Chow Kon Yeow: 曹观友

“Do not force the Government to take action”. This must be the strongest warning from Pak Lah over the debate on religious freedom.

It would be a sad day if the Government were to take action including using the ISA against people who are concerned about religious freedom in the country.

Early this month I was asked to share my concern on current development in the country.

I said my greatest worry was whether ordinary people would be made scapegoats given the political atmosphere and sensitivities in the debate over religious matters. I said I am afraid that the Government would use the ISA against those linked with the Article 11 group.

Constitutional and state institutional power are at their disposal and we can never be too naïve that they would not used their powers to stay in power.

Amidst the brouhaha about the controversial guidebook in ethnic relations in Dewan Rakyat, another debate has reignited the controversy whether Malaysia is an Islamic or secular state.

Taking centre stage in the Islamic or secular state debate is Karpal Singh, the MP for Bukit Gelugor.

This issue is likely to come up again and again in the Dewan Rakyat and it would be advisable for MPs to keep a file on the subject matter.

But Karpal Singh has no need for such a file. He has the matter close to his chest.

On 13 July 2006, Karpal Singh asked parliamentary secretary in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Dr Masitah Ibrahim what she thought of the insistence by the country’s first three prime ministers that Malaysia is a secular state.

Dr Masitah coolly replied: “The opinions of the former prime ministers that Malaysia was a secular state were purely their personal views.”

“Since Islam is mentioned over 20 times in our Federal Constitution, this shows that Malaysia is an Islamic state,” she concluded sheepishly.

Dr Masitah as well as her boss Datuk Dr Abdullah Md Zain (Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of Islamic affairs) was unable to defend the indefensible.

How could they, when Malaysia is not an Islamic state. (more…)

Nazri: A-G finalising study on civil-syariah courts’ overlapping of power
B. Suresh Ram and Pauline Puah

KUALA LUMPUR: The Attorney-General (A-G)’s Chambers is finalising its study on the overlapping of power between the civil and syariah courts over the issue of non-Muslims converting to Islam.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz said the study covers matters like annulment of marriage, resolution of obligation and liability after conversion as well as registration of change of religion.

Replying to a question from Chow Kon Yeow (DAP-Tanjung), Nazri said the A-G is also looking into the rights of religious conversion, custody of minors, and financial allowance for the wife and children who have not converted.

Touching on Article 11 of the Federal Constitution, Nazri reiterated that the federal government has no intention to amend the said provision.

“Malaysia, as a multi-cultural and multi-religious country, has maintained its unity and harmony by acknowledging the right of a person to practise his religion according to Article 11 of the Federal Constitution,” he said.

Nazri said any religious group, in exercising its right to practice, should ensure it does not go against public laws in relation to public order, public health or moral principles.

“This is stated clearly in Schedule (5), Article 11 of the Federal Constitution which is aimed at inculcating understanding, tolerance and harmonious relation among the citizens of this country,” he said.

To a supplementary question from Chow on whether the government condones the acts of the Anti-Interfaith coalition, known by its acronym Badai, in disrupting a peaceful meeting of the Article 11 Forum in Penang recently, Nazri said Badai was a front of PAS and described its disruptive action as stupid (bodoh).

Nazri said police should permit groups who want to discuss issues rationally and within the law, and not bow to those who seek to prevent others from freely discussing in a peaceful manner.

To a supplementary question from Datuk Kamaruddin Jaafar (PAS-Tumpat), Nazri criticised the PAS secretary-general for relating Badai’s actions to that of the pro-tem group called Lawyers for Islam (BPI).

“If BPI was formed to state the worries of Muslims, I welcome it. If the right is given to the non-Muslims on Article 11, they (BPI) are also worried about their (Muslims) position,” he said.

Read the Hansard for full details: (more…)

A statute paper was tabled today to provide for additional allowances for Members of Parliament.

Members of the House of Representatives (Dewan Rakyat) will each receive an additional RM2, 700 in various types of allowances.

The special payment to Member of the House of Representatives is now RM1, 500 per month from RM500 per month (increase of RM1, 000).

This payment is payable to a MP except Member of the Administration.

A fixed monthly traveling allowance is payable at the rate of RM1, 500 without submitting any claims. It used to be RM300, an increase of RM1, 200.

Allowance for a driver is also increased to RM1, 200, from RM800.

Telephone allowance is increased by RM100 to RM900.

An MP will now receive a total of RM6, 600 in addition to the basic remuneration of RM6, 508.59 making it a total of RM13, 108.59.

Speech on Wednesday 12 July 2006

3.17 ptg.
Tuan Chow Kon Yeow [Tanjong]: Terima kasih Tuan Yang di-Pertua kerana saya
diberi kesempatan ini untuk turut mengambil bahagian di dalam membahaskan Rang Undangundang
Kepentingan Antarabangsa Mengenai Kelengkapan Bergerak (Pesawat Udara) 2006.
Pada dasarnya dengan mengikuti hujah-hujah yang diberikan oleh Yang Berhormat Timbalan
Menteri nampaknya semua adalah baik dengan Malaysia menjadi seorang anggota dan
memateraikan Konvensyen Cape Town dan Protokol Pesawat Udara tetapi hujah-hujah dari
Yang Berhormat bagi Jasin dan Yang Berhormat bagi Kinabatangan memang berasas dan perlu
diberi perhatian.
Tuan Yang di-Pertua, saya ingin menarik perhatian kerajaan terhadap Fasal 7(2) iaitu
mengikut fasal ataupun subseksyen 2 ini,
“setakat yang apa-apa percanggahan atau ketidakselarasan antara peruntukan
Akta ini dengan peruntukan mana-mana undang-undang bertulis lain yang
berhubung dengan perkara yang tertakluk kepada Konvensyen Cape Town dan
Protokol Pesawat Udara, peruntukan Akta ini hendaklah dipakai dan peruntukan
yang bercanggah atau yang tidak selaras dengan mana-mana undang-undang
bertulis lain itu hendaklah, setakat yang percanggahan atau ketidakselarasan itu,
disifatkan digantikan”. (more…)

My speech when debating the bill to amend the Bank Negara Act on Tuesday,11 July 2006.

4.23 ptg.
Tuan Chow Kon Yeow [Tanjong]: Terima kasih Tuan Yang di-Pertua kerana saya
dipilih untuk menyertai pembahasan mengenai rang undang-undang untuk meminda Akta Bank
Negara Malaysia Tahun 1958. Saya ingin menumpukan perhatian saya kepada Fasal 3 iaitu
fasal ini bertujuan untuk meminda nota bahu kepada seksyen 30A Akta 519 dan untuk
DR.11.7.2006 89
meluaskan skop pemakaian seksyen itu untuk memberi bank kuasa bagi menubuhkan
pertubuhan perbadanan untuk maksud memberi kaunseling kewangan, perkhidmatan
pengurusan hutang dan pendidikan mengenai pengurusan kewangan.
Seperti mana yang dihujahkan oleh Yang Berhormat Setiausaha Parlimen apabila
membentangkan Rang Undang-undang ini, sebenarnya Bank Negara Malaysia telah
menjalankan kerja-kerja yang bersangkut paut dengan kaunseling kewangan, perkhidmatan
pengurusan hutang dan pendidikan mengenai pengurusan kewangan. Cuma melalui pindaan
Rang Undang-undang ini dan Akta ini, diberi kuasa kepada Bank Negara Malaysia dan bank
untuk secara khasnya ataupun dengan kuasa undang-undang untuk menjalankan kerja-kerja
seperti ini.
Saya ingin menyatakan Tuan Yang di-Pertua, bahawa dalam menjalankan kerja-kerja
yang dipohon kuasa ini, Bank Negara Malaysia perlulah berpandu kepada akta-akta yang lain
yang beroperasi di negara ini untuk mengawal sektor kewangan dan ekonomi kita. (more…)

My speech when debating the Bill to enact the Electronics Commerce Act 2006 on Thursday, 6 July 2006

4.50 ptg.
Tuan Chow Kon Yeow [Tanjong]: Terima kasih Tuan Yang di-Pertua. Terima kasih
kerana diberi kesempatan untuk mengambil bahagian dalam perbahasan Rang Undang-undang
Perdagangan Elektronik 2006.
Dunia e-dagang dipengaruhi oleh perubahan yang amat besar dan sekiranya kita tidak
bergerak se arah dengan perubahan ini, kita akan menjadi mangsa kepada perubahan.
Walaupun banyak syarikat telah menggunakan internet untuk membawa impak yang amat besar
kepada pengiklanan dan pengedaran barangan dan perkhidmatan, akan tetapi lebih banyak lagi
yang belum sedar tentang kebaikan medium berkomunikasi yang amat kuat ini untuk
menguruskan transaksi online. Soalnya, apakah peranan yang boleh dimainkan oleh badan
perundangan untuk menggalakkan penerokaan apa yang boleh kita mendapat faedah melalui edagang. (more…)