Christian charity conversion report a ‘conspiracy’, say PAS MP, priest

By
Debra Chong

The Malaysian Insider

Aug 06, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 6 — Calling it yet another conspiracy plot, a PAS MP and a Catholic priest both spoke out today against the latest news linking church charity groups to covert conversions as a ploy to pit Muslims against Christians.

Kuala Selangor MP Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad suggested it was it was a political move calculated to claw back the support of Malay-Muslim voters ahead of the 13th general election, expected to be called by year-end.

Dzulkefly said it was a political move to win back the support of Malay-Muslim voters. — File pic“You see it now, they are full of plots,” the PAS central working committee (CWC) member told The Malaysian Insider in an immediate reaction to the allegations following a Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) raid on the Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC) in Petaling Jaya last Wednesday night.

Earlier today, Umno-owned Berita Harian and its sister newspaper Harian Metro had accused certain Christian groups of buying over Muslims in an attempt to swell their ranks by offering cash, free food and housing to poverty-stricken Malays.

Rev Father Michael Chua dismissed the allegations as old news, saying the stories about mass conversions of Muslims as well as the entry of large numbers of “priests” or “pastors” brought in intentionally for this purpose have repeatedly surfaced within the Muslim community.

“Past allegations have never been substantiated by any proof or evidence. I believe that such rumours are often used to frighten Muslims and to create hostility against Christians,” said the Catholic Church’s ecclesiastical assistant in charge of ecumenical and inter-religious affairs in the Kuala Lumpur area.

“[But] This is the first time I’m hearing of a ‘priest’ training programme involving former Muslims as alleged by the two persons interviewed in the Malay dailies,” he told The Malaysian Insider.

Chua urged the relevant authorities to investigate the claims made by both Malay dailies which cited from witnesses nabbed by Jais and the police during the DUMC raid.

According to witness accounts as reported by the two newspapers, they embraced Christianity after attending talks by Christian evangelists from east Malaysia and Indonesia and being given copies of the Bible in Bahasa Malaysia besides listening to Christian religious tapes.

“Given the sensitive nature of this issue, I believe the matter should not be left to ‘trial by media’ as the sensationalising of this issue would only result in reinforcing lies, half truths and prejudices,” the Catholic priest said.

In the latest census results released a few months ago by the Statistics Department, Malays, who are constitutionally Muslim, make up the biggest race and religious group nationwide at 61.3 per cent. In comparison, Christians form only 9.2 per cent of Malaysia’s 28.3 million population.

The reports by Berita Harian and Harian Metro come three months after another Umno-owned daily, Utusan Malaysia, frontpaged a report headlined “Kristian agama rasmi?” (“Christianity the official religion?”) based entirely on the words of a handful of pro-Umno bloggers claiming a secret pact to install a Christian instead of a Muslim as prime minister and oust Islam as the religion of the federation.

Putrajaya’s severe actions in limiting the import of the Alkitab, the Malay-language version of the Bible, from Indonesia plus delays in moving forward the legal tussle over the use of the word “Allah” to also refer to the Christian god has stirred anger among the community, especially in east Malaysia, long considered the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) government’s vote bank.

The allegations by BN-controlled media that depict Christians as working hand-in-glove with communist insurgents and opposition politicians to topple the government of the day and supplant it with a Christian prime minister have stirred a storm of protests that saw thousands take to the streets in a public rally organised by electoral reform group Bersih 2.0 on July 9.

                This entry was posted on Sunday, 7 August 2011, 9:39 am and is filed under
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Guan Eng: US economic woes could prompt snap polls

By Lisa J. Ariffin

The Malaysian Insider

Aug 07, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 7 — The weak US economy and last week’s downgrade of Malaysia’s credit ratings could prompt the Najib administration to call for snap polls as early as November, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said today.

He said the US debt crisis “will not only have impact on the economy but also the date of the next [general election]”.

“If the impact continues, we will see early elections as early as November because it is very important for the economy,” Lim told a press conference at the party headquarters here today.

“After Bersih, this seems more likely because of a contagion effect,” Lim added.

When asked if he sees any possible recession in Penang economy, the state’s chief minister said “it is too early to tell”.

In 2010, Penang received RM12.2 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI), making it the top investment destination in the country.

This year, Penang chalked up an impressive FDI figure of RM2.3 billion in April, the highest among all states.

Following the US credit downgrade by ratings agency Standard & Poor’s, a global market sell-off wiped out an estimated RM26 billion from Bursa Malaysia as investors took the cue from the regional meltdown following the rout on Wall Street on Thursday.

Lim said DAP was already preparing for the general election to be held within the year. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has up to 2013 to dissolve Parliament for a general election.

“In fact, we will be having election training today,” Lim said.

Today, Lim also announced the admission of renowned history professor Professor Dr Ariffin Omar into DAP.

Critically-acclaimed for his thesis on Malay concepts of democracy and community,  “Bangsa Melayu”, Ariffin said he chose to join DAP as the party was not race-oriented and represented all races.

“The security of the country is guaranteed if (racial politics is rejected). That is why I choose this party.

“DAP stands for social and racial justice,” Ariffin added.

When asked to comment on DAP’s drive to recruit more Malay members, Lim said “there is a steady progress and an increase of Malays”.

“However, (recruitment) is going to be long and hard as we have to work out the mental, emotional and psychological barriers (the community has developed) through fifty years of propaganda and the whole exercise of demonising DAP (by the ruling government),” Lim said.

“We need to work hard to break down these barriers, which slow down progress,” he added.

                This entry was posted on Sunday, 7 August 2011, 6:37 pm and is filed under
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Really ! Non Partisan in Malaysia Boleh?

by Richard Loh

Many NGOs, major Bodies fighting their Causes or institutions always claimed to be non partisan when making their calls for change towards their causes. This should be the way as we see it all around the globe but can it be followed in this nation whereby everything you do is one way or another tied to politics?

Non partisan:

free from party affiliation

In political science, nonpartisan denotes an election, event, organization or person in which there is no formally declared association with a political party affiliation. wikipedia

Partisan:

In politics, partisan literally means organized into political parties. The expression “partisan politics” usually refers to fervent, sometimes militant, support of a party, cause, faction, person, or idea. wikipedia

Once any party/parties are elected to form the government, elected representatives should shed their party partisanship and perform their government duties in a non partisan manner and served each and every rakyat irrespective of their political affiliation.

But do we see that happening, even the top leaders including the PM are so partisan that they are willing to forsake other races and religions to ensure that they remain popular among their party members. The PM even goes to the extend that he will only help those who are willing to help him with “Lu tolong wa, wa tolong lu” and inciting his party members to “crushed bodies and lost lives” in order to defend PutraJaya.

The PDRM, army, judiciary and other institutions like MACC and the EC are supposed to be non partisan in their duties to serve and protect without fear or favor, but they are more partisan then any party members.

The government always listen and work with the rakyat, so they claimed but do we see it happening? More often you will be treated as enemy of the state or even worst get arrested for daring to speak out.

The ruling government is building a wall, the great wall of PutraJaya, whereby those NGOs and Institutions calling for changes to unfair policies, outdated laws or causes that affect the ruling government will not be able to penetrate this great wall. You can scream and shout outside the wall perimeter but those inside the wall will not hear of it.

Just take a look at Bersih 2.0, how the government got so paranoid and over reacted to a simple 8 demands for the EC that it was declared illegal. Bersih 2.0 is non partisan, it invited all political parties on both side to support its call but only Pakatan Rakyat supported it and umno/bn created much chaos during the rally in downtown KL to fight their so call imaginary enemies. They simply won’t listen to the rakyat and prefer to take tough actions to show their superiority and power.

Many NGOs, the bar council and other Bodies are calling for the repeal of the ISA, EO, PPPA, other outdated policies and to impose that the PDRM, MACC and Judiciary perform their duties without fear or favor and in a non bias attitude but the great wall of PutraJaya are still rock solid to fend of all these calls.

What we can see and the only option to break down the great wall of PutraJaya is the call for a change in federal government.

I have being following a little such Bodies like Bersih 2.0, My Constitution, UndiMalaysia, SABM, Suaram and individuals like Edmund Bob, Malik Imtiaz and Haris Ibrahim, all are doing great jobs in fighting for and spreading the constitutional rights of the rakyat, spreading and pursuing their causes for changes in certain outdated laws and inefficient policies.

They are non partisan in the hope that whoever rules will take note of their demands and act on it. They can continue to be non partisan in fighting for their causes but I am wondering will it be effective with the present ruling government having the great wall of PutraJaya and shutting themselves inside?

What I see is that being non partisan will not really help in advancing any causes that are not favorable to the ruling government. What we need is partisanship to bring change in the federal government level and give notice to whichever new party taking over to listen to the NGOs, Bodies and institutions demands.

The present political scenario in Malaysia has no room for non partisanship! One way or another one has to fight for whatever cause in a partisan way.

                This entry was posted on Sunday, 7 August 2011, 6:16 pm and is filed under
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Betulkah pemastautin diberi hak mengundi?

— Aspan Alias

The Malaysian Insider

Aug 08, 2011

8 OGOS — Isu besar yang hangat diperkatakan hari ini ialah isu pendatang asing yang menjadi pemastautin telah diberikan kerakyatan dan terus diberikan hak mengundi.

Ahli-ahli Parlimen pembangkang telah menghantar surat hari ini untuk mendesak persidangan Parlimen tergempar dipanggil untuk membincangkan isu seramai 1,600 orang pemastautin tetap yang dikatakan diberikan kerakyatan penuh untuk memudahkan mereka menjadi pengundi semasa pilihan raya umum yang akan datang.

Jika isu ini benar ia merupakan isu yang sangat besar dan merbahayakan negara serta Sistem Raja Berpelembagaan Negara kita. Kita sedang menghadapi masalah besar di Sabah tentang isu ini dan kita masih lagi tidak mahu belajar dari kesilapan ini semata-mata kerana ingin mempertahankan kuasa yang kita anggap sudah sampai ketepian itu.

Isu pendatang asing menjadi pengundi ini memang telah lama kita dengar malahan ada di antara rakan saya sendiri pernah di tahan kerana dituduh mengeluarkan kad pengenalan palsu untuk kegunaan dalam pilihan raya. Jika apa yang dituduh ini benar ianya serupalah seperti memanggil orang luar untuk membantu memerangi bangsa dan rakyat kita sendiri.

Saya tidak pasti kebenaran tuduhan ini tetapi jika benar maka sesiapa yang mempunyai pemikiran seperti ini adalah rakyat yang paling tidak bertanggungjawab dan tidak ada kata-kata untuk diberikan terhadap mereka ini. Tindakan itu adalah satu tindakan yang sehina-hinanya yang tidak ada tolok bandingnya.

Tetapi jika ada ahli-ahli Parlimen meminta supaya dipanggil persidangan tergempar untuk membincangkan isu ini maka ianya merupakan satu perkara dan isu yang sangat besar yang pada jangka masa panjangnya akan merbahayakan keselamatan negara kita ini.

Membincangkan isu ini di Dewan Parlimen merupakan jalan yang terbaik supaya tidak ada pihak-pihak yang akan menuduh kita melakukan tindakan jalanan untuk membuat tuntutan terhadap sesuatu isu itu. Jika boleh kita tuntut juga supaya persidangan itu di adakan secara langsung bagi rakyat melihat dan membuat penilaian terhadap isu ini.

Jika benar perkara ini di lakukan oleh pihak pemerintah sebagai cara untuk mendapatkan undi dalam pilihan raya nanti, maka ianya memberikan lagi bukti yang pemerintah sekarang sendiri tahu yang mereka sedang ditolak oleh rakyat. Mereka terpaksa menggunakan rakyat negara lain untuk memberikan undi kepada mereka bagi meneruskan pemerintahan cara yang sama-sama kita lihat pada hari ini.

Kita berharap tuduhan ini tidak benar kerana jika benar ianya merupakan signal jelas kepada kita yang parti yang menggunakan pendatang asing untuk dijadikan pengundi secara kilat ini adalah parti yang tidak lagi patut mendapat sokongan rakyat tempatan yang asal.

Tindakan ini jika ada kebenarannya walaupun sedikit akan akhirnya menjadikan politik negara ini sebagai medan pertembungan di antara rakyat asal dan rakyat pendatang. Jangan pula nanti pilihan raya nanti akan menjadi pilihan raya di antara pendatang asing yang di sokong oleh Barisan Nasional dan rakyat asal negara yang disokong oleh Pakatan Rakyat.

Walau bagaimana pun elok kita tunggu persidangan tergempar ini berlalu terlebih dahulu. Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz yang telah menerima surat dari ahli-ahli Parlimen pagi tadi menyatakan tidak ada masalah untuk mengadakan persidangan tergempar itu. Surat itu akan di berikan kepada Datuk Seri Najib selepas berbuka puasa petang nanti.

Marilah kita berdoa supaya negara kita tidak akan menghadapi malapetaka seperti yang dihadapi oleh banyak negara kerana pendatang asing ini. — aspanaliasnet.blogspot.com

                This entry was posted on Monday, 8 August 2011, 11:47 pm and is filed under
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BN eyeing 25 winnable seats to regain Penang

Athi Shankar

Free Malaysia Today

August 8, 2011

GEORGE TOWN: Confidence is running high in Penang Barisan Nasional (BN) camp nowadays.

If the intelligence reports are anything to go by, BN should win enough state seats in the next general election to wrest the Penang government from Pakatan Rakyat.

It is learnt that the intelligence reports have identified at least 25 constituencies as winnable seats for BN – 15 on the mainland and 10 on the island.

The mainland seats are Bagan Dalam (Bagan); Berapit and Machang Bubok (Bukit Mertajam); Bertam, Penaga and Pinang Tunggal (Kepala Batas); Teluk Air Tawar, Permatang Berangan and Sungai Dua (Tasek Gelugor); Penanti, Permatang Pasir and Seberang Jaya (Permatang Pauh); and Jawi, Sungai Bakap and Sungai Acheh (Nibong Tebal).

On the island, the targeted seats are Sungai Pinang and Datuk Keramat (Jelutong); Seri Delima and Air Itam (Bukit Gelugor); Batu Uban, Pantai Jerejak and Batu Maung (Bayan Baru); and Bayan Lepas, Pulau Betong and Teluk Bahang (Balik Pulau).

BN is also confident of winning Kepala Batas, Tasek Gelugor, Batu Kawan, Nibong Tebal, Balik Pulau and Bayan Baru parliament seats.

In the 2008 general election, BN won 11 out of the 40 states and two out of 13 federal seats, all through Umno. Gerakan, MCA and MIC were all whitewashed.

However, BN leaders are confident that the political tsunami of 2008 would not be repeated this time.

Strategically, the state BN leaders are now conducting group tours on Mondays in earmarked constituencies to meet and be friendly with the people.

“We are going to the ground to listen to views and address issues hands-on.

“People have been responsive,” said a BN official.

Regaining lost ground

So far BN leaders have visited Nibong Tebal, Bukit Mertajam and Kepala Batas on the mainland, and Jelutong and Bukit Gelugor constituencies on the island.

Today, they visited PKR stronghold Permatang Pauh, whose MP is Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim.

The weekly constituency visits going on for more than a month now have boosted the coalition confidence that it was on its way to regaining lost ground.

BN leaders are confident of winning these seats due to perceived shift in ethnic Malay and Indian voters from Pakatan to them.

They believe that the undercurrent sentiments were favouring BN.

A BN top state leader said the working-class Malays and Indians feel that they were shortchanged under Pakatan.

BN also believes that the ethnic Chinese, although overwhelmingly favouring Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s administration, would vote in one or two non-Umno representatives in the next round.

“It could finish on a 21-19 seat-score, either way. This would result in horse-trading to get a stronger majority.

“In such a scenario, BN will eventually prevail,” said a confident BN local politician.

Yesterday, DAP national chairman Karpal Singh, however, said he believed that Penangites would overwhelmingly give their mandate to return Pakatan as the state government for another term.

He dismissed BN prediction that it could win 25 state seats.

“I differ with the intelligence findings. The undercurrent sentiments are very much in favour of Pakatan and the chief minister,” said Karpal.

                This entry was posted on Monday, 8 August 2011, 7:42 pm and is filed under
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Bursa bleeds another RM31b in global carnage

By Yow Hong Chieh

The Malaysian Insider

Aug 08, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 8 — Malaysian stocks continued tumbling today with an estimated RM31 billion in value shed from Bursa Malaysia, as jittery investors spooked by concerns about the global economic outlook continued to dump shares.

After the sustained sell-off today, sparked by concerns over Standard & Poor’s downgrading of the United States’ credit rating and Europe’s persistent debt woes, the KL share market is down an estimated RM65 billion in value from last Monday.

Losers overwhelmed gainers 1,051 to 67 today while the broad-based Emas index shed 2.39 per cent to settle at 10,227.95 — a five-month low.

The benchmark FBMKLCI slipped 1.8 per cent to 1496.99, also a five-month low.

OSK research head Chris Eng said that despite the possibility of a small rebound in coming days, markets were unlikely to climb back up to the levels seen in July and would remain volatile.

“We downgraded the market today thinking that in the mid-term it doesn’t look too good, especially after the S&P (Standard and Poor’s) downgrade (of US long-term credit rating).

“It’s prudent that investors start looking at more (alternative) defensive stocks,” he said, suggesting healthcare, media and some consumer stocks.

Eng added that while markets responded positively around mid-day to news that the European Central Bank (ECB) was buying Italian and Spanish bonds, he did not expect the optimism to last.

“It’s not enough what they’re doing at this point,” he said.

An estimated RM26 billion was wiped off the Kuala Lumpur stock exchange on Friday after investors took their cue from the regional meltdown following last week’s rout on Wall Street, the worst since Lehman Brothers collapsed in 2008.

Other Asian stocks continued to tumble today as S&P’s first-ever downgrade of US long-term credit rating on Friday continued to batter already weak sentiment.

Tokyo’s Nikkei stock average slid 2.2 per cent to 9,097.56 after dropping as low as 9,057.29, while the broader Topix fell 2.3 per cent to 782.86.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index plunged more than four per cent to hit its lowest level in a year, while the Shanghai Composite Index dropped more than three per cent.

Singapore’s benchmark index fell by 3.39 per cent, Indonesia by 1.82 per cent and Thailand by 0.99 per cent.

An estimated US$2.7 trillion (RM8.13 trillion) was wiped off the value of world stocks last week, according to Reuters.

                This entry was posted on Monday, 8 August 2011, 7:33 pm and is filed under
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Goldman Sachs cuts Malaysia’s GDP forecast

By Yow Hong Chieh

The Malaysian Insider

Aug 08, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 8 — Malaysia’s exposure to global markets, especially in Europe and the United States, as well as its budget deficit, is likely to hamper economic growth until next year, with international investment bank Goldman Sachs downgrading today its GDP forecast for the country.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s Barisan Nasional (BN) government is expected to face more pressure on the economic front after Goldman Sachs downgraded Malaysia’s GDP forecast for this year and the next.

Goldman Sachs’s downgrade was sparked by concerns that the tightening US budget will limit export growth in Asia over the next 12 months.

The investment bank revised its forecast for the national economy to five per cent from 5.4 per cent for this full year and similarly cut next year’s GDP growth projection to 5.2 per cent from 5.6 per cent previously.

“Korea and Taiwan have shifted quickly towards high value-added products like smartphones and tablets [and] have kept their exports resilient, whereas exports of semiconductors and PC components have generally had relatively poor growth,” it said in a report today.

In a separate statement ratings agency Standard and Poor’s also said that a new global financial crisis would hit Asia harder than the last one, especially nations heavily exposed to offshore markets or still repairing budgets from the 2008-2009 crisis.

Standard and Poor’s listed Malaysia as one of the countries still repairing budgets from the 2008-2009 crisis and pointed out that it would have limited capacity to intervene in the economy.

The Najib administration has been committed to trimming the budget deficit from a two-decade high of seven per cent in 2009 to 5.4 per cent this year but surging inflation — especially in urban centres where his coalition is weakest — has forced Putrajaya to rethink its timetable for subsidy cuts.

After hitting a two-year peak of three per cent in March, the consumer price index has continued to rise, hitting 3.5 per cent in June as the government increased fuel, electricity and sugar prices to prevent the subsidy bill from doubling to RM21 billion.

The Umno president is also expected to call for general elections soon despite his mandate only expiring in early 2013.

Both government and opposition lawmakers have said that Najib should announce an election budget for next year as sustaining subsidies continues to put a strain on the Treasury.

Pressure from hardline Malay ground to maintain Bumiputera quotas is also threatening the prime minister’s economic transformation programme that aims to double per capita income by 2020.

In its report today, Goldman Sachs also cut Singapore’s GDP growth estimates to 4.8 per cent this year and five per cent for 2012, down from 5.5 per cent and 5.4 per cent respectively.

Indonesia and Thailand remain unchanged at 6.2 per cent and 3.8 per cent respectively for 2011 and 6.2 per cent and 4.2 per cent for 2012.

Malaysia’s projected earnings per share (EPS) were also slashed by 4.4 points to 9.9 per cent while Singapore’s was reduced from 5.2 per cent to three per cent.

Goldman Sachs nonetheless upgraded its call on Malaysia to overweight in line with its recommendation that investors focus on domestic and Asean cyclicals following the downgrade of US long-term credit rating.

But Standard and Poor’s warned that while its historic downgrade of US credit rating last Friday would not have immediate impact on sovereign borrowers in the region, export-dependent economies would bear the brunt of any future disruption in developed markets.

“Given the interconnectivity of the global markets, an unexpectedly sharp disruption in developed-world financial markets could change the picture,” it said.

“In this scenario, the experience of the global financial crisis of 2008-2009 shows that export-dependent economies with large exposures to the US and/or Europe would feel the most pronounced economic impacts.”

Standard and Poor’s listed those countries particularly vulnerable to disruptions in offshore capital markets as Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and Indonesia.

It also said Malaysia — along with Japan, India, Taiwan and New Zealand — as having less fiscal capacity to respond to a fresh global crisis as government finances were still recovering from the recent downturn.

                This entry was posted on Monday, 8 August 2011, 4:05 pm and is filed under
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How unprincipled and low can you go, Chua Soi Lek, as MCA President?

Any Malaysian given three answers to the question: Who made the allegation that DAP wants to create a “little China” in Malaysia would invariably name Utusan Malaysia, Berita Harian and UMNO although not necessarily in the same order.

Nobody would have named the MCA let alone the MCA President, Datuk Seri Dr. Chua Soi Lek as it is so wild, absurd and irresponsible a charge no sane or reasonable person would make.

One could disagree with Chua Soi Lek to date but so far he has kept to certain standards in his public statements and speeches.

But Chua Soi Lek’s allegation in Kota Kinabalu yesterday that DAP wants to create a “little China” in Malaysia must rank as among the most despicable and dastardly of lies in Malaysian politics designed to help UMNO ultras to scare Malay voters.

Chua is doing both his race and nation a great disservice in making such a baseless, despicable and dastardly charge.

Chua could not possibly believe that he could deceive Chinese voters in Malaysia into believing his lie – as DAP is not a new political party but has a 45-year history and record to prove that DAP leaders had never espoused a Chinese Malaysia but had always been committed to a Malaysian Malaysia where the diverse races, religions, cultures and regions can find unity and harmony through fair and just nation-building policies.

The declaration of DAP leaders ring down the past four and a half decades loud and clear: the DAP does not want a Chinese Malaysia, Malay Malaysia, Indian Malaysia, Iban Malaysia or Kadazan Malaysia but a Malaysian Malaysia!

Right from the very beginning in 1966, DAP had held forth a vision of a Malaysia for all Malaysians, where every citizen identify himself or herself as Malaysian first of all, bound by a common nationality and transcending their racial, religious and cultural differences.

This was why in the first general election contested by the DAP in 1969 – followed in subsequent general elections – DAP fielded a multi-racial slate of candidates, Malay, Chinese and Indians with two Malays elected as State Assemblymen and more Indian MPs elected on the DAP ticket than the Malaysian Indian Congress!

This was also why DAP leaders have no hesitation in accepting the definition propounded by Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s 1Malaysia policy of “a nation where every Malaysian perceives himself or herself as Malaysian first, and by race, religion, geographical region or socio-economic background second and where the principles of 1Malaysia are woven into the economic, political and social fabric of society”.

In March last year, I challenged all the Barisan Nasional Cabinet Ministers to declare in Parliament that they accept the 1Malaysia definition of nation-building – but not a single BN Minister, including the four MCA Ministers, dared to contradict the Deputy Prime Minister and UMNO Deputy President, Tan Sri Muhyiddin when he declared that he was Malay first and Malaysian second!

This was why Najib’s 1Malaysia was quickly exposed as a hollow one, nothing more than a public relations exercise and a 1Malaysia circus mired in 1Malaysia Tupperware, 1Malaysia T-shirt, 1Malaysia Mineral Water, 1Malaysia Burger and other 1Malaysia goodies.

Malaysian voters regardless of race who had voted and supported the DAP through the ten general elections from 1969 to 2008 did so because of their support for the DAP’s vision of a democratic, clean, fair, just and united Malaysian nation of diverse races and religions, and not for a Chinese Malaysia or a “little China” coined by Chua.

Chua cannot possibly believe that he could influence a single Chinese voter with the lie that the DAP wants to create a “little China” in Malaysia.

Why then is he making such an irresponsible allegation, with the MCA newspaper the Star giving it full coverage?

The purpose is clear – to provide grist to the ultra UMNO mills like Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian in their campaign to smear and demonise the DAP as anti-Malay and anti-Islam to scare the Malay voters from supporting and voting for the DAP and Pakatan Rakyat.

Already the UMNO propaganda mills, particularly Utusan and Berita, face a crisis of credibility with the law of diminishing returns working against them – with more and more Malays disbelieving their lies about the DAP being anti-Malay and anti-Islam, with their tall tales of a DAP plot to create a Christian Malaysia and appoint a Christian Prime Minister.

Now, these Umno mills of lies and poisonous propaganda will get a breather as they will be able to quote the MCA President himself with the latest despicable and dastardly lie against the DAP of wanting to create a “little China” in Malaysia.

How unprincipled and low can you go, Chua Soi Lek, as MCA President?

                This entry was posted on Monday, 8 August 2011, 2:06 pm and is filed under
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Islamization of Education

by
Bakri Musa

Chapter 9: Islam in Malay Life

Reform in Islam

There was a time when religion did not have any role in the Malaysian education system.  Public schools were completely secular.  There were some Christian missionary schools during colonial times, but they did not attract many Malay pupils.  Malay parents were fearful that their children would be converted, a not unreasonable anxiety given the proselytizing fervor of those early missionaries.  Following independence, religion was still kept out of the schools.  There were Islamic schools but these were private, small, and mainly in rural areas.  They catered exclusively to children of poor villagers.  Their mission too was equally modest:  teaching the basic rituals of Islam.  Typically they were the one-teacher schools, the madrasah.  Not much was expected and not much was delivered.  I briefly attended one of them.

            In light of the 9-11 attacks, there is much attention paid to the goings-on in these madrasah.  They are less educational institutions and more indoctrination centers.  They breed the kind of fanatical adherents to the faith – rigid and intolerant – that are the bane of so many Muslim societies.

            Sometime in the 1980s Islam began creeping into the formal school system, at first imperceptibly but later accelerated under the tenure of Anwar Ibrahim as Education Minister.  Today, Islamic Studies is a core subject for all Muslims students.  There was an arrogant attempt by Anwar at making it mandatory to all at the university level, but that was quickly withdrawn amidst intense opposition from non-Muslims.

            The government also set up a system of public religious schools where the entire curriculum is consumed with Islamic Studies.  The physical facilities of these schools are far superior to the madrasah but the intellectual climate is only marginally better.  Universities that are supposedly geared for science and technology also have large Islamic Studies departments.  The International Islamic University only very recently established engineering and medical faculties.  Thus while the nation is in desperate need of scientists and IT graduates, Malaysian universities still churn out Islamic Studies graduates by the thousands.  Their only avenue of employment is public service; they are useless in the private sector because of their narrow education.

            At the time of independence in 1957, Malaysia had a substantial cadre of well-trained English teachers but none or very few in Islamic Studies.  It amazes me that forty years later Malaysia is chronically short of English teachers but has a glut of religious teachers.  Why this is so reflects the emphasis of the educational establishment.

            Examine the typical school day.  There are only so many hours, thus time devoted to the study of prophetic traditions and Qur’an must come at the expense of other subjects.  It is not surprising then that Malay students do not excel in English, science, or mathematics.  Too much is expected of them.

            Malaysia is forever lamenting the shortage of Malays in the sciences. Look at the facts.  One third of Malay students opt for religious schools, where there is little science taught.  Of the remaining who chose national schools, more than half pursue the non-science stream. Thus only a third of Malay students are channeled into the science stream.  Non-Malays have no religious or ethnic studies to distract them.

            In the religious schools it is, as expected, all religion.  Thus if their graduates do not get accepted into Islamic Studies at local or Arab universities, they are stuck.  There is little transferability.  Every year thousands of these students are stranded, unemployed or simply unemployable.  These are the youngsters who have plenty of time to demonstrate on the streets.  The system has failed them and they have every right to be angry.

            Clearly, the religious schools must be revamped.  I would broaden their curriculum to include English, science, and mathematics.  Religion should only be one subject, not the all-consuming curriculum. Likewise secular schools should relegate Islamic Studies as an elective or at least de-emphasize it.  The manner in which religion is taught too should also be changed, away from rote memory and emphasis on rituals and catechisms, to understanding the underlying concepts and essence of the faith.  Use the vast literature and scholarship in Islam to develop critical thinking among the students.  They should be exposed to the rich and diverse viewpoints within Islam so as to broaden their intellectual horizon.

            Religious schools are popular with Malays because of the Islamic cachet.  Unlike secular schools, they have low dropout rates.  Malays value education when wrapped in Islamic garment.  Because of this natural affinity it is all the more important that the government should not fail them.

            In the decade following independence, at the height of nationalism and resurgent pride in Malay language and culture, a generation of precious young Malay minds was wasted in the relentless pursuit of the national language policy.  The dreams and hopes of thousands of promising youngsters were crushed when they discovered that their hard-earned certificates and diplomas were worthless.  Today Malaysia is repeating the same mistake with its zeal and emphasis on Islamic Studies.  Sadly like before, the victims are again all young Malays.

            The cause of Islam is enhanced greatly if future ulama have a broad-based liberal education.  It would also give them a wider and better perspective.  If nothing else, it would disabuse them of their arrogant certitude. They would then be less likely to resort to simplistic recitations of the hadith or the Qur’an when confronted with complex problems. Perhaps then they would make real and meaningful contributions to their ummah.

            I am equally alarmed at the current intellectual fad of “Islamization” of knowledge, that is, the attempt to put an Islamic imprint on all disciplines, especially the natural sciences.  Invariably it means the adulteration of science.  Thus we have Islamic “scientists” who have never seen, let alone used, a test tube!  Yet another absurd example:  Malaysian Islamic scholars trying to blame the jinn (devil) for the recent onslaught of computer viruses!  Such incidents only expose their woeful ignorance of science.  The insight and wisdom of science are also ultimately derived from God and we should respect that without having to dilute or spin it into one’s preconceived ideas of what is Islamic.  Science is science; there is no such thing as Islamic science just as there is no such thing as Western science.  Hydrogen combines with oxygen to produce water, in Islamic Saudi Arabia as well as in atheistic Russia. Likewise, two plus two equals four, whether in Islamic mathematics or Greek numerology.

            Science and religion are complementary, not adversarial.  Science attempts to explain the physical world around and within us, while religion answers man’s basic spiritual needs. Advancements in science has benefited mankind immensely, we should not belittle those.  But no matter how well off man is materially, there will always be the spiritual void that needs to be filled with religion.  The seminal difference between science and religion is this.  In science you have to see in order to believe.  With religion, first you believe, then you see.

            In trying to discern differences where none exists, Muslim intellectuals and scientists are wasting their energy.  They would be better off trying to elucidate the secrets of nature.  That after all is the essence of science.  Such activities as “Islamizing” this and that simply mask their dearth of intellectual ingenuity and curiosity.  They cannot discover anything original in their own discipline and thus spend their time concocting schemes at such puerile intellectual pursuits as “Islamizing” established principles.

            A more sinister aspect to the activities of these Islamic “scholars” is that they are hiding behind their Islamic credentials as a back door to success.  Unable to advance on the usual merit, they put on the Islamic garment.  Religion has always been the refuge of scoundrels, including academic ones.  With the emphasis on Islam in Malaysia today, nobody dares call these academics to the carpet.  Instead they are being rewarded with promotions and honors for “uplifting” the image of Islam.  In truth, scientists like Abdus Salam (1979 Nobel laureate in Physics), Ahmad Zewail (Chemistry-1999) and thousands of others quietly toiling in their laboratories to uncover Allah’s secrets, do more to enhance the image of Islam than third-rate Muslim scientists cloaking themselves in the veneer of the faith.

            In many ways the Islamization of Malaysia generally and of the government specifically, is reminiscent of the communist ways in the old Soviet empire.  Then young Russians knew that the way to the top was not by excelling in their own field but by the back door—through the party.  Thus unable to be productive as scientists or engineers, they found it much easier to be promoted by displaying their party credentials. Likewise Malay scholars and professionals today, unable to shine on their own merit, found it easier and more rewarding to embellish their Islamic credentials.  Malay civil servants, lacking in executive ability and innovative ideas, exuberantly display their ardor for Islam (at least superficially), so their own incompetence could be easily overlooked.

            I see only continued and increasing influence of these Islamists on Malaysia’s educational and other institutions; Malaysia risks degenerating into an Ireland of the 1920s.  If this trend is not reversed, the nation and Malays specifically will continue to be mired in mediocrity.

Next:   Islamic Economics

                This entry was posted on Monday, 8 August 2011, 11:02 am and is filed under
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Tambatuon dam: A question of need

By
Dr Edwin Bosi

Suddenly Malaysia is concerned about food security. In Sabah, food security is been used to justify for the construction of a controversial multi-million ringgit Tambatuon dam in the district of Kota Belud. But Malaysia’s quest for 100% self sufficient in rice appears to be bleaker by the day. Under the 5th Malaysia Plan (1986-90), there was plan to achieve 80-85% self sufficient involving eight areas covering 220,000 hectares of land. The plan then was to achieve 70% to 90% by 2010 for West Malaysia, from 30% to 70% in Sabah and from 50% to 70% in Sarawak by 2010. We are now in 2011 and our reliance on imported rice is not getting less. It is much cheaper to import than to grow rice, it seems.

The inflation is biting hard and with the high cost of “everything” nothing will be produce cheaply. The subsidies that benefited the less fortunate are been withdrawn. The peoples’ income remains stagnant and as prices of commodities ran wild many will be drawn into the poor-income bracket soon. The people in poverty will soon fill into the abject poverty bracket. I wish not to say about those in abject poverty and what the future is in store for them. The millions of non-tax paying illegal immigrants are now legalised and will add more burden to the State. It will be a long journey in a dark tunnel for genuine Sabahans whose natural resource-rich State is now the poorest in Malaysia.

Malaysia is ranked 25th in rice production with China in number one position. However, Australia is the most efficient rice producer at 8.7 tons/ha while Malaysia can only muster an average of 3.3 ton/ha. Malaysia’s rice yield per capita (per person) has fallen from 174.6 kg in 1974 to 86kg in 2008.

Malaysia during the Mahathir era focused on industry economy and rice production was marginalised. Realising the importance of food security the country now embarks on food production. Basically the government must encourage and provide assistance to smallholders to grow rice. The government must also encourage the private sectors to participate in rice production.

Malaysia’s rice production will be affected by few factors. The government austerity drive and withdrawal of padi planting subsidy may cause more smallholders to look for other alternative livelihood. When the price of rice fell many farmers will abandon padi cultivation. The other factors that have an impact of rice production will be the cost of production such as fertilizers, mechanizations and fuel.

The second issue is production per unit area. It is reported that in the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) the 168,000 hectares of smallholder lands are producing between 3-4 tons per hectare. On the other hand, Sime Darby is looking at producing 8-10 ton/ha. The mechanisation of padi production from 1950 – 1980 saw reduction in labour requirement but it did not increase yield per hectare.

Of great importance is the use of water in rice production. It is known that proper amount of water is required when rice farming is mechanised. Experience from West Malaysia indicates that irrigation system must be proper and adequate. As the World Bank reported, there must be an engineering design of future irrigation projects in the tropic. The Bank has been supporting irrigation development for rice cultivation in Malaysia since the 60s.

Likewise in the 25000-acre Federal-funded Kota Belud Jelapan padi project, the Padi Miller Association has identified what is required to succeed. The Association talked about upgrading and repair of drainage and irrigation, bridges and providing path to the padi fields. So far RM75 million has been spent on irrigation repair in the Kota Belud Jelapan padi project but nothing positive seems to have come out of this. Based on a report, another RM90 million has been poured into the project since 2008.

Having seen RM165 millions have been spent on the Jelapan padi project, the government has now decided to construct a dam across the Kadamaian river at Kg Tambatuon at a cost of RM450 millions. The question is how come the RM165 millions spent on irrigation repair did not achieve its objective. Why a need for a massive dam when water is not an issue?

 According to the Padi Millers Association, there are many rivers supplying the Jelapan Padi project area. They argued that there is too much water and because of the poor drainage and irrigation system the padi is lost through flooding. They have suggested a new padi species that survive under water. They would like to call it the “submarine” padi variety.

Relocation of villagers

In any EIA activity, the social impact is equally important. Since the government has failed to engage with affected villagers before proposing for the dam, the villagers are now hostile to the idea of submerging their villages and their heritage. Only now the government talks about huge compensation and the peoples’ share in the profit derived from the dam.

But the villagers have travelled to see the Moyog dam in Penampang and Bakun dam in Sarawak where they saw for themselves the impact of the dams. Sadly the affected villagers were short-changed as they were forgotten as soon as they were relocated to the new settlement. They did not get water supply or lands for cultivation. Their new houses are small and so compacted. All the beautiful promises were empty. It is therefore natural after these visitations that the Tambatuon villagers will not agree to allow their land to be submerged and be relocated even with the promised of high earnings through sharing of profit from the spin-off from the dam.

Comparing notes

(i) The government stated that the water is required for the 25,000 acres Jelapan padi project in Tempasuk plain.

The Padi Miller Association said the problem is not water shortage but the excessive water damaging their crops. It is all about proper irrigation and drainage system.

(ii) The government stated that a hydro will be commissioned to supply the much needed energy for Kota Belud and the surrounding areas.

The government should commission a gas-power plant in Kota Belud as the off-shore platform is not far from Kota Belud. The gas is being burned which is a lost for the country. The government should also consider constructing small hydro-power plants to provide energy for specific townships when there are river systems from the hills and mountains. Biomass for energy derives from oil palm plantations and wind turbines should be considered.

(iii) The government stated that tourism will be developed including fishing in the dam area.

Why should the government talk about tourism when Kg Tambatuon is now a tourist attraction and with a potential for expansion. The natural setting and people, pleasant weather, beautiful river teeming with fish, forest, hills and Mt Kinabalu are what many urban folks and foreigners are yearning for. The villagers are promoting home stays. They are now planning to start another route to the peak of Mt Kinabalu. It is with this natural setting that Kota Belud in particular will flourish as a tourism destination.

The villagers are now growing their own food, supplying the markets with pricy fragrant rice, fresh fruits and vegetables. They have homesteads in operation and their rubber trees have matured to give them a decent earning and livelihood. They older folks are contented and happy to live out their life in their villages while many young (even graduates) are returning to work on their land.

(iv) The government talks about supplying clean water.

Kota Belud is fortunate to have so many rivers from the Crocker Range. The issue of supplying clean water is therefore a non-issue. What is happening now is that the government fails to supply water to all the people in Kota Belud and surrounding areas. Many villages are still using or relying on rain water and gravity. The infrastructure development in Sabah is not in tandem with that of West Malaysia despite the fact Sabah contributed so much to the National coffer.

(v) The government is concerned about food security.

The food security that the government is concerned about should have been addressed long ago. It was Dr Mahathir’s era which overlooked agriculture development. The 25,000 acres Jelapan padi project can assist Malaysia to increase self-sufficiency but will create social problem when foreign workers are employed to work on the land.

The key to food security is high productivity. Thus, the available padi land now can help achieve self-sufficiency if production can be increased from 2.0 ton/ha to more than 8.0 ton/ha. If this high production rate can be achieved Sabah will have surplus rice for export when the 25,000 acres Kota Belud Jelapan padi project begins production.

Finally, we are not getting high padi production. Why? Despite the funding, proper irrigation, fertilizers and whatnot we are not getting higher padi production. On the other hand, hill-grown padi that require minimal water has sustained the rural indigenous people. I think we really need to address this production issue before we dwell on the Tambatuon dam.

                This entry was posted on Monday, 8 August 2011, 7:16 pm and is filed under
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The world is watching

by R. Nadeswaran

The Sun

Posted 7 August 2011 – 07:43pm

READERS will remember that in the past, this columnist had refused to touch on race, religion and politics. Today, an intrepid step is being taken to address an issue which has tarnished the name of the country. The actions of a few have embarrassed all Malaysians, especially our leaders who exemplify moderation, tolerance and restraint. The many words of our founding fathers and their successors appear to have fallen on deaf ears. Instead, selfish individuals are defying the government in their zest to impose their own beliefs and values without any consideration whatsoever.

In May, I was sitting in the audience and applauded after the prime minister gave a resounding talk on Islam and moderation at Oxford. Quoting the Torah, the Bible and the Quran, he explained Malaysia’s success in embracing multi-cultures and multi-religions. Two weeks later, watching the royal wedding on television at a street party, I gladly pointed out to English friends the presence of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Raja Permaisuri at Westminster Abbey.

My English friends asked me about religious restrictions and my reply was: “As far as I know, Islam does not restrict its followers from entering a church. I have met many Muslim colleagues and friends who attend church weddings.” The king of Malaysia, they were told, is head of Islam in Malaysia like the queen of England is the head of religion in England. Last month, the prime minister was granted an audience with the pope with a view to establish diplomatic relations with the Vatican, endorsing our country’s temperance on religion.

These actions reinforced the principle that although Islam is the official religion, there’s room for other faiths to co-exist without any fear or harassment. It took just a few hours last Wednesday to demolish these efforts of promoting a “moderate Malaysia” to the world. The raid at the community hall of the Methodist Church in Petaling Jaya and its repercussions reverberated around the world, painting Malaysia and the religion as intolerant establishments.

One publication summed up the action as “religious police harassed Christians attending a dinner”. Sitting away from Malaysia, one cannot make a valid judgment and verify such claims, but reading online versions from Malaysia and around the world, one cannot deny that, yet again, we have shot ourselves in the foot.

A report filed by the Associated Press which has thousands of subscribers said: “Malaysian Christian officials accused Islamic authorities on Thursday of unlawfully entering a church and harassing guests at a community dinner. The incident reignited criticism that authorities in the Muslim-majority country fail to respect the rights of Christian, Buddhist and Hindu minorities. Government officials have repeatedly denied being unfair to minorities, despite complaints about a wide range of issues including court disputes involving religious conversions and restrictions against Malay-language Bibles.”

This and others by news agencies have put not only Malaysia in bad light, but Islam itself. To make matters worse, British newspapers reported on Friday that a Westminster court had found four Muslims guilty of putting up posters declaring “Christmas to be evil”. The posters claimed Christmas was “responsible for rape, teenage pregnancies, abortion, promiscuity and paedophilia.” Reading both reports together could very well present an entirely different picture.

The four may have acted as individuals and may not have belonged to any religious organisation or were backed by any group but their actions have resulted in the religion being perceived as intolerant. Similarly, the raid in Malaysia may have been carried out by religious officers, but when it makes the news, it is perceived and reported as “Malaysian religious police”, although we do not have a separate arm of the Royal Malaysian Police enforcing religious diktat.

When government servants misuse or abuse their powers, it is reflected on the state and the leadership. People who read the reports tend to attach labels to both the country and the religion.

The government and its leaders are spending time, effort and money in trying to promote Malaysia both as a holiday destination and for investment opportunities. Besides, we are wooing talent from abroad. What messages are we conveying to them with such actions? We have to take immediate steps to change the perception of the outside world by re-emphasising that religious acceptance – not mere tolerance – is the hallmark of our multi-religious, multi-ethnic and multi-cultural society. That means that the actions of zealots and fanatics must be curtailed and those who choose to misuse and abuse their power must be dealt with severely.

To the legal mind, it may be just trespass because religious officers have no power of search and entry. It is much more than that. If a group that allegedly distributed pamphlets and was in possession of T-shirts can be charged with subversion, than what these officers have done is much more serious. Let us be reminded that the world is watching and if nothing is done, let us not blame anyone but ourselves for being labelled in the same lines as Iran or Zimbabwe. The western media, the opposition or “anti-national” elements should not be the scapegoats for the country being pigeon-holed and written off as intolerant and insensitive.

R. Nadeswaran is compelled to make a stand as the actions of a few are hurting all Malaysians. He is theSun’s UK correspondent based in London and can be contacted at:
[email protected]

                This entry was posted on Monday, 8 August 2011, 11:42 am and is filed under
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Who killed Teoh Beng Hock?

The burden of proving that Teoh’s death was an accident lies on those who had held him at the MACC

By
 N H Chan

Recently (see my article “If you put the cart before the horse” or “Cart and Horse” depending on where you have read it), I wrote about the unfounded conclusion of a befuddled Royal Commission of Inquiry that Teoh Beng Hock was driven to suicide while he was in the custody of the MACC.

One still wonders how such a conclusion could ever have been reached by the RCI without any evidence to support it whatsoever! Such evidence requires the opinion of an expert – which is a relevant fact under section 45 of the Evidence Act – to say that Teoh was driven to suicide as a direct consequence of the third degree method of interrogation inflicted on him by the police while he was in the custody of the MACC. It is because the finding of the RCI that Teoh was driven to suicide was unsupported by any evidence that we all realized how silly had been those judges who sat on the Royal commission. Those three judges have since become the laughing stock of the nation!

This nursery rhyme from our early childhood immediately comes to mind:

Three blind mice, three blind mice

See how they run, see how they run.

They all ran after the farmer’s wife

Who cut off their tails with a carving knife.

Did you ever see such a thing in your life

As three blind mice?

Those three blind mice that ran after the farmer’s wife got their tails cut off.

Like the three blind mice, the three judges of the Teoh Beng Hock RCI were unable to see the wood for the trees in the forest of their task to enquire into the death of TBH. Because they were blinded by the confusion of their task they could only manage to come out with an unfounded opinion.

Have you ever seen such a thing in your life as three blind judges? Were our judges incompetent? Or were they interested in the pursuit of their own aggrandizement? “Judges are not interested in the pursuit of power. If they were, they would not have become judges” said Lord Nolan in his lecture “Certainty and Justice: The Demands on the Law in a Changing Environment” at The Sultan Azlan Shah Law Lectures, Thomson/Sweet & Maxwell, at pages 312-313. Undoubtedly judges who are interested in the pursuit of power are corrupt; for power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. So now you know. They are either incompetent or corrupt.

Now is an opportune moment to discuss further. Since Teoh did not commit suicide as there was no evidence to support such a conclusion, then how did he fall from the window on the 14th floor to his death?

How did Teoh fall to his death?

We all know that Teoh fell from the MACC building to his death when he was in the custody of the MACC. We also know that he was subjected to cruel and unrelenting interrogation by the police officers at the MACC who wanted to extract a confession from him so as to implicate the Selangor state government with alleged wrongdoings. He was found dead from a fall from a window on the 14th floor of the MACC building. All these happenings cannot be denied because it has been revealed at the hearing of the RCI.

One should also know that section 106 of the Evidence Act 1950 says the burden of proving any fact especially within the knowledge of any person lies on him. So that in the TBH case, the burden of proving how TBH died lies on the MACC.  This is because only the MACC and its personnel knew how TBH was killed. His death occurred when TBH was in the custody of the MACC.  That is why the Malaysian Bar said “that full responsibility for Teoh Beng Hock’s death lies squarely and solely on the MACC”. This is what section 106 says:

106.	Burden of proving fact especially within knowledge

When any fact is especially within the knowledge of any person, the burden of proving that fact is upon him.

ILLUSTRATIONS

(a) When a person does an act with some intention other than that which the character and circumstances of the act suggest, the burden of proving that intention is upon him.

(b) A is charged with travelling on a railway without a ticket. The burden of proving that he had a ticket is on him.

This is what the Malaysian Bar said (see loyarburok.com on “Teoh Beng Hock: the search for justice and truth must continue):

It is very clear to the Malaysian Bar that full responsibility for Teoh Beng Hock’s death lies squarely and solely on the MACC, and that immediate action must be taken to hold the culpable officers accountable for their behaviour. … The authorities should investigate the relevant MACC officers for possible offences under sections 304 and 304A of the Penal Code, namely for culpable homicide not amounting to murder and for causing the death of TBH by negligence, respectively.

Actually the Malaysian Bar was being polite for suggesting an investigation by the authorities on possible offences under sections 304 and 304A of the Penal Code. Unquestionably a crime was committed. The authorities are duty bound to prosecute the perpetrators who have become common criminals irrespective of their rank in the police force! The ball is now in the court of the Public Prosecutor, who, as we all know, is the Attorney-General, to do his duty.

What then are the crimes these policemen of the MACC were supposed to have committed? As suggested by the Malaysian Bar, they are sections 304 and 304A of the Penal Code and, I would add, even murder under section 302 of the same Code. It doesn’t matter which is the section applicable as the burden is on the accused persons to prove the facts which are in their knowledge to try to reduce the charge to a lesser one.

It is murder (section 302) if TBH was dropped from the 14th floor to his death by his captors.

It is culpable homicide not amounting to murder (section 304) if TBH was taken to the window to frighten him but his captors somehow lost their grip and he fell to his death.

It may be a case of causing the death of TBH by negligence under section 304A if TBH had tried to escape by climbing out of the window and fell to his death in the attempt. The negligence is for leaving the window on the 14th floor conveniently open.

The above are the possible scenarios for the reduction of the crime from murder. But it is on the accused to prove the exculpating factors.

I use the word “captors” decidedly. A witness is never restrained and he is interviewed. He is free to leave at any time. A suspect is restrained and he is interrogated. He has no freedom of movement. He is held in custody. That is why in the coroner’s inquiry into the death of Selangor Customs assistant director Ahmad Sarbaini we get this kind of answer from a witness:

Awtar:
 What is the reason for him to climb out of the window? Why didn’t he use other ways?

Dr Shahrom:
 From what I was told by the police, he had a visitor’s pass, which only allowed him to go up the building, not down.

[see the New Straits Times, Thursday, August 4, 2011]

Could Teoh have accidentally fallen to his death?

We have ruled out suicide for the reasons stated above. Was his death accidental then? Of course, if the accused persons could show that TBH’s death was an accident then the culprits would get off scot free.

I think it is most unlikely that such a defence can succeed. How could TBH or anyone fall out of a window by accident, meaning by chance or without apparent cause? There was no reason or cause for TBH to climb out of the window on the 14th floor. Unless he was trying to escape from his captors in which case it would not be an accident at all. But, in any case, there was never any suggestion that Teoh tried to escape through the window before the RCI. Therefore, such a defence if raised could only be an afterthought. As such it is no defence at all.

An accident is an incident that happens by chance or without apparent cause. An incident that is happening by chance is a fortuitous happening – an accident.

In any case, I think, section 15 of the Evidence Act is worth considering when there is a trend of people falling to their deaths when they were held by the MACC as witnesses. Section 15 reads:

15. When there is a question whether any act was accidental or intentional or done with a particular knowledge or intention, the fact that the act formed part of a series of similar occurrences, in each of which the person doing the act was concerned, is relevant.

Could homicide be ruled out?

There was a suggestion from some forensic pathologist that there were no injuries on Teoh’s body not related to the fall to show that there was a struggle or resistance to being pushed or carried to the window. Since there was also no sign of damage to the window sill to show any sign of a struggle, homicide, according to their cloistered mind, was ruled out.

It doesn’t take a kung fu or karate exponent to know that a person could be disabled in such a way that he would not be able to put up any resistance or struggle against his captors.

Speaking from my own experience as a criminal lawyer in my younger days at the Bar, I know that most suspects when subjected to intense and prolonged interrogation were generally docile and would not put up a struggle when asked to perform certain tasks like being asked to remove their pants and to sit on ice.

Also, because I have done it myself, I know it is not difficult to subdue a person to do as he is told with very little physical effort on my part. The easiest thing that I have used when I was set upon by a thug when I was a student in London who had grasped my throat was to grab the little finger of the hand that grabbed my throat with my hand and by bending the finger upward the pain inflicted on my assailant was so excruciating that I could make him do anything. It would not take much effort to snap his little finger but there was no need. I made him kneel to say he was sorry. He never tried to bully me again.

The easiest way to make a person do as he is told is to use an arm lock on him from behind. On the other hand a policeman would simply put a pair of handcuffs on his wrists behind his back. He can then be led to the window without a struggle. In most cases the suspect is docile so that you don’t even have to disable him. There are other methods but any trained policeman would know how to do it.

In a disabled state the suspect with some assistance from his captors could even be made to climb onto the window sill without a struggle and made to sit there.

                This entry was posted on Monday, 8 August 2011, 4:55 pm and is filed under
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Bursa losses at RM91 billion since last Monday

By Yow Hong Chieh

The Malaysian Insider

Aug 09, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 9 — Malaysia’s benchmark index regained some ground today but still fell 1.66 per cent as regional markets struggled to halt their slide on European and US debt crises fears.

The index recovered from its early morning low of 1,423.47 to end the day at 1,472.14, down 24.85 points from the start of trading. Losers continued to outpace gainers 828 to 159, with 179 counters unchanged.

The broad-based Emas index meanwhile rebounded to 10,048.74 at market close after losing as much as 490.12 points, or 1.75 per cent, earlier.

The Kuala Lumpur share market is down an estimated RM91 billion from last Monday following last week’s rout on Wall Street, the worst since Lehman Brothers collapsed in 2008.

OSK Research yesterday downgraded the bourse from overweight to neutral and cut its year-end target for the benchmark index to 1557 from 1680 due to a global crisis in confidence.

Other Asian stocks continued to tumble today despite unprecedented policy actions by the European Central Bank (ECB) and the Obama administration to prop up investor confidence.

The Nikkei dipped 1.68 per cent to 8,944.48, the Hang Seng Index plunged 5.66 per cent to 19,330.70, the Shanghai Composite Index was down 0.03 per cent to 2,526.07 and the Kospi Index fell 3.64 per cent to 1,801.35.

As of yesterday, stock losses had wiped more than US$3.8 trillion (RM11.4 trillion) from investor wealth globally over eight days and sent investors rushing for safety in the Swiss franc, the Japanese yen and gold, according to Reuters.

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 9 August 2011, 6:31 pm and is filed under
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Inter-faith group says Jais raid an attempt to create religious strife

By Shannon Teoh

The Malaysian Insider

Aug 09, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 9 — A non-Muslim inter-faith group said last week’s raid on a church dinner was part of a “systematic and deliberate attempt by many of those who walk the national corridors of power” to create conflict among the different races and religions in Malaysia.

The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) also urged the federal government to investigate the fiasco including reports by Umno-linked Berita Harian and Harian Metro that “Muslims questioned that night confirmed that they had been asked to convert.”

The MCCBCHST said the Jais raid on the DUMC (picture) ‘sets a dangerous precedent and makes a mockery of the sanctity and inviolability of all religious places.’ — File pic

“These reports… did not identify the claimants nor state the basis for their making such statements. Such witnesses must be made available to an independent inquiry, which must be instituted immediately… to corroborate such evidence and to verify it.

“If the newspapers in question are found to have published false statements likely, or meant, to incite religious or racial hatred between Malaysians, the authorities must initiate the necessary action to punish them to the full extent provided for in our laws,” it said.

In a statement last night, the group also said that the raid by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) over alleged proselytising of Muslims “sets a dangerous precedent and makes a mockery of the sanctity and inviolability of all religious places.”

It listed various other incidences this year where other communities were made to be at odds with the Malay-Muslim majority, beginning from the use of the word “pariah” to describe Indians in the “Interlok” novel used in schools.

It said these “insidious efforts” — including the seizure of Malay-language bibles, unproven allegations of attempting to establish a Christian state and profiling of Bersih leaders as traitors attempting to “wage war against the Agong” — threatened the peace and harmony earned over half a century since independence.

Jais had raided the Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC) at the Dream Centre in Petaling Jaya last Wednesday during a charity fundraising dinner that saw the attendance of 12 Muslims.

The agency was purportedly acting on a complaint that Muslims were spotted among those at the dinner, and was said to have found proof later that Christians were attempting to convert them during the function.

The raid had caused an uproar among religious communities, and the Selangor government under Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim has since demanded a report from Jais to explain the raid.

Selangor executive councillor Datuk Dr Hasan Ali later defended the raid by claiming that the words “pray” and “Quran” were used in the presence of the dozen Muslims among the 100 attendees of the dinner.

But the MCCBCHST said today it was “astonished how the words “Quran” and “pray” can amount to proselytising towards Muslims when they are used every day by Malaysians when conversing with each other.”

The group also called on leaders of all faiths to pray every Friday for the next month leading up to Malaysia Day on September 16 “that the leaders of our nation have it in their hearts and minds to… justly govern” in accordance with the Federal Constitution.

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 9 August 2011, 12:00 pm and is filed under
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Leave the sinking Titanic now!

By
Richard Loh

“Just Trust Us Sdn Bhd” (JTU) is the biggest corporation in this country for 54 years running. In a nation that comprises of many races, smaller corporations were formed to operate businesses to suit each individual race. In no time these small corporations were bought over by “Just Trust Us Sdn Bhd” and incorporated into a major company called “Just Follow Our Command Sdn. Bhd” (JFOC) to which “Just Trust Us Sdn. Bhd” remains the major shareholders.

There are many private corporations that are envy of “JTU” and “JFOC” successes (even though by dubious means). They tried many times in corporate take over bids but failed miserably.

Even though “JFOC” is in the forefront carrying out the daily business, it is “JTU” that controls every single thing from behind. All top portfolios in “JFOC” are themselves holding high position in “JTU”. Every three years election is called to elect who will be the management team in “JTU” and even though there are thousands of shareholders only a handful are allowed to vote. “JTU” is in fact owned and controlled by a handful of close and trusted associates and will remain so as long as other shareholders dare not raise the issue.

“JFOC” has its own functioning system and election but it is not of significance as “JTU” is the real master behind it all.

“JTU” and “JFOC” are having good run for over fifty years, making tonnes of money, dubious transactions, siphoning “JFOC” corporate money and depositing in overseas accounts, living a very good life themselves while other shareholders are left with nothing or just pittance to survive on a daily basis.

Over the years shareholders have been hoodwinked into believing that “JTU” and “JFOC” were doing fine and both corporations remain strong that they will never be placed under receivership nor face insolvency.

But lately, cracks are showing up, signs of mismanagement, inappropriate transactions that cause huge loses and a claimed that “JFOC” may go bankrupt soon. Shareholders are complaining and showing their dissent publicly but “JTU” and “JFOC” management teams are not listening. New lies are born to cover up old lies and disciplinary actions taken against those shareholders who are more vocal.

A titanic that boasted it can never sink had hit an iceberg and about to sink. This titanic is gonna sink for sure and those in it are going to drown if they don’t leave the sinking ship now. If they leave now, at least there is still a chance to survive and see another day.

Help is on the way, another big corporation “PR Sdn. Bhd” had been formed, which is more trustworthy and on the verged of taking over “JFOC”. This new corporation had shown their ability to run businesses with integrity and transparency. Every transaction account will be opened for viewing to shareholders. The management team are people with integrity, honesty and they will ensure that all profits generated will be distributed equally. They will not entertain any dubious business transactions nor corruptions.

Shareholders of “JTU” and “JFOC” must not cling on to these corporations that had failed to give out dividends, lied to so often, rampant corruptions and have no intention of helping shareholders except their own associates.

Shareholders of “JTU” and “JFOC” should let go of their shares and invest in this new corporation “PR Sdn Bhd” that is genuinely helping each and every shareholders. Give it a chance and if you feel dissatisfied with their performances you can always sell your shares and reinvest into “JTU” and “JFOC” should they be wise to have make a corporate transformation.

Shareholders have nothing to lose but everything to gain by leaving a failing corporation and invest into a more stable and reliable one. Don’t you think?

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 9 August 2011, 6:23 pm and is filed under
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Will Idris Jala please return the millions?

— Gomen man

The Malaysian Insider

Aug 08, 2011

AUG 8 — So the turnaround specialist, or best thing to happen to Malaysia Airlines, did not do such a good job after all.

But Datuk Seri Idris Jala pocketed a few million short of RM20 million when he left Malaysia Airlines to become the Najib administration’s transformation czar.

This money was either a bonus or compensation for his glorious  achievement of “turning things around” at MAS. I am sure major shareholders at MAS — Khazanah Nasional and EPF — will be happy to enlighten Malaysians on this reward scheme.

That is the problem with us Malaysians; we are so quick to praise people and put them on a pedestal. We called Abdullah Ahmad Badawi a reformer early on and look how that turned out. We still didn’t learn.

We swallowed all this 1 Malaysia rubbish and thought that Najib Razak had learnt from Abdullah’s mistakes. It looks like Najib is following Abdullah’s path of self-destruction.

A few years ago, we couldn’t stop gushing about the wonderful job Jala did in turning around MAS. By definition, turn around implies some permanence to an organisation’s change in fortunes. It must entail more than just cutting costs and cleaning up the books.

As blogger Sakmongkol 47 noted in his succinct commentary, it doesn’t take a genius to do asset stripping (selling the buildings, aircraft, etc), showing a clean accounts. But what about making meaningful structural changes to the way MAS operates? How about changes to its business model?

Put it this way, can Idris Jala be considered a success if the “system and personnel” he put in place collapse a couple of years later, and collapse spectacularly.

Would you consider Alex McLeish a success at Birmingham City just because he won the League Cup only to see the club relegated a few months later?

I am sure Jala is a nice chap but his success at MAS was oversold. He just papered over the cracks at the national airline.

Now he is being touted as the man to transform the Malaysian economy. I am sorry but I am not buying the hype because I have seen the evidence of his transformational skills.

He may be the best person in the Malaysian Cabinet but that is not saying much, like the one-eyed man being the king in the land of the blind. My gut feel tells me that, a couple of years down the road, we will find out that Malaysia is still not a high-income economy but pretty much addicted to foreign labour.

Only difference is that we would have a big budget deficit.

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 9 August 2011, 11:47 am and is filed under
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Great flaw of TBH RCI report – failure to affix responsibility for TBH’s death on MACC despite evidence galore

A great flaw of the Teoh Beng Hock (TBH) Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report is its failure to affix responsibility for Beng Hock’s death on the MACC although there were evidence galore before the RCI proceedings.

It was  not just persons, namely various MACC officers led by Hishammuddin Hashim the then Selangor MACC Deputy Director and the “mastermind” of the illegal and massive 33-officer MACC “operation”, who  must bear responsibility for Beng Hock’s death but also the institution of MACC as well.

The RCI report only made oblique references to the MACC’s role and responsibility for Beng Hock’s death without going for the jugular to pinpoint directly to  MACC’s  liability and responsibility.

This  is most unsatisfactory and an abdication of responsibility of the TBH RCI on its specific term of reference “to enquire into the death of Teoh Beng Hock and the circumstances surrounding and  contributing to his death”.

For instance, Para 336 of the TBH RCI said: “336:  We are of the view that the death of TBH should not be in vain and all attempts should be made to improve the functioning of the MACC and the administration of criminal justice in the country as a result of our inquiry into the workings of the MACC. The evidence adduced showed that the MACC officers were prepared to go to great lengths to lie.”

The scandal of Beng Hock’s tragic death at the MACC headquarters in Shah Alam on July 16, 2009  is not just MACC officers  “were prepared to go to great lengths to lie” but the MACC as an institution which went to great lengths to participate in a conspiracy of silence and lies to pervert the course of justice to “cover up” the actual causes and circumstances of Beng Hock’s death.

The TBH RCI pinpointed Hishammuddin Hashim as “the seniormost officer who was in overall command of the operation” who was “clearly accountable” for what transpired to TBH at the Selangor MACC – causing his death.

But at present, Hishammuddin has remained scotfree as full-fledged senior MACC officer who has merely been taken off investigation duties when he and other MACC officers should be charged for causing  Beng Hock’s death.

Beng Hock’s death would be “in vain” if firstly,  his killers remain free and unpunished; and secondly, the MACC is not held responsible and liable for his death and instead allowed to “go to great lengths” to participate in a “cover-up” of the actual causes and circumstances of Beng Hock’s death at the TBH RCI, with MACC officers telling “lies after lies” at the RCI.

When there should be condemnatory strictures, the TBH RCI merely observed weakly that instead of “being impartial in assisting us to arrive at the truth of what happened to TBH on that fateful night of the 15th and early morning of the 16th”, MACC took sides  with the MACC Counsel Datuk Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah defending the MACC officers called to testify.

The Bar Council, in its submission to the TBH RCI which was made public last Friday, was more direct and straightforward in its criticism of the MACC’s role at the royal commission of inquiry. It said:

“One would have expected the MACC to have led the charge in this inquiry to ascertain the truth and thereby restore its credibility. Instead, it failed to draw a distinction between itself and the officers, and chose to align itself with its officers who may have been involved, responsible and/or privy to the cause of death of Teoh Beng Hock. The absence of separate representation is telling. MACC as a whole chose to defend the actions of its officers rather than assist in the investigation. The MACC adopted the posture of a defendant throughout the course of this inquiry.

“The Commission has had to deal with witnesses primarily from MACC who have either been evasive, misleading and/or lied. It has also been shown that the MACC had suppressed, tampered with and destroyed evidence.

“In the circumstances, it has been a difficult task to piece together the evidence to establish what actually transpired at Plaza Masalam leading to Teoh Beng Hock’s death.”

Why did the TBH RCI shirk from  its responsibility to censure the MACC for its role at the RCI  which “suppressed, tampered with and destroyed evidence”, frustrating and perverting the course of justice at the TBH RCI to find out the actual causes and circumstances of Beng Hock’s death?

The Bar Council in its submission said the RCI provided “classic evidence of the saying that an institution is only as good as its people.” It continued:

“ It is important that the officers of MACC tasked with preventing, detecting and eradicating corruption possess the qualities of integrity, independence and intelligence, what may be conveniently referred to as the three “I”s.

“Whilst the Commissioners have recognised that MACC as an institution must be preserved and its image, reputation and functioning enhanced, it must also be recognised that this can only be brought about if the people entrusted with the powers of the institution were brought to task for abuse.”

The TBH RCI has ended without MACC and MACC officers being held to task for their ultimate abuse – causing Beng Hock’s death while under the control, care and custody of MACC!

The Bar Council rightly lamented that the “golden opportunity” was missed by the RCI  to examine why the MACC is “world’s apart in terms of repute, public perception and functioning” from Hong Kong’s Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) – when MACC is supposed to be modelled after the ICAC!

Asking what “a full and thorough investigation” into TBH’s death would reveal, the Bar Council declared that  “there is certainly something rotten in the house of MACC”.

Based on the TBH RCI proceedings, the Bar Council  recommended that the RCI should make a finding that the MACC and its officers should be held responsible for TBH’s death and that they  have  also perpetrated a cover up on the causes and circumstances of TBH’s death at the RCI.

If Beng Hock’s death is not to be in vain, both MACC and its officers must be held responsible for his death and cover-up.

Are there any Ministers in the present government who are prepared to ensure that justice is done to Beng Hock and his aggrieved family by re-opening in the Cabinet and the Government the issue of who killed Beng Hock?

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 10 August 2011, 10:34 am and is filed under
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London riots

By
Art Harun

August 10, 2011  | The Malaysian Insider

AUG 10 — I have been rather sarcastically asked on Twitter such questions as, “you support freedom of assembly, you want Malaysians to riot like the Londoners?”. Another twitterati asked me, “Art, you support the riots in London?”.

Frankly, I am amused to my bone by such questions.

I am amused because the attempts at justifying the banning of public rallies in Malaysia by referring to the riotous behaviour of some others displays a certain degree of shallowness, if not lack of intelligence.

We all have freedom as human beings. There is no restriction on what we eat, for example. But eating without limitations, both in term of quantity and quality of the food, could harm our health. Do the majority of us eat until we harm ourselves? Granted, there are people who eat without a thought to their calorie intake; fat contents and the attendant harmful effects of the food. The point is there are also people who exercise their freedom to eat in a responsible manner.

So, may I ask, shall the State pass laws to restrict our freedom to eat just because some people eat until they die?

Think about it. Some people are simply yobs and thugs. These people did not rally or attend a demonstration as an exercise of their freedom to assemble. They are pursuing any valid and legal cause. They are just there to create trouble. Some are just there to loot. Some to look for a victim to rape. That’s the difference.

If anybody fails to see the difference, then I dare say he or she is blinkered and is all too eager to justify the unjustifiable by drawing a misconceived comparison.

The Tottenham riot apparently started from several peaceful rallies. Those rallies took place because the people wanted to show their anger against the police who had allegedly shot a guy by the name of Mark Duggan in a mini-cab. The police said he was a gangster and he shot at the police when he was stopped. So the police shot him dead.

The people got angry with the police and they started a peaceful rally.

We can surely learn a thing or two from this story.

Firstly, in modern democracies, police killings are frown upon by the society. In the US for example, there is an automatic inquiry into every case of discharge of arm or killing by the police. This is different from the inquest.

The function of the inquest is to determine how the deceased died. It makes findings of facts but not of guilt or the lack of it.

The inquiry however requires the officer to justify his or her shooting or killing.

Compare that to Malaysia. Our police kills even those who drive without licence! Those who panic upon seeing a road block and tried to evade it are also shot at sometimes. Once in a while, we would have news of the police shooting dead not one, but four or five people who are suspected rapists, robbers or gang members. In other cases our police would storm into houses and shoot even a pregnant lady. Those who drive off despite being asked to stop would be shot at without hesitation and any regard for the safety of the passengers in the vehicle. Normal and healthy people die in police custody. There was one who died frothing in his mouth.

I wouldn’t say that our police acts with impunity. But the fact is as members of the public, we do not have a clue whether all these shootings and killings could firstly, be avoided and secondly, are necessary. We do not even now whether there were several other options available to the police to apprehend all these suspected bad people and whether the police has availed themselves of all those options before opening fire and kill that person.

In the UK, obviously the public take these matters seriously. One guy is shot and it caused a riot!

How about here? Well, before the age if the internet, we wouldn’t even know about the killings. The newspaper and TV3 or RTM would set out the news with pictures of parangs and old pistols allegedly recovered from the deceased.

Thanks to the internet, nowadays we become more and more aware. The Aminul Rasyid killing is a case in point. He was only 14. His only offences were probably driving without a license; he did not stop after being ordered to do so and driving fast and recklessly while fleeing the police. He was killed!

In the UK, the whole government could have gone down if that had happened there. Over here, we just made noise. The police officer would be charged for some offences. Then we forget.

That proves something. We Malaysians are a peaceful lot. We are so tranquil that a foreigner would be hard press to know whether we are sleeping or in a coma or just plain dead. We don;t go out rioting for things like police killing. I don’t think we would go on a riot for anything, really.

With that kind of culture, could any reasonable person, such as the IGP or Home Minister conclude that any assembly of the people of Malaysia could turn into a riot?

Why then harass people assembling in some car parks holding some candles to support whatever cause or causes which they believe in? What is there in a rally to ask for something to which they are legally entitled?

The second point to note is this. The London riots do not exemplify the danger of freedom to assembly. It rather exemplifies the abject failure of their police force to control the crowd and to “read” the general feelings of anger permeating the air. That is their failure.

I have said it before and I will say it again. In a rally or peaceful assembly, the bounden duty of the police force is to ensure a peaceful, safe and orderly assembly. That is their duty. This, obviously, they failed to do in London.

Now, if the police are failures, would we punish the people by restricting their constitutionally guaranteed right to assemble?

If so, since our police has totally failed to arrest the acid splasher — who has, it seems, disappeared from everybody’s radar and is probably now laughing at all of us — shall we also ban everybody from walking on the streets in Bangsar and Brickfields?

You tell me.

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 10 August 2011, 1:23 pm and is filed under
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Malaysia has ‘very high’ religious restrictions, says report

By Shannon Teoh

The Malaysian Insider

Aug 10, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 10 — The government of Malaysia imposes “very high” restrictions on religion, an influential United States research group said yesterday.

The Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion and Public Life said that it was among 10 countries out of 198 studied with very high government restrictions as of mid-2009 including Egypt, Iran, China, Myanmar and Indonesia.

Other regional neighbours such as Thailand and Singapore were rated moderate in the report while Philippines was considered to have low government restrictions on religious freedom.

“Government restrictions also increased substantially in Malaysia, which, like Egypt, already had very high restrictions to begin with. Although the country’s constitution recognises freedom of religion, Malaysia restricts the observance of Islamic beliefs and practices that do not conform to Sunni Islam,” its report titled “Rising Restrictions on Religion” said.

It noted that Malaysia monitors more than 50 Muslim groups it considers unorthodox and in some instances sends people who practise “deviant” forms of Islam to religious “rehabilitation’ centres.”

The research centre cited the US State Department’s 2009 International Religious Freedom report as saying that Malaysia “denies individuals the freedom to leave such centres until they complete the programme.”

The report — which said that a third of the world is now under more religious restriction — did, however, score Malaysia as having “low” social hostilities involving religion.

However, religious tension has been simmering over the past few years, with places of worship being fire-bombed in early 2010 over a dispute — which is yet to be resolved — as to whether Christians may use the word Allah to refer to God.

Tensions between Muslims and Christians have continued to rise and was most recently marked by last week’s raid by religious authorities on a church in Petaling Jaya, which now stands accused of trying to convert 12 Muslims who were attending a fundraising dinner.

The government also continues to restrict Muslim beliefs it considers deviant, including Shiites and Wahhabis. Its National Security Council recently called on state religious authorities to monitor and act against Wahhabism, putting several respected Muslim scholars on a terror watchlist.

The report also said that “during the three-year period covered by the study, the extent of violence and abuse related to religion increased in more places than it decreased,” adding that only one per cent of the world lives in countries that saw more religious tolerance between mid-2006 to mid-2009.

The Pew Forum, which is one of seven that projects undertaken by the Pew Research Center, says on its website that it researches important aspects of religion and public life and provides a neutral venue for discussions of timely issues through roundtables and briefings.

The Washington-based research centre was established in 2004 and among notable figures linked to it are former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and former US Ambassador to the United Nations John Danforth who chair its global attitudes project.

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 10 August 2011, 5:10 pm and is filed under
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