Chow Kon Yeow: 曹观友

Many Malaysians know fully well why Pak Lah had declared Thaipusam a public holiday in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.

MIC and Samy Vellu had been asking for Thaipusam to be declared a national holiday since1986 and that is 22 years , but to no avail.

Just two months after the Hindraf rally, the government finally took note.

It may be too late now to save the day for BN and MIC.

Becket Fund denounces Malaysian court

According to the Becket Fund - a human rights law firm - Malaysia has violated its own law and international law in denying official recognition of Lina Joy’s conversion from Islam to Christianity.

The Becket Fund, a US law firm that deals in human rights cases involving religious liberty issues said today that the Malaysian Federal Court has violated both Malaysian and International Law in its finding in the case of Lina Joy, a woman who has asked for official recognition of her free conversion from Islam to Christianity.

“This decision violates international law and stands in wrongheaded defiance of the universal human right to religious freedom,” said Angela Wu, International Director for the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, who attended a hearing for Ms. Joy and has testified before the United States Congress on anti-conversion laws.

“International law and the Malaysian Constitution guarantee the right to choose your own religious beliefs and change those beliefs according to your conscience. Today the Federal Court made it clear that if the state says you are a Muslim, those rights don’t apply to you. Unfortunately for Lina Joy, a universal human right has been trumped by the state’s insistence that she bow to sharia law.”, said Wu.

Based in Washington DC, the Becket Fund was founded by Attorney Kevin “Seamus” Hasson and has defended the right of free exercise of religion to numerous individuals and groups, representing Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus and those of other faiths. To see further resources on this case, see: Becket Fund finding and Malaysia - State Imposed Religious Designations

Prime Minister Pak Lah cakap tak serupa bikin. Read the Bernama story from Tokyo.

Govts Must Support Inter-Cultural And Inter-Civilisation Dialogues

From Leslean Arshad

TOKYO, May 22 (Bernama) — Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has called on governments to support inter-cultural and inter-civilisation dialogues to generate greater understanding, especially between those of the West and the world of Islam.

He said a successful dialogue between cultures and civilisations had now become another important pre-condition for achieving the global goals of peace, security and prosperity.

He said the dialogue between cultures and civilisations should take place at all levels of the international society, such as between scholars, writers, activists, academics, journalists, non-governmental organisations and must have the the support of governments.

The support of governments was crucial for such inter-cultural or inter-civilisation dialogues to succeed because the root cause of conflict between cultures and civilisations was not religious but political and strategic in nature, he said.

“There is no possibility of creating a true alliance of civilisations except with the involvement of governments, ideally through multilateral processes of inter-governmental deliberation such as at the United Nations,” he said in his address on “Bridging The Gap Between Cultures and Civilisations” at Meiji University here Tuesday. (more…)

Tuan Yang di-Pertua: Saya jemput Yang Berhormat bagi Tanjong.
4.29 ptg.
Tuan Chow Kon Yeow [Tanjong]: Terima kasih Tuan Yang di-Pertua. Saya ingin
membawa kepada perhatian Dewan yang mulia ini satu isu perlembagaan yang amat penting iaitu
isu rakyat yang bukan beragama Islam yang diperlukan untuk mencari remedi di Mahkamah
Syariah yang saya rasa bercanggah dengan peruntukan Perlembagaan Persekutuan. Pelbagai
pihak telah menyuarakan kebimbangan dan prihatin mereka terhadap satu keputusan majoriti yang
dibuat oleh Mahkamah Rayuan dalam kes Subashini dengan Saravanan di mana mahkamah ini
memerlukan rakyat bukan agama Islam untuk menerima bidang kuasa Mahkamah Syariah.
Keputusan Mahkamah Rayuan ini nampaknya juga menurunkan keputusan yang memberi
gambaran bahawa seorang ibu atau bapa boleh menukar agama anak-anak kecil mereka kepada
Islam tanpa menerima persetujukan daripada seorang ibu atau bapa yang lain. Selepas itu, orang
itu boleh pergi ke Mahkamah Syariah untuk mendapatkan perintah penjagaan anak-anak mereka
tanpa penyertaan pihak yang lain.
Keputusan ini yang memaksa orang yang bukan beragama Islam untuk mendapat remedi
daripada Mahkamah Syarikah adalah bercanggah Perlembagaan dan tidak adil. (more…)

I asked in my earlier blog this morning, “How could the Cabinet directs the A-G…”

Not long later, Karpal Singh gave this warning, “The whole Cabinet is in contempt of the court”. He said how could the Cabinet direct the A-G to determine the status of Rayappan.

The A-G would also be in contempt of the court if he makes any decision, he added

“This is against the doctrine of seperation of power,”Karpal added.

He said that the court should be allowed to decide, not the A-G.

Malaysiakini has the following story on the Rayappan case, ” A tale of two courts”. This morning, we read that the A-G was asked by Cabinet to confirm Rayappan’s religious status. Can the AG do so, especially the matter is already before the syariah and civil courts? Looks like a tale of three courts.

Rayappan case: A tale of two courts
Andrew Ong
Dec 6, 06 7:23pm

The tussle over Rayappan Anthony’s body between his family and the Selangor Islamic Affairs Council (Mais) has been referred to a higher court by the Syariah High Court today.

In making the decision, High Court judge Abu Zaky Mohammad said his court had no jurisdiction to hear the case and set Dec 12 for the case to be heard by the appellate court.

A-G to confirm religious status (the Star)
The Cabinet has directed the Attorney-General to look into the case of Rayappan Anthony (pic) to confirm his religious status, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said. The Cabinet had discussed the issue and had agreed to hand over the case to the A-G as it was important that it be resolved.

“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.