Malaysia court throws out Lina’s appeal

Malaysia’s highest court on Wednesday threw out a bid by a woman seeking to have her conversion to Christianity from Islam officially recognised.

A three-judge panel of the Federal Court rejected an appeal by Lina Joy in a case that went to the heart of a debate here on whether civil courts should take precedence over tribunals based on Islamic sharia law.

Joy’s appeal centred on whether she should be required to go before a sharia court to have her renunciation — seen as one of the gravest sins in Islam — recognised before authorities delete the word “Islam” from her identity card.

Chief Judge Ahmad Fairuz said the National Registration Department, which is in charge of issuing identity cards, had the right to demand that a sharia court certify Joy’s conversion.

“On the question that the National Registration Department has the right to demand a certification from the Islamic court that confirms the appellant’s renunciation of Islam, my answer is that NRD has the right,” the judge said.

Source: Khaleej Times

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Malaysia at crossroads – Lina Joy

Malaysia at crossroads – Lina Joy

Lina Joy has been disowned by her family, shunned by friends and forced into hiding — all because she renounced Islam and embraced Christianity in Muslim-majority Malaysia.

Now, after a seven-year legal struggle, Malaysia’s highest court will decide on Wednesday whether her constitutional right to choose her religion overrides an Islamic law that prohibits Malay Muslims from leaving Islam.

Either way, the verdict will have profound implications on society in a country where Islam is increasingly conflicting with minority religions, challenging Malaysia’s reputation as a moderate Muslim and multicultural nation that guarantees freedom of worship.

Joy’s case began in 1998 when, after converting, she applied for a name change on her government identity card. The National Registration Department obliged but refused to drop Muslim from the religion column.

She appealed the decision to a civil court but was told she must take it to Islamic Shariah courts. But Joy, 42, has argued that she should not be bound by Shariah law because she is a Christian.

Subsequent appeals all ruled that the Shariah court should decide the case until it reached the highest court, the Federal Court, which will make the final decision on whether Muslims who renounce their faith must still answer to the country’s Islamic courts.

….But the constitution does not say who has the final say in cases such as Joy’s when Islam confronts Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism or other religions.

If Joy loses her appeal and continues to insist she is a Christian, it could lead to charges of apostasy and a possible jail sentence.

“Our country is at a crossroad,” Joy’s lawyer, Benjamin Dawson, told The Associated Press. “Are we evolving into an Islamic state or are we going to maintain the secular character of the constitution?”

…The situation was muddied further with the constitution describing Malaysia as a secular state but recognizing Islam as the official religion.

Joy’s case “will decide the space of religious freedom in Malaysia,” said Dawson. If she wins, “it means that the constitutionally guaranteed right of freedom of religion prevails. If she loses, that means the constitutional guarantee is subservient to Islamic restrictions,” he said.

Joy’s decision to leave Islam sparked angry street protests by Muslim groups and led to e-mail death threats against Malik Imtiaz Sarwar, a Muslim lawyer supporting her. The widely circulated anonymous e-mail described him as a “traitor” to Islam and carried his picture with the caption “Wanted Dead.”

….Muslim groups, however, say Joy is questioning the position of Islam by taking the case to the civil courts.

“It is not about one person, it is about challenging the Islamic system in Malaysia,” said Muslim Youth Movement President Yusri Mohammad, who set up a coalition of 80 Islamic groups to oppose Joy’s case.

“By doing this openly, she is encouraging others to do the same. It may open the floodgates to other Muslims because once it is a precedent, it becomes an option.”

If Joy wins her case, he warned, it could rend Malaysia’s multiracial fabric by fomenting Muslim anger against minorities, who have largely lived in peace with Malays. There has been no racial violence in the country since the May 1969 Malay-Chinese riots that killed dozens.

Dawson said several apostasy cases are on hold in the civil courts, pending a verdict in Joy’s case.

“Both the man in the street and lawyers want to know once and for all how to draw the line between civil and Shariah courts — whether Muslims can convert and if yes, what are the procedures,” he said.

Source: Boston Globe

Malaysia’s half-century of independence overshadowed by race tensions

Najib expounds another deep thought – for quality project implementation

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak outlined three criteria that must be given emphasis to ensure development projects being implemented met the stipulated standards and quality.
The Deputy Prime Minister said credible contractors, efficient project management and best maintenance schedules were crucial to ensure projects were implemented on schedule and complied with the required standards and quality.
These criteria were crucial to avoid problems like delays in completion of government projects and eventhough completed were plagued with problems as reported in the media, he said.
“We must engage reliable contractors with proven track record and strong financial standing, one who manages the project efficiently and adopts the best maintenance schedule,” he said when handing over the Royal Malaysian Navy housing complex at the Marine Region One base at Taman Samudera here.

Source: Bernama

Read Najib’s other ‘deep thoughts’:

Najib tells civil servants to reframe mind and increase productivity by working longer hours

Najib outlines 3 main factors for skilled and ‘holistic’ Malaysian

Najib says satellite will increase access to broadband services

Najib proposes another regional something

Najib expounds regional humanitarian centers

Manchester United match in KL is cancelled

Manchester United’s match against a Malaysian XI in Kuala Lumpur has been called off because it clashed with the Asian Cup, FIFA president Sepp Blatter says.

“I compliment Manchester United on their decision not to go there. Their other matches on the tour in Japan, Macau and Korea will go ahead. Those matches do not conflict with any Asian Cup matches,” Blatter told a news conference in Zurich.

Source: Sydney Morning Herald

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Khairy calls on Mohamed Hammam to do the ‘honourable’ thing

Azalina started this…

Sexist MPs bring shame to Malaysia Parliament

It seems that there are some elected representatives in the Parliament who have no qualms about ridiculing women at the drop of a hat.
Should no punitive action be taken against such loose tongues, the backlash will only besmirch the country’s image in promoting gender equality and Malaysians with first class mentality.
The most recent incident involved two Members of Parliament, Datuk Radin Bung Mokhtar (BN-Kinabatangan) and  Datuk Mohd Said Yusuf (BN-Jasin), both made an unwarranted sexist remark against a female MP, Fong Po Kuan (DAP-Batu Gajah) at the recent Dewan Rakyat sitting.
The MPs were debating on the lack of maintenance that resulted in leaks in the Parliament building after heavy downpours when Radin and Mohd Said were alleged to have said “where is the leak, the member for Batu Gajah also leaks once a month”. And sadly, the two took much gusto in uttering that distasteful remark and refused to offer any apology to Fong in particular and women in general.
Radin and Mohd Said subsequently came under attack from various groups and individuals and the matter was brought to the Cabinet’s attention by Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, who was then instructed by the Cabinet to deal with the problem.
A meeting between Shahrizat and the two MPs concerned saw the duo tendering an apology half-heartedly if “women were offended”. Both Bung and Mohd Said however defended their words used in Dewan Rakyat as necessary to defend the government during debates. They also made no personal apology to Fong.

WILL RESPECT EVER BE ACCORDED TO WOMEN?
This recent incident is no isolated case. Back in 1995, Datuk Badruddin Amirulddin who was then the MP for Yan had remarked that Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang’s debate was akin to “wanita putus haid” (a woman reaching menopause). Badruddin was also quick to blame women who wear “indecent clothes” for rape.
In 2000, Datuk Mohamed Aziz (BN-Sri Gading) reflected his chauvinism when he started his speech by saying that “it is unusual for women’s issues to be touched by men”. After a pause he added “but women are supposed to be touched by men”.
 In 2005, Datuk Idris Haron (BN-Tangga Batu) had remarked that ’sexy uniform worn by Malaysia Airlines female cabin staff could arouse sexual desire in male passengers.
In April 2006, Abdul Fatah Harun (PAS-Rantau Panjang) had said that women divorcees are randy.
Just as the dust was settling after the ruckus caused by the duo, Works Minister Datuk Seri S.Samy Vellu who is also the Sungai Siput Parliament member kicked up a furore over his recent analogy regarding the leaks in the Parliament building.
“A women 50 years ago, she looks beautiful, but today she won’t look so beautiful,” said Samy Vellu justifying the Parliament building’s current sad state of affairs.
This again angered some of the groups representing the fairer sex.

CHAUVINISM VERY MUCH ALIVE
The “leak” incident is the testimony that chauvinism is very much alive in Malaysia and that the women might just be fighting their battles alone. This is concluded based on the reaction of other male politicians who thought the “leak” case was blown out of proportion and should have instead been swallowed with a taste of humour.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz had said that Fong should not have overreacted as MPs enjoyed immunity to speak about anything in the House. Nazri who is in charge of Parliament affairs added politicians must be able to take in criticism and be thick-skinned about it.
While Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad (BN-Johor Baru) felt that such a statement was uncalled for but he thought that Fong had blown it out of proportion by making it into a national issue, instead of just a personal attack.
The saving grace came thanks to Datuk Zaid Ibrahim (BN-Kota Baru) who displayed his gender sensitivity when he said that such a statement was not only derogatory but goes against basic decency.
“You don’t talk like that about women. They should have been reprimanded,” Zaid had said cautioning that similar remarks would surface time and again unless those in power took action.
Zaid also stated that the immunity given to MPs was not to ridicule anyone.
“It is to give freedom to MPs so that they are not fearful to say the right thing about policies for the good of the country.”

WHEN WILL SEXISM END?
Maria Chin Abdullah, the executive director of Women’s Development Collective and representative of the Joint Action Group for Gender Equality (JAG) told Bernama it seemed that the public had elected ‘unqualified’ male representatives to represent their welfare.
“What is the point of having the Parliamentary Caucus on Gender Equality to end sexism and gender discrimination in Parliament when every other year the male politicians get away with their derogatory remarks hurled at women? This is yet another form of sexual harassment.
“Also, Malaysia has ratified the Convention on All Forms of Discrimination Against Women or CEDAW and yet we have gender discrimination taking place in this country,” she lamented.
Maria and several other non-governmental organisations under JAG recently delivered a memorandum to Shahrizat after a protest over the incident outside her Ministry.
Said Maria: “Although the two MPs tendered an apology, it did not appear to be done sincerely. And I am disappointed with the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry for not thinking of long-term efforts to stop such incidents from recurring. A mere apology is no deterrent. That is why we demand that any MP who continues to ill-behave in Parliament be suspended for six months and his pay and allowances cut during that period. This disciplinary action with a penalty is what might teach such recalcitrant MPs a lesson.”

Source: Bernama

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Bung Mokhtar Radin, Mohd Said Yusof finally apologize but only to women who might have been offended

Nazri says Bung Mokhtar, Mohd Said Yusof should not apologize to Fong, blames press for highlighting the issue

Najib says remark was not offensive

Khairy calls on Mohamed Hammam to do the ‘honourable’ thing

Umno Youth deputy chief and UPB-MyTeam president Khairy Jamaluddin has joined the fray over the planned Manchester United match here on July 27 by taking the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to task.

“I call on AFC president Mohamed Hammam to do the honourable thing by acceding to Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said’s request to allow Manchester United to play on the said date.

“No one is questioning AFC’s legal right to prevent the MU match from taking place or the binding contract between the FA of Malaysia and AFC.

“The issue now is whether or not Hammam will accommodate the wishes of the government and the hopes of Malaysian football fans,” said Khairy in a statement issued to Bernama Thursday.

He said the government’s position had been conveyed by none other than Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi himself and it was crystal clear that the MU match was an important event in the Visit Malaysia Year 2007 campaign.

“If Hammam is unwilling to agree to this request, it will be a tremendous insult to the government of Malaysia which houses the AFC headquarters and has been a strong supporter of AFC and Asian football in general,” said Khairy who is an ardent Manchester United fan himself. – Bernama

Source: Daily Express, Bernama

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Having given a letter of undertaking that Malaysia would not host any event that clashed with the Asian Cup, Azalina went on to give the nod for the Manchester United tour

The Sun introduces Mother of all free publicity – Azalina Othman

…But the “Mother of all free publicity” comes from none other than our sports minister, Datuk Azalina Othman who has now given the impression to the whole world that Malaysia does not honour its contracts.

Having given a letter of undertaking that Malaysia would not host any event that clashed with the Asian Cup, she went on to give the nod for the Manchester United tour.

And the prime minister was unwittingly used to put pressure on the Asian Football Federation (AFC) to allow the game to be played. Why didn’t the ministers – including Azalina who is a lawyer by training – tell the PM that we have a contractual obligation with the AFC? Who hid material facts from the PM and why did they put him in such an awkward position?

And this is not exactly the first time Azalina is making news for the wrong reasons. Two months ago, she committed RM17 million of our money in what was described as a “bidding fee” for the Champions Youth Cup. So, we were promised 13 youth teams from Europe, one each from South America and Qatar, with Malaysia making up the 14th.

That the tournament was not being organised by a national association or a recognised body and that such an event could invite trouble did not seem to bother Azalina.

“We are doing it as part of Visit Malaysia Year”, she decreed at a press conference…

The promoters of the tournament are now suing FIFA, the international body, over the withdrawal of sanctions, and Malaysia have now found itself in yet another controversy and this is generating publicity.

…In the first place, why deal with promoters when there is a national association? Why is the ministry playing the role of a promoter? No answers will be forthcoming.

Would it have been more appropriate to get the Football Association of Malaysia to organise the Merdeka Football Tournament, the brainchild, of our founding father, Tunku Abdul Rahman?

No, the thinking is: We are flush with money and we’ll throw it around as we deem fit. If asked, challenge them to stand for elections-lah!

Source: The Sun

Government not worried over strong ringgit, says Najib

The Government is not worried that the ringgit will be less competitive with its strengthening against the US dollar, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. 

“No, we are not worried,” he told reporters yesterday after launching the Telekom Malaysia CSR theme and scholarship award ceremony.  

Source: The Star

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Ringgit’s rapid rise raises concern

Badawi tells Samy, ‘Do your job. Don’t wait to be told’

Just do it – that’s what Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi told Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu over the maintenance of Parliament House, which has a leaking roof and faulty wiring. 

Pointing out that a public quarrel between two government organisations over who should be maintaining the august House was unacceptable, Abdullah said whoever was responsible must execute their duties and take action when needed. 

“Don’t wait to be told, (if) that is your responsibility, just do it,” Abdullah told Malaysian journalists covering his five-day state visit to Japan yesterday. 

Samy Vellu was quoted as saying that the maintenance had all along been under Parliament itself and not the PWD, adding that the department could not interfere as Parliament was independent and could not be ordered around. 

Abdullah said he had already told Samy Vellu that he would have to oversee all works relating to the maintenance of public buildings. 

“So stop the public quarrel over the matter,” said Abdullah. “It is shameful that government departments have to quarrel over their respective responsibilities. 

Source:

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Badawi orders Public Works Department to conduct immediate inspection of all government buildings

Ramon: Do more, talk less

Samy talk and talk

Samy talk and talk some more…

Samy talks about $$

Malaysia’s Anwar says he’s being demonized over Wolfowitz ties

Malaysia’s former deputy leader Anwar Ibrahim says his political foes are trying to portray him as an “American agent” because of his friendly ties with scandal-plagued World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz.

Ruling party politicians and government-linked media have demanded in recent days that Anwar explain whether he helped Wolfowitz’s girlfriend, Shaha Riza, become a board member of the Foundation for the Future, an international pro-democracy group that Anwar chairs.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s son-in-law, Khairy Jamaluddin, said Malaysia’s ruling party wanted Anwar to “clarify his relationship with Wolfowitz.”

“He also owes it to Malaysians to explain what his motive was for becoming the head of a foundation bankrolled by the United States,” Khairy was quoted as saying by The Star newspaper Monday.

“They want to portray me as an American agent,” Anwar, a leading opposition figure, told reporters late Monday. “They go on this (character) assassination attack.”

Anwar said Riza was first assigned to the foundation by the World Bank through the U.S. State Department in late 2005, months before he became the foundation’s chairman.

“The (foundation’s) executive committee decided in mid-2006 to regularize the appointment so that (Riza) advises directly from the World Bank and not the State Department,” Anwar said in a written statement.

Anwar said following the foundation’s creation in November 2005, it obtained pledges of US$56 million (€42 million) to help promote political freedom in the Middle East and Africa. However, Anwar claimed it has not received funds from the United States government.

He said he was not being paid as the foundation’s honorary chairman, adding the group’s board will issue a further statement in Bahrain next week.

Source: International Herald Tribune

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The Wolfowitz connection: Anwar Ibrahim’s hand in Shaha Riza’s transfer