Archive for category Islam
Islamic leaders question non-Muslim rights
Posted by Kit in 1Malaysia, Islam, nation building on Sunday, 22 May 2011
By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani
The Malaysian Insider
May 22, 2011
KUALA LUMPUR, May 22 – Several Islamic leaders have questioned the loyalty of non-Muslims in the country, declaring today the community’s rights must be re-evaluated if Malaysia is to call itself an Islamic state.
Former president of Islamic Da’wah Foundation Malaysia (Yadim), Datuk Nakhaie Ahmad, said treatment of non-Muslims must be based on the social contract agreed and pointed out that the government has been too gracious to the community.
“In attempts to get vote and support of non-Muslims, we have been very gracious in giving them their civil rights. Civil rights given to them includes the rights to vote, participation in politics, hold office, involvement in the military and so forth but we cannot just willingly give them everything.
“Our offer must be based on religious practices. If we look at the prophet’s agreement in the Madinah constitution, civil rights were given to the Jews but the rights must be paid back with responsibility. They must have the responsibility and agree to defend our country and not insult the agreement,” he said during a forum here.
Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad declared Malaysia an Islamic state a decade ago in a move to counter PAS’s growing influence among the country’s key Malay Muslim population. Read the rest of this entry »
‘Christian Conspiracy’: Bona Fide or Bogus?
by Haider Yutim
Malaysian Digest
Wednesday, 18 May 2011
The nation is shaken again by an inter-religion strife after an arguably unsubstantiated news report from Utusan Malaysia entitled ‘Kristian Agama Rasmi?’. The allegation of a ‘Christian conspiracy’ that came out on front-page was akin to pouring gasoline over sparks that’s been kept under control by the government. And all it took was a three-word headline. A police report was lodged against the alleged conspiracy by DAP Bukit Tumba branch committee member Mohamed Razali Abdul Rahman who purportedly witnessed the so-called secret pact between DAP leaders and pastors at a hotel in Penang. Following Razali’s police report, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar stated that investigations into an alleged Christian plot to unseat Islam as the federal religion was a priority for the police.
Read the rest of this entry »
Terbunuh kerana operasi cegah maksiat?
Prof Madya Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin
May 18, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider
Soalan: Dr Asri, semalam ada berita seorang telah terjatuh mati kerana lari dari intipan pihak pencegah maksiat sebuah jabatan agama. Bolehkah perkara macam ini berlaku. Bolehkah kita cegah maksiat sehingga menyebabkan orang mati? Minta tolonglah Dr Asri huraikan kes ini.
Kenali mangsa, KL.
Jawapan: Ya, saya berdukacita dengan berita kematian seorang individu kerana lari daripada intipan pihak pencegah maksiat yang cuba menangkapnya kerana khalwat. Kes ini bukan yang pertama. Sudah berapa banyak kes yang sama berlaku dalam negara kita. Walaupun sudah kritikan dibuat, tetapi hal ini tetap berulang. Apabila berita tersebar dalam media, ia telah memalukan keluarga mangsa, memberikan mesej yang salah mengenai Islam kepada bukan muslim dalam negara ini, yang sememangnya telah lama salah faham disebabkan tindakan masyarakat muslim itu sendiri. Di sini saya suka menyebut beberapa perkara secara umum mengenai kes-kes yang telah berlaku; Read the rest of this entry »
10 Days in May (14)
Posted by Kit in 1Malaysia, Islam, Najib Razak, nation building, Religion on Tuesday, 17 May 2011
Tweets @limkitsiang:-
The coalition of the moderates and inter-civilisational understanding – by Najib Razak ( Speech Oxford Islamic Centre) http://bit.ly/ky8PGo
All BN Ministers understand Najib’s Oxford speech 2excoriate extremism n be vanguard of moderation? Then Y condone Utusan rabid extremism?
Cabinet meeting tmr shld declare guided by Najib’s Oxon sp 2take stern action agnst Utusan 4its seditious/treasonous “Christian Msia” bogey
Cabinet failed n shd apologise 2nation: “we cannot allow this moment 2b overtaken by extremists w those who shout loudest gaining d most”
According 2Najib test – how many extremists/genuine moderates in Cabinet? Is every Minister prepared 2declare whether extremist or moderate? Read the rest of this entry »
The coalition of the moderates and inter-civilisational understanding
Posted by Kit in 1Malaysia, Islam, Najib Razak, nation building, Religion on Tuesday, 17 May 2011
Najib Razak
The Malaysian Insider
May 17, 2011
MAY 17 — Let me first thank the Rt Hon Jack Straw for his kind words of introduction; Dr Farhan Nizami, a respected scholar, whom I have known for many years; and all of the representatives from the academia, business and diplomatic communities who are present here today.
I am immensely pleased to join you as a guest of Oxford University, where earlier this afternoon I had the chance to meet some very talented young students and to visit the future OCIS building, an inspirational environment, which blends Islamic and Malay traditions with your own rich Oxford heritage.
It is an enormous honour to be here in the renowned Sheldonian Theatre, which has echoed with the words of so many luminaries over the years. Every year, dozens of Malaysians travel to Oxford to study, finding a home away from home in the Oxford University Malaysia Club. The Khazanah-OCIS Merdeka Scholarship, established in 2006 to mark the 50th anniversary of Malaysian independence, has boosted the numbers.
And with the Malaysian Securities Commission and OCIS now collaborating on the study of emerging issues in Islamic finance, the bonds between our two countries will be further strengthened. Read the rest of this entry »
In the name of God
Posted by Kit in 1Malaysia, Islam, nation building, Religion on Tuesday, 17 May 2011
Free Malaysia Today
May 17, 2011
The Christian story will not easily go away. Christians will always be on the crosshairs of religious bigots and unscrupulous politicians.
The country is still seething over the so-called “Christian plot”. At one stage, the rage threatened to get out of control. The issue burst on the national stage with such sudden force that all were caught up in a whirlwind of emotion and passion.The spectre of another bloodletting loomed, evoking the dark days of May 13. It had all the makings of a religious strife which echoed ancient animosity and hatred. Christians and Muslims appeared to be heading on a collision course, with dire consequences seen for the Christian minority. For the Muslim majority, it is like a call to a holy war because the “infidels” had reportedly insulted the pre-eminent position of Islam. Even the government, elected to protect its citizens, seemed ready to throw its weight on the side of bigotry and fanaticism. A small country built on the toil and sweat of all races is about to go up in flames because intolerance, irrationality and arrogance got the upperhand. Read the rest of this entry »
DAP claims Umno backing Perkasa’s crusade threat against Christians
By By Clara Chooi
| May 16, 2011
The Malaysia Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, May 16 — The DAP rebuked the government today for refusing to punish Datuk Ibrahim Ali over his crusade threat against Christians, declaring this as proof that Umno backs the leader’s controversial Malay rights group Perkasa.
DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng described Perkasa as Umno’s “alter ego” while his deputy Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham said both parties were playing a game of “good cop, bad cop” to woo Malay support.
“We have always believed that Ibrahim Ali is working hand in hand with Umno. Umno is using Perkasa to stir up Malay fear to force unity and make them support Barisan Nasional (BN). Read the rest of this entry »
10 Days in May (10)
Posted by Kit in 1Malaysia, environment, Islam on Sunday, 15 May 2011
Tweets @limkitsiang:-
Kuantan Police cynosure. Is Lynas already exercising Xtraordinary influence over Kuantan Police? Contd subversion of national institutions?
Internet-savvy IGP, r u following this? Shd apologise n tel/stop Kuantan police from its folly b4 Police become world laughing stock.
Hisham will have 2explain Parliament wh Police have new SOP 2get urine test from all arrested, rationale – recipe 4PDRM become world-class?
Hisham – in national interest, wld Police arrest IbrahimAli n demand urine test 2stop lies n seditious race/religious baiting?
Hisham – can explain Y police so tough overbearing w loyal peaceloving defenders environment? @LeeChinChen they want us to do urine test!
If DAP/Christian rep had said 10% what Ibrahim did, ISA/worst laws wld have been thrown at him.Hisham – Y so soft now? Read the rest of this entry »
Ibrahim Ali doesn’t represent all Malays, says Hisham
Posted by Kit in 1Malaysia, Islam, nation building, Religion on Sunday, 15 May 2011
By Melissa Chi
May 15, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider
SUNGAI BESAR, May 15 — UMNO Vice President Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein (picture) said today that Perkasa President Datuk Ibrahim Ali does not represent all the Malays in the country.
“I don’t think Ibrahim Ali represents all the Malays or all the Muslims. Same as Osama bin Laden, he doesn’t represent all the Muslims. There are extremists, I’m not saying Ibrahim Ali is an extremist, please don’t quote me wrongly but I’m saying that there are different levels of understanding. so let the public decide who they want to represent (them),” he said, adding that there are extremists in the Chinese community as well.
Despite police still investigating unsubstantiated reports of a move to a Christian Malaysia, the Malay rights group president threatened Christians nationwide last night that he would wage a crusade or holy war should they proceed with their agenda to usurp Islam. Read the rest of this entry »
As police probe, Ibrahim Ali threatens crusade against Christians
Posted by Kit in 1Malaysia, Islam, nation building, Religion on Sunday, 15 May 2011
By Clara Chooi
May 15, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider
GOMBAK, May 15 — Despite police still investigating unsubstantiated reports of a move to a Christian Malaysia, Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali threatened Christians nationwide last night that he would wage a crusade or holy war should they proceed with their agenda to usurp Islam.
The pint-sized Malay rights leader thundered to a ceramah audience of some 200 at Kampung Changkat here that he was willing to take the fall for his statement for the sake of defending the dignity of Islam.
Although he complained of fatigue from his nine ceramah stops from Kelantan to here since Friday night, the Pasir Mas MP also said his blood was boiling with rage and “hairs standing on end” following recent reports of a Christian conspiracy between religious leaders and opposition party politicians. Read the rest of this entry »
Perkasa ready to crusade against ungrateful Christians
Posted by Kit in 1Malaysia, Islam, nation building, Religion on Sunday, 15 May 2011
By Aidila Razak
May 15, 11 | MalaysiaKini
Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali said that he is willing to wage a crusade against the Christians if the community allegedly continues to challenge Islam’s position in the country.
“If they want a crusade, so be it. If they say that the peace that we enjoy is not good enough … we shall take up the challenge. Don’t take the silence of Muslims as a sign of fear,” he warned to cheers from about 150 people at a ceramah last night.
“Before our followers fall in this battle, (Perkasa) leaders will first lay down their lives and die sprawling in blood,” he thundered.
Speaking at a function organised by the Komuniti 1Malaysia group of Kampung Kerdas and Kampung Changkat in Gombak, Ibrahim accused the Christians of “challenging the sovereignty and dignity of Malays and Muslims.” Read the rest of this entry »
DAP claims member forced to back Christian Malaysia report
Posted by Kit in 1Malaysia, Islam, nation building on Saturday, 14 May 2011
By Clara Chooi
May 14, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, May 14 — The DAP claimed today one of its members had likely been coerced into lodging a report against the party in support of Utusan Malaysia’s Christian conspiracy article.
Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi, who was implicated in the Malay daily’s allegations last Saturday, told a press conference here that the member, Mohamed Razali Abdul Rahman, could have been forced to lodge the report as the paper has not one single testimony made in its favour to date.
He complained that since Mohamed Razali’s report yesterday, the latter could not be reached over the phone.
“We have tried to contact him but he has not been answering his calls,” Ooi (left) said.
He added that it is now one man’s word against at least 40 others, including eight pastors and at least 13 DAP leaders and members, all of whom had attended the event in Penang where Utusan Malaysia claimed the conspiracy had taken place.
The group, he explained, had been summoned to give statements to the police over the week. Read the rest of this entry »
‘Emotionally mature’ leaders put Najib to shame
Posted by Kit in 1Malaysia, Islam, nation building on Saturday, 14 May 2011
by Jeswan Kaur
May 14, 2011 | Free Malaysia Today
COMMENT: ‘Rakyat diutamakan’ or people first tagline parroted by current prime minister Najib Razak is an out and out lie.
If the people are indeed Najib’s priority, he would stop discriminating one race from the other.
The Umno-owned Malay daily, Utusan Malaysia has once again stirred the hornet’s nest through its May 7 article alluding that Christianity would soon oust Islam as the official religion of this country.
Needless to say the report, which Utusan lifted from postings by bloggers, heated up the already tense racial-relationship between Malaysians of different faiths.
And what does Prime Minister Najib do? He continues playing politics, asking the Malays to give their undivided loyalty to Umno so that the party is able to continue its lordship over Malaysia.
That done, he demands a pledge from local leaders of Christianity that they will respect Islam as Malaysia’s official religion.
The leaders were also made to give an undertaking that they will never challenge the provision enshrined in the Federal Constitution. Read the rest of this entry »
Christian conspiracy: Special branch link suspected
Posted by Kit in 1Malaysia, Islam, nation building on Saturday, 14 May 2011
By Aidila Razak
May 14, 11 | MalaysiaKini
DAP-Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi suspects possible coercion of the DAP member, who filed a police report on the alleged ‘Christian conspiracy’ yesterday just after the ministry had said there was “some basis” to the allegations.
Speaking to reporters in Kuala Lumpur today, Ooi said they believe that the man, DAP Bukit Tumba branch committee member Mohamed Razali Abdul Rahman, may have been convinced to do so by his relative who is a special branch police officer who monitors political activities in the Jelutong area.
“We were told Mohamed Razali and this officer are relatives, and that it was this officer who was instrumental in helping Utusan Malaysia get the story. I hope the police can start to look into this angle and make a fair and just investigation into the case.
“We don’t know his motive or intention for filing his police report some five days after we filed our police report denying the allegations made in Utusan,” he said.
Ooi added that Mohamed Razali had accompanied Ooi when the MP lodged his police report on May 8, showing a press photograph of the two together at the station. Read the rest of this entry »
Police quiz 8 pastors over ‘Christian conspiracy’
Posted by Kit in 1Malaysia, Islam, nation building on Saturday, 14 May 2011
By Aidila Razak
May 14, 11 | MalaysiaKini
Police have quizzed eight pastors who were present at the gathering in Penang that Utusan Malaysia had alleged to have hatched a so-called ‘conspiracy’ to make Christianity the official religion.
According to Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi, the pastors were called up in the week following his police report on May 8 denying the Malay daily’s claims.
Speaking to reporters in Kuala Lumpur, Ooi who was present at the dinner last weekend where the ‘plot’ was supposedly hatched, said that the police’s questions to the pastors suggests confusion of the authorities over the manner of Christian worship with the taking of a pledge.
“The pastors were commonly asked questions of the same theme,” said Ooi.
“They were asked if there was a conspiracy to install a Christian prime minister and if there was a pledge taken to make Christianity the official religion of the country. They (the pastors) categorically denied this.
“They were also asked if they raised their hands during their prayers, as commonly practiced among Christians, and if they had raised their left or right hand, and how high they raised it,” he said. Read the rest of this entry »
Church leaders take one step forward, two steps back
Posted by Kit in 1Malaysia, Islam, nation building on Saturday, 14 May 2011
By Terence Netto
May 14, 11 | MalaysiaKini
COMMENT “Two steps forward, one step backward’ was a staple of communist strategy where cagey negotiators make two hard-to-meet demands and then retract one to show they are flexible and reasonable.
Christian church leaders who met Prime Minister Najib Razak on Thursday over reports in Utusan Malaysia of an alleged Christian plot to dethrone Islam as the country’s official religion, were inveigled into a reversal of this negotiating strategy: they took two steps backward and as a sop, were conceded one step forward.
‘Backward’ here is not intended as a description of the nature of the two assurances they gave the PM – that they will respect the status of Islam as the official religion and they will continue to cooperate in fostering interreligious harmony in the country.
Instead, the word is used to describe the concessions Church leaders had to make when there was no substantive reason to suspect them of disrespecting Islam’s special status and being only dubiously for interreligious concord.
In return for the two steps backwards, Church leaders, upset over rabble rousing reports in Utusan, had the meager satisfaction of knowing that the Home Ministry had reprimanded the paper’s editor for irresponsible reporting. Ditto, one step forward for the Church leaders. Read the rest of this entry »
Bar Council says unconstitutional for Islamic laws to skip legislative approval
Posted by Kit in Constitution, Islam on Saturday, 14 May 2011
By Boo Su-Lyn
May 14, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, May 14 — The Bar Council has dismissed a call by Muslim lawyers for Islamic laws to be legislated solely by the Malay Rulers instead of Parliament, saying it is unconstitutional.
Bar Council president Lim Chee Wee said all laws have to be passed by elected members of Parliament and the respective state assemblies as Malaysia is a constitutional democracy.
“This is a fundamental and basic structure of the federal constitution,” Lim (picture) told The Malaysian Insider via e-mail last night.
“Such fundamental and basic structure cannot be bypassed,” he stressed.
He said the Malaysia Muslim Lawyers Association’s (PPMM) proposed memorandum to the government contradicted the legislative process and the federal constitution.
He also pointed out that matters pertaining to Islamic law are enacted by the state legislative assembly, except for the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya which are under the purview of Parliament. Read the rest of this entry »
‘Christian leaders led to their slaughter’
RK Anand | May 13, 2011
Free Malaysia Today
Bishop Paul Tan says he is displeased and disgusted with the outcome of the meeting between PM and Christian leaders over the Utusan row. He calls the entire episode an Umno orchestration.
KUALA LUMPUR: Without mincing his words, a Catholic bishop criticised his fellow Christian leaders for allowing themselves to be used by the government to “please the other side”.
Instead of telling Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak the truth, Bishop Paul Tan of the Malacca-Johor diocese said the Christian leaders had become like “sheep being led to their slaughter.”
Commenting on the news reports on the meeting between Najib and the Christian leaders, led by the Malaysian Christian Federation (MCF) chairman Bishop Ng Moon Hing yesterday, Tan told FMT that he was extremely disappointed with the outcome.
“I was not at the meeting, so I don’t know what transpired and whether the newspapers reported the entire discussion. But if the news reports are true, then I am displeased and disgusted,” he said.
The luncheon meeting was held amid the raging controversy surrounding a Utusan Malaysia report which alleged that a Christian coup was in the making, with Christian leaders and DAP colluding to undermine the position of Islam. Read the rest of this entry »
Police receive new account of ‘Christian conspiracy’
Aidila RazakMalaysiakini
May 13, 11
Deputy Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar today said that a police report has been lodged which may contain new details on the alleged ‘Christian conspiracy’ as reported by Utusan Malaysia.
“I can confirm that a report was lodged in Penang this morning at 8.50am regarding the issue and the content has variasi (is different) from the other (reports lodged before).
“I urge all parties to not speculate as we are currently investigating the matter,” he told reporters at an urgent press conference in Bukit Aman.
As a result of the report, he said, more people will be called for their statements. Read the rest of this entry »
Hisham: ‘Some basis’ to Utusan’s report
Posted by Kit in 1Malaysia, Islam, nation building on Friday, 13 May 2011
By S Pathmawathy
May 13, 11 | Malaysiakini
Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein says there is “some basis” to Utusan Malaysia’s report on is a conspiracy to make Christianity the official religion of the country and install a Christian prime minister.
Hishammuddin said this in view of new evidence provided in a police report lodged in Penang today.
It is believed that he was referring to a police report this morning by Mohamed Razali Abdul Rahman, a DAP member, who attended the function mentioned in the report.
Yesterday, the ministry issued Utusan a letter of reprimand over its front page article on May 7 titled ‘Kristian Agama Rasmi?’ (Christianity the official religion?).
The letter was handed to Utusan’s editor-in-chief Aziz Ishak yesterday, when he was called to the Home Ministry to give an exaplanation on the report.
Hishammuddin (right) said Aziz’s explanation was similar to the police report lodged today.
“He (Aziz) was saying that there is some truth to what is reported, and today I was informed that there is a police report (lodged) that there is some basis to (the Utusan report),” Hishammuddin told reporters at the launch of drug rehabilitation centre in Chow Kit, Kuala Lumpur. Read the rest of this entry »
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