-off" company from Kings College, London University - claimed that when he completed the CITES permit applications, he simply used the Malaysian export permits as a template and was unaware the "T" in the purpose box stood for "Trade."
The question is: How did we even allow him to get orchids that are "banned from all trade" past our borders?
Posted by aisehman at 10:58 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
January 16, 2006
Car Sick
Was protecting the independence and integrity of Proton as a "national car company" the underlying reason for the failed talks with VW?
"Analysts believe one of the main factors leading to the failed talks between VW and Proton is the inefficiencies of the local parts vendors."The biggest problem with Proton is the vested interest in the local parts vendors. VW would not want to work with uncompetitive vendors.
"As the country is opening up the industry, inefficient auto parts suppliers need to be cut off. A lot is at stake and Proton may not be able to cut them off," an analyst says. [The Edge Daily: Proton vendors need to buck up]
Says another:
... relinquishing of control of the national carmaker would have resulted in the entire disbanding of the vendor development programme."That would have affected thousands of jobs on the vendor side and those who depend solely on Proton," he adds.
The only way Proton can survive with inefficient vendors is by having those inefficiencies transferred - directly and indirectly - to car buyers: You. Me. Us.
But maybe they'll get tough with the vendors?
Last year, Proton had axed 34 local parts vendors from its network of 287 vendors for failing to meet internationally recognised quality standards. It had warned of more casualties if the remaining ones did not buck up.The move came 10 years after the national carmaker told its parts vendors to buck up or face the music.
Nice try.
So forget cars, because if you think about it, we're actually good at building trains, but not just any kind of train.
Our forte lies in gravy trains.
Posted by aisehman at 01:16 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
January 11, 2006
Clearly Impossible
This might sound doable:
Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has made it clear that matters concerning religious conversion needed to be spelt out plainly in the Federal Constitution and other laws to prevent confusion among Malaysians."Many feel it is necessary to clarify the question in the laws and Constitution to avoid further confusion," the Prime Minister told reporters ... [The Star: Pak Lah: There must be no confusion in religious matters]
But read the Prime Minister's words carefully.
What I think he means here is that we need to ensure that everyone is aware of their rights on the matter of religious conversion.
Don't expect things to be much different from what they are:
"In whatever action we take, we must be careful to ensure that what we do does not go against the beliefs of people who do not share the same religion as ours," katanya ... [Utusan Malaysia: Perjelas hal tukar agama - PM]
That's the catch, isn't it?
And it throws a giant spanner into the works, as this concerns religious conversion, or more specifically, conversions in and out of Islam, and its larger implications.
I do not think that non-Muslims will agree to be judged by the standards of a religion that they do not believe in, and vice-versa.
There is no meeting point where all of us can come to some sort of an agreement.
It would be easier if this were a secular country.
Posted by aisehman at 09:52 AM | Comments (21) | TrackBack
January 06, 2006
Give Us Stick
Our ball-carrying media never ceases to amaze me.
Here's New Straits Times on the China Press/nude squat saga, where the evening paper was forced to oust its editor-in-chief and executive editor, as well as publish an apology:
By taking these steps, the daily staved off having its permit to publish its lucrative evening edition revoked, informed sources told the New Straits Times.The episode carries wider significance. For the Malaysian media, it is a reminder that the standards of accountability are going to be higher in this era of openness and transparency.
For the rest of the country, including politicians and those tossing allegations and accusations from the sidelines, it is meant as a signal that the amiable Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is prepared to wield the big stick as he moves into his third year in office as Prime Minister. [New Straits Times: Apology by China Press, two editors quit]
The newspaper describes Pak Lah-led Malaysia as being in an "era of openness and transparency", yet the details of the story had to come from "informed sources".
What kind of openness and transparency is that?
And if you really were open and transparent in the first place, there wouldn't be much "tossing [of] allegations and accusations from the sidelines", would there?
So here's the deal: Our leaders know and are willing to utilise only one method of dealing with dissent - "wield the big stick."
I suppose next NST will tell us the exact size of Pak Lah's stick, and whether it's bigger than Mahathir's.
Posted by aisehman at 08:55 AM | Comments (7) | TrackBack
January 03, 2006
Showing Heart
To all who have asked for a bit of benevolence to be shown:
Everest climber Mohamad Abdullah or M. Moorthy ... has been promoted posthumously from a corporal to a sergeant with effect from June last year.Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Razak, who made the announcement Tuesday, said the promotion was backdated to June 2005 to enable him to be confirmed in the post of sergeant.
"This means that his pension will also be that of a sergeant's," he told reporters after Mohamad's widow, S. Kaliammal, their daughter Thenesvari, Mohamad's nephew Chandran Periasamy and Kaliammal's younger brother Shangalingam called on him at his office.
At the meeting, Najib handed over a cheque for RM110,000 as compensation and Mohamad's monthly pension of RM947.33 to Kaliammal.
Najib, who is also Defence Minister, said the death benefit was the government's appreciation in recognition of Mohamad's services as a national warrior.
The deputy prime minister said Mohamad's elder brother, Mohd Hussin Abdullah, has agreed not to stake a claim to any benefit due to the family of Mohamad.
"His elder brother has agreed not to stake a claim to any death benefit to be received by the family of his younger brother, although he has the right to claim under Islamic law.
"... he has given an undertaking in writing not to make any claim to any benefit so that Mohamad's widow and children get all the death benefits due," he said. [Bernama: Late Everest Climber Moorthy Promoted To Sergeant Posthumously]
Not too bad, in my opinion.
Posted by aisehman at 10:27 PM | Comments (9) | TrackBack