NST Caught Lying for its political masters!

The New Straits Times has apologised to Australian senator Nicholas Xenophon over its report that said he made an anti-Islam speech in Australia's Parliament in 2009.

In a statement published on the NST website today, the daily said it had made a "grave error" in publishing the statements in the article.

"We accept that in his speech in the Australian Parliament referred to in the article, Mr Xenophon did not use the word 'Islam' and neither did he assert that Islam is not a religious organisation nor a criminal organisation hiding behind its religious belief.
 
"For the above reason, we hereby retract all the statements contained in the article against Mr Xenophon and unreservedly and unconditionally apologise to him for any distress or embarrassment caused by the article.

"As a further mark of our contrition, we have also removed the article from our online version of the newspaper with immediate effect," reads the statement.

In its May 2 article headed 'Observer under scrutiny', the NSTreported that Xenophon had told Australia's Parliament:

"What we are seeing is a worldwide pattern of abuse and criminality. On the body of evidence, this is not happening by accident; it is happening by design.

"Islam is not a religious organisation. It is a criminal organisation that hides behind its so-called religious beliefs."

Xenophon: Attempt to discredit me

The article also said that Xenophon supported same sex marriages. 

However, the Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) in a report today said Xenophon did not utter the word "Islam" and that the subject of his criticism was Scientology.

SMH said the word "Scientology" was replaced with "Islam" in theNST report in order to discredit Xenophon, who is a friend of PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim. 

"He told the SMH last night that the word switch was an example of the kind of dirty tricks the ruling party employs and had used against (Anwar)," reads the report.

Xenophon was among several foreign observers at the Bersih 3.0 rally. He was highly critical of the local media coverage and police reaction to the rally participants.

He was part of an international seven-member team on a three-day fact-finding mission on Malaysia's electoral system. They were commissioned by Anwar, as parliamentary opposition leader.

Christmas Carolling affected because of the Peaceful Assembly Bill!

Catholic Bishop Dr Paul Tan Chee Ing described the new conditions imposed before a police permit is granted for Christmas carolling groups to visit households as making the country "very nearly a police state".

"The Peaceful Assembly Bill 2011 is vexing if things have come down to this," opined the head of the Catholic Church for the Malacca-Johor diocese, who is also president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Malaysia.

Up to now, priests of churches that send carolling groups to visit Christian homes in the prelude to Christmas are merely required to apply for a police permit for the visits. Approvals were never a problem.

However, provisions of the recently passed and highly controversial Peaceful Assembly Bill require priests to furnish the names of the main occupants of homes the carollers intend to visit.

"If parish priests have to furnish the names of the main tenants, then we have become very nearly a police state," said Tan.

"This is a bureaucratic requirement that is so vexing," added the Jesuit-trained prelate.

Buffer zone between citizens and the state

"We are a church that periodically conducts a census of our members, but we do not go around asking our members details of where exactly they stay and if they own their residences or are merely tenants," he said.

"We generally know where they stay but we don't keep a ledger of their addresses.

"We don't snoop and we respect the privacy of individual members of our congregation. We don't believe we should be Big Brother or Nanny to them," Tan said.

The prelate said a valued insight of Catholic social teaching was the necessity of a mediating space between the state and ordinary citizens.

"That space is the area in which bodies such as the church and others play a role. It's a kind of buffer zone between the citizen and the intrusions of state. The width of that space is taken to be a barometer of the heath of a society.

"With this Peaceful Assembly Bill, the government is intruding into an area that is not theirs, unduly burdening the people in the process. This is worse than the ISA that can put suspects into detention without trial," asserted the bishop.

Issue on Hudud Law

This blog respect the rights of Muslim to freely practice their own religious laws as long as it does not infringe on the rights of the non-Muslims in Malaysia.

Malaysian should not stop other people from practicing their religious believes just because they are scare of it!

Malaysian Justice is against the Home Ministry for pursing the case of banning the use of the word Allah in the Alkitab. MJ is also against the practice of body snatching in this country!

The govt (which includes MCA) should look into this issue immediately!!

HERE IS A VERY GOOD DEBATE WITH REGARDS TO HUDUD LAW!

Prove of Religious persecution in Malaysia!

The village has only two Muslims, but the authority had built a surau for them!

The area has been categorised as an Orang Asli settlement, therefore the residents have every right to construct buildings within the area.

From Malaysiakini

The Alor Gajah Municipal Council has ordered that a chapel located in the Machap Umboo Orang Asli settlement in Malacca be demolished on grounds that it is an illegal structure.

Last Saturday, chapel caretaker Puanheerby Siam was served with the demolition notice dated Sept 20 by the council's building department, stating the building was in violation of Section 70 of the Street, Drainage and Buildings Act 1974.

That particular section regulates the construction of new buildings and Pastor Joseph Boon Chai, who oversees the chapel, said no specific reason was given by the authority for its action.

According to him, officials from the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim), Malacca Islamic Religious Council (Maim) and Department of Orang Asli Affairs informed Puanheerby two months ago that the chapel was illegal because it did not have permission from the local council.

"But why are Jakim and Maim involved in this case? We are puzzled. What is the main motive behind this?" Joseph said when contacted today.

He argued that the area has been categorised as an Orang Asli settlement, therefore the residents have every right to construct buildings within the area.

There are about 20 households in this Temuan settlement, which has been occupied by the Orang Asli since the days of the Japanese Occupation.

The Muslims there have a surau

The construction of the 20ft by 30ft chapel was completed in March this year to serve 11 Christian families from the Machap Umboo settlement and two more Orang Asli villages nearby.

It is under the pastoral care of Jus Chapel based in Kamping Orang Asli Jus in Selandar, Malacca. Jus Chapel is a registered church with the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship (NECF) Malaysia, under the mission name of Jus Chapel Tribal Ministry.

To date, Jus Chapel has built five chapels in various Orang Asli settlements.

Joseph also said two of the five chapels had faced the same problem before, but after they demanded that the authority issues official letters detailing the reasons for the demolition, it kept silent and eventually dropped the matter.

The village has only two Muslims, but the authority had built a suraufor them, he said.

Joseph revealed that the matter has been raised with the NECF and a legal panel has been set up to tackle the issue.

"Depending on the situation, we plan to challenge the demolition order in court," he added.

Condolence to the Family of Lawrence Selvananthan!!

It it very sad when a father, a husband and a friend dies. It is a time of grief! It should not be the time for 30 strangers in enter your house and to demand for the body so that they can bury it in another religious customs!!

This is the 21st Century!! For crying out loud!!! Leave the family and friends of Lawrence Selvananthar a lone to grief!!

What benefit do they gain by doing this incredibly stupid an insensitive act!

Taken from Malaysiakini

The religious status of a recently deceased man has sent his family into a tailspin after religious authorities in Negri Sembilan went to their house to claim his body earlier today.

The body of Lawrence Selvananthan, 33, was scheduled to be brought to a church in Seremban at 3pm today for a funeral mass followed by his burial, but his family was stopped by police and Negeri Sembilan Islamic Affairs Department (JHEINS) officials who claimed that he had already converted into Islam.

The deceased's cousin, who asked to only be identified as Jenny, said they were approached by police officers at the family home in Lukut, Port Dickson at about 12.40pm to inform them that they could not proceed with the burial.

She said the police officers showed them what she described as a photocopied document, detailing Lawrence's alleged conversion into Islam.

“They told us that he just converted three days ago. The name and IC number were correct, but there was no photo. We're not even sure of (the authenticity of) the signature,” she said when contacted by Malaysiakini.

It is understood that Lawrence, a lorry driver, was found unconscious in his parked lorry by family members, and declared dead on arrival at the Seremban General Hospital sometime last night. The cause of death is unclear.

Both sides in discussion

PKR's Port Dickson state assemblyperson Ravi Munusamy, who was mediating between the two parties, confirmed that there was a stand-off between the family members and JHEAINS and police officers.

He estimated at least 30 officials went to the house to claim the body, though both sides have since entered discussions, which were still ongoing at the time of writing this article.

Ravi pointed out that the family members are sceptical over the conversion claim as the witness to Lawrence's alleged conversion did not turn up despite being asked to verify the claim.

“Even the signature on the document is not his. His brother confirmed it is not his (Lawrence's) signature,” he added.

Jenny stressed that the situation is only making things worse for the family, as they cannot even grieve over their loss.

“The family is very sad. His daughter lost a father and his wife lost a husband.

"They said he had already mengucap (took his vows of conversion) at the department, but by right they should have informed his family immediately. We think this is very unfair to us,” she said.

Malaysian Justice calls on Home Minister to Charge Sinar Harian under the PPP Act!

This is outrageous!! If any newspaper were talking about Islam like this newspaper is talking about Christianity, the newspaper company would have been burned to the ground by now and the editor and his entire team be lock behind ISA!

So is the Home Minister going to do anything about it?!?

After all they hauled up the Star editor over something small for running buka puasa articles together with stories on non-halal restaurants. STAR had to make a public apology and PERKASA were yelling for their heads!!!

What will the Christian do?!?

More Importantly! What will Hishammudin as the Home Minister do?!?!

Will Malaysia see justice over this?!?!

Taken from Malaysiakini

Harping on the controversial issue of an "apostasy movement" by Christian groups, Malay language daily Sinar Harian today stepped up its criticisms and accused the movement of encouraging free mingling between the sexes and permitting prostitution.

Yesterday, the daily gave extensive coverage to a so-called "apostasy movement" in its regular Monday column, Bicara Isnin.

In the second part of the column published today, scathing allegations were levelled against the 'Christian movement' and were listed in an information text box titled Matlamat gerakan Kristian (Objectives of the Christian movement).

Sinar Harian listed four items that it said are among other programmes afoot "to destroy Muslims":

1. Social movement: encouraging free mingling between the sexes;

2. Moral degradation: damaging moral values with wild activities;

3. Permitting prostitution as a service occupation; and

4. Films and music: inserting negative or extreme elements and excessive music that leads to heedlessness and negligence.

The daily did not elaborate on these allegations.

On the same page, Sinar Harianpublished two reports quoting Islamic NGO Jamaah Islah Malaysia (JIM) president Zaid Kamaruddin and Malaysia Syariah Lawyers Council president Isa Ralik respectively.

Zaid (left) called on the authorities to establish a research centre to detect apostasy at early stage, before it got worse, while Isa said preaching non-Islamic religions to Muslims was a violation of the federation constitution.

Yesterday the daily reported on its front page that the "apostasy movement" was getting bolder and was being done openly.

In a related development, former information minister Zainuddin Maidin, in an article published in Utusan Malaysia today, urged the Malay rulers' council to focus on the rise of proselytising by Christian groups.

Zainuddin (right) said the proselytising activities exposed recently had been done in a "subtle, intelligent, bold, aggressive and provocative" manner with the purpose of turning Malaysia into another Indonesia.

"Their objective is to erase the image of 'Malaysian Malays - One Religion' and they want Malaysia to become Indonesia, where 'one race is not one religion'."

Comparing the preaching approach of Christian and Islamic groups in the country, the karyawan tamu(visiting fellow) of Universiti Utara Malaysia said Christians were more dynamic and progressive while the Islamic groups were old-fashioned, not creative and not responsive to the current demands.

Therefore, Zainuddin added, the Malay rulers' council, which oversees the nation's religious agencies, should address the issue immediately.

UPDATE: Sinar Harian has apologies for this article but they called

what they did as "information given was inaccurate". I hardly call that a sincere apology!

Still we are waiting for the Home Minister to act!!

This is the reason why Malaysian Justice must remain anonymous!

From Malaysiakini

Police raided the home of blogger Chan Lilian in Penang and carted away her 27-inch iMac and a modem yesterday as part of their investigations into a tweet she sent last month.

Chan, a videographer, is being investigated under Section 4 (1) of the Sedition Act for her tweet message, as well as Section 27 (5) of the Police Act for allegedly participating in the July 9 Bersih 2.0 rally in Kuala Lumpur.

If convicted, Chan faces a jail term of up to three years, a fine of not more than RM5,000, or both.

Yesterday, four police officers from the cyber crime unit in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, questioned Chan for about an hour at the Jalan Pattani (northeast district) police headquarters in Penang.

They then went to her house in Tanjung Bungah and spent two hours searching for "evidence".

They also combed through eight files on her computer, took snapshots of her Twitter account and drew a diagram of her work area.

The police team, led by investigating officer ASP Ridzuan Ibrahim left about 8.30pm with Chan's iMac and a modem.

Asked by journalists about the seizure of Chan's prized iMac, Ridzuan replied, "No comment!" before slipping into the police car.

Chan was accompanied by lawyer Tham Shien Shyong during her three-hour ordeal.

"This is the price I have topay for expressing my thoughts," a calm Chan told reporters later outside her house.

"I maintain that I have no intention of inciting anyone - my tweet is restricted (to 900 members) but its privacy has been abused," added the mother of four.

Chan, who is a temporary staff with a Penang government unit, vowed that she would not give up tweeting as she has the right to freedom of expression.

"It is regrettable that this has happened. I tweeted as an individual and a blogger, and this has nothing to do with where I work (or my employer)," she said.

900 members in Twitter account

On June 29 night, 10 days before the Bersih rally, Chan had sent out a tweet suggesting that Christians march to protest their "persecution".

This resulted in a police report being lodged against her by Blog House secretary Tony Yew.

In his report, Yew alleged that Chan's tweet contained seditious elements, which directly incited Christians to go against the government.

Yew, who was one of Chan's 900 members in her Twitter

account, said that as a Christian, he believed the tweet message has "the ability to threaten the security of the nation".

He had also wrote in his blog that Chan's tweet was re-tweeted and he was disappointed there were people out there happy to spread the word.

Chan, a former Malaysiakini citizen journalist, said her Twitteraccount was restricted to her followers, but she had unknowingly added Yew.

In his July 1 blog post titled "Don't push it", Yew says he made the police report against Chan as his warning to her to remove her allegedly seditious tweet had been ignored. "I guess now it's time I did my part to debunk the notion that ALL CATHOLICS are off (sic) the view that we have been religiously persecuted," he says in the posting.

I am appealing to all right minded (not like minded) people to think rationally and not react emotionally. "Malaysia is OUR COUNTRY, and do not let the likes of (Perkasa chief) Ibrahim Ali, or (Bersih 2.0 chief) Ambiga (Sreenevasan) and those bent on tearing Malaysia apart for their benefits to prevail."

In another blog post titled 'Bersih, a gathering for what?' published on the same day, Yew urges the police to investigate Chan and charge her with sedition.

'We must all be vigilant in safeguarding this nation'

He asks that police use her as an example for others, so that no one would take National Unity for granted.

"As long as there are those out there who think they can get away with this, then we must all be vigilant in safeguarding this nation we all love," he says.

WHY DOES THIS TONY SOUND SO MUCH LIKE AN UMNO GOON?!?!

WHAT IS HE HOPE TO GET FROM THIS??

IS HE BLIND TO SAY THAT CHRISTIAN ARE NOT PROSECUTED IN THIS COUNTRY?!?

Maybe he does not go to church enough, or has never tried applying to the authorities for permission to build anything on behalf of the church before!

'Use her as an example"!!!! WHY NOT USE IBRAHIM ALI OR UTUSAN MALAYSIA AS AN EXAMPLE?!?!

DO YOU STILL NEED PROVE THAT THE POLICE, THE AG, THE EC, SOME JUDICIARY ARE BIAS TOWARDS BN?!?!

You know your country is run by idiots when this happens!

Utusan gets a warning letter...

While this comics gets banned for "tendency to (cause) hatred and excite disaffection"

The Home Ministry today issued a reprimand letter to Utusan Malaysia over the daily's front page article on May 7, titled Kristian Agama Rasmi? (Christianity the official religion?).

A reprimand letter requires no follow up action by the newspaper, as compared with a demand to show cause, and is akin to just a slap on the wrist.

According to a Home Ministry statement, Utusan's editor-in-chief Aziz Ishak was called and the letter handed to him. "The Home Ministry will continue to monitor every newspaper in order to prevent news which would menggemparkan (infuriate) the minds of the people or material that is against the PPPA 1984," the statement said.

The article alleged that a group of pastors had participated in a gathering in Penang recently, which involved DAP elected representatives, where they discussed a plot to turn Malaysia into a Christian country and install a Christian prime minister.

No evidence of this allegation was offered by Utusan, who sourced the story from two pro-Umno blogs. One of the two had deleted article that was sourced by Utusan.

Utusan's critics however are likely to point out that the daily, which is owned by Umno, enjoy impunity and always gets away with a mere light reprimand while other dailies have received suspension of printing licenses or have it withdrawn altogether.

For example, Higher Education Deputy Minister Wee Ka Siong wrote on Twitter after the home ministry statement was issued, that in the case of China Press editor-in-chief Teoh Yoog Khoon, he was suspended two weeks over an inaccurate news report.

"(The China Press) report did not cause disharmony among Malaysians of all races. Many people will compare the damage caused by Utusan's report to (that) of China Press.

In Teoh's case, the home ministry had issued a show cause letter over an article which claimed that the then Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan would quit in March last year.

Following this, Home Ministry Deputy Chief Secretary Ahmad Fuad Ab Aziz said that any follow up action would be left to China Press' management.

Police reports lodged

Unlike the China Press incident, many police reports have been lodged against Utusan over the article for flouting sedition laws among others. Bukit Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi, who was named in the article, have also lodged a police report.

Meanwhile yesterday (11 May 2011)..

The Kuala Lumpur High Court today heard that two books by cartoonist Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaq were banned by the Home Ministry because they contain "terrible accusations" which could lead to public disorder.

In his submission on the judicial review application by the cartoonist popularly known as Zunar against the Home Ministry, federal counsel Noor Hisham Ismail said the books are also seen as an "extreme insult to national leadership".

"The books can't cause public disturbance but there is potential that the people who read it could be likely (influenced).” He added the minister is satisfied that the book has "tendency to (cause) hatred and excite disaffection" towards national leaders, the judiciary and enforcement agencies.

Noor Hisham is representing respondents Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein and his deputy Abu Seman Yusuf in a judicial review of the ban imposed on '1Funny Malaysia' and 'Perak Darul Kartun'.

Both books were banned in November 2009.

Noor Hisham also submitted that there is no room for a judicial review as the court does not have the right to examine or challenge the minister's “satisfaction that the books are prejudicial to public order”. “If the matter rests solely on the subjective decision of the minister... and involves opinion and policy then the court should not review the decision. “It seems apparent that when it comes to issues of national security and public order the court cannot intervene by way of a judicial review as it involves policy considerations,” he said, citing case law.
Public order or politicians' reputation?

K Shanmuga, representing the plaintiffs, submitted that in the book ban notice, the minister stated that the books were banned because they are “prejudicial to public order” and not “likely to be prejudicial”.

“It might be worth recalling that the books in question were in publication for almost eight months before their ban, yet there was no evidence whatsoever that any breach of the peace occurred or was threatened as a result of the book. “By failing to produce material evidence of any reports before the minister which he relied on or in any of the affidavits filed before the court, the minister must be deemed to have no good reason for his decision.

“It is all to protect the image of politicians and their reputation,” he said. Shanmuga added that the law requires decisions made by the minister to be “reasonable and proportionate” and that the books cannot be banned “simply for saying not very nice things about politicians and the government of Malaysia”.

“Would a reasonable minister feel there is a threat to public order from cartoons, political satire, and ban the whole book due to several offending pages?” he said.

Commenting on the proceedings later, Zunar (second from right), who was accompanied by his wife Fazlinah Rosley (in blue), questioned the validity of Noor Hisham's submission, particularly when the latter claimed that the minister concluded that the books “tarnished the rakyat's trust in the government”.

“You can only lose something you have. The people who read my books have already lost trust in the government,” he said. Judge Rohana Yusuf will be delivering her verdict on July 14.

Utusan Malaysia and Big Dog will never see the inside of an ISA jail!

As long as BN an UMNO is in power lah!

Blogger Zakhir Mohamed, who caused a controversy with his allegation of a conspiracy by Christian leaders to turn the official religion of the federation from Islam to Christianity, still dares to blog on these lies and insists that the authorities must investigate the purported plot.

In a blog post yesterday, Zakhir (right) said the matter must be investigated thoroughly as it may lead to a surge in Malay and Muslim anger.

“Time has come that such talk about this possibly subversive (Christian) movement, that can threaten national security when the majority of Malay-Muslims rise in anger, is investigated thoroughly.

“If it is true, then it should be dealt with by taking appropriate action,” said Zakhir, who is more popularly known as Big Dog.

The posting was uploaded just as vehement denials - as well as police reports and counter-reports - came forth from bishops and other Christian and non-Christian leaders who deny that such a plot exists.

The controversy erupted when Malay-language daily Utusan Malaysia took the cue from Zakhir and another pro-Umno blogger's postings, and headlined the purported conspiracy on May 7 alleging that DAP leaders were in cahoots with Christian leaders to subvert the position of Islam as the official religion of the federation.

In his blog posting carried a day earlier on May 6, Zakhir claimed that as many as 35 priests had taken an oath to work towards making Christianity the official religion and the installation of a Christian as the country's prime minister.

Another blogger Marahku, in a post with a screaming title 'Agong under threat? The DAP wants to make Christianity the official religion of Malaysia?' lambasted the party for trying to amend the federal constitution to allow a Christian to be PM.

The organisers of the said meeting, were the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship, together with partners Global Day of Prayer, Marketplace Penang and Penang Pastors Fellowship.

According the the DAP rep (Jeff Ooi) who was there "The seminar was to look into ways and the contribution among Christians towards the eradication of corruption and abuses in the country," he added.

He also mention that he was not the organiser (of the seminar). I'm a Buddhist and I do not think I have influence over the pastors to dictate to them what to do," he said.

The organizers said the so-called special convention was an 'Unashamedly Ethical Marketplace' seminar organised to discuss and address the issue of bribery and corruption and the Christians' contribution in addressing such issues.

"It has nothing to do with political succession,” they explained.

According to the organisers, 'Uashamedly Ethical' is a movement to get Christians to make a commitment to say 'no' to corruption.

Kuala Lumpur Archbisop Murphy Pakiam yesterday described the report as "irresponsible, baseless and provocative", and demanded tha

t action be taken against those quarters that he said seek to threaten Malaysia's harmonious, multi-cultural and multi-religious make-up.

However we all know that this will not happen! Utusan Malaysia and Big Dog and his other bloggers will not see the inside of a prison. Why?

Utusan Malaysia is owned by UMNO! and UMNO controls the police, courts and etc!

It is their strategy to divide and conquer!

I hope all Malaysian will not fall to such stupid strategy of BN!

More prove that UMNO is backing this attack is in the statement of their leaders!

Information, Culture and Communication Minister Rais Yatim (left) has warned errant parties not to trifle with the special position of Islam and Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein is quoted as saying that he viewed the "Christian agenda" as serious.

Even Najib's faliure to condemn Utusan Malaysia is disappointing and shows that either He can't control his own newspaper or he is part of this attacked!

But what does the real Expert sa

y?

Renowned constitutional expert

Abdul Aziz Bari has dismissed Utusan Malaysia's article on a supposed conspiracy to make Christianity Malaysia's official religion as "ridiculous".

"Constitutionally it is just illogical. It cannot happen, just impossible. Even if Pakatan controlled hundred percent of the Dewan Rakyat.

"Remember that the Senate which has similar powers to the lower house when it comes to constitutional amendments, is not under their control as some of the senators belong to Umno-BN."

He argued that technically the upper house can block the amendment passed by the Dewan Rakyat.

Abdul Aziz (left) contended that the provisions on the subject matters - monarchy, Islam and the Malays - are simply beyond the ordinary political process.

"Under the constitution the Conference of Rulers have the veto power on these matters. Even if Parliament - which means the two houses - pass the amendment it can only take effect if the Rulers agree.

"That is why it is almost impossible to abolish the position of the rulers and Islam."

"In short, actions - both civil and criminal - may be taken against Utusan. There are provisions in the Sedition Act 1948, Printing Presses Act 1984 (publishing false news) and even the Penal Code for the purpose," pointed out the professor.

Sadly this will not happen based on pass experience!

The Penang CM has related the many incidents where Utusan had featured reports of him supposedly challenging the position of Islam.

He reminded journalists on the controversy where he was falsely accused of butchering a cow's head on Hari Raya Qurban - a ritual reserved only for Muslims.

Lim also recalled the time when mosques were reportedly using his name instead of the Agong's - a controversy which he vehemently denied and had since mysteriously died down.

He accused Utusan of continuing to report that the DAP-led Penang government has been disallowing the Prophet Mohammad's birthday procession (Malidur Rasul), when it has been celebrated with greater pomp since it took power in 2008.

"One day they will accuse me of not being a Malaysian, that I was born outside the country... just like how some have accused (US President Barack) Obama," he quipped.

"They had even accused me of wanting to replace the Agong. How can I ever want to be the Agong... they've never apologised to me for all their lies," said Lim.

THIS COMING ELECTION! REMEMBER! VOTE BN OUT IF YOU WANT UTUSAN OUT! BECAUSE UTUSAN IS OWN BY UMNO!!!

For more good reading see here!

and here!

The true situation in Malaysian! By CCM Youth!

From Malaysiakini

In a lengthy 10-point statement, the Council of Churches of Malaysia (CCM) Youth did not mince its words in dismissing the 10-point solution offered by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Idris Jala.

It said that the "quick-fix" proposal ignored the "the overt and covert manner which the government had discriminated against the Christian citizenry for close to 40 years".

The following is CCM Youth's press release expressing its views in response to the various statements issued by the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM), the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship (NECF), the 10-point solution as proposed by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Idris Jala, and comments made in the media by the Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein and various parties.

1. 10-point proposal only addressed the Al Kitab issue

The 10-Point Proposal presumed that Christians were only concerned with the Al Kitab issue. That premise is incorrect.

The 10-Point Proposal distracted both the public and the church leaders from getting to the heart of the matter, that is, the concern over the overt and covert manner which the government had discriminated against the Christian citizenry for close to 40 years that had resulted in the gradual deterioration of basic rights of Christians to freely exercise their faith.

2. Restore full rights and full freedom enshrined in the federal constitution

CCM Youth denounced deplorable accusations that Christians were not being “fair” or “reasonable” in resolving the Al Kitab matter. CCM Youth disclosed that the Malaysian government had unreasonably and unjustly acted in bad faith since the early 1970s to-date against the Christian community. Among some examples were:

• Gradual erosion of the control of mission schools which included even the physical removal of words such as “Holy” and crosses from schools, even though the land, building and board of governors belonged to the church;

• Removing or disallowing “Christian Fellowships” from being recognised as societies in schools and universities;

• Harassing and transferring out Christian teachers found teaching Bible Knowledge, a legitimate examinable subject for the SPM;

• Gazetting the Al Kitab, the Bible in Bahasa Malaysia and Bahasa Indonesia, as a threat to national security under the Internal Security Act;

• Denying the use of the word 'Allah' for the Christian God, even though it had been used by indigenous groups way before independence, and being the only Muslim country in the world to do so despite wide Arab usage;

• Denying Christians land to operate churches or cemeteries.

And the list goes on.

CCM Youth was saddened that Christians today were openly abused, harassed and provoked in the media and encouraged by the government, with all sorts of erroneous information being placed on official government websites put up as decrees; linking activities from Valentine's Day to 'poco-poco' to crosses on football jerseys, to Christian beliefs without so much as a dialogue or a clarification with the Christian community.

So much so that even the Islamic government machinery, with nods from cabinet ministers, the Home Ministry and state governments, unashamedly encouraged over-zealous religious officers and Islamic-based NGOs, to propagate and sow seeds of hatred towards the Christian community.

CCM Youth was informed that recently a group of students went for an excursion to the Kuala Lumpur City Hall, and were denied entry just because their uniform had a cross.

After so many years of racial-religious polarisation under the hands of government machinery, religious and racial bigotry is now blatantly practised and widely nurtured in government departments against Christians.

CCM Youth believed that the 10-Point Proposal was superfluous as Christian citizens were not asking for anything extra, but for their basic constitutional rights, enshrined in the Federal Constitution, to be respected and honoured.

3. Christians' birthright to read, speak and write in the national language

CCM Youth opined that it was ludicrous to deny Malaysian Christian citizens the right to use the country's national language for the purposes of exercising their faith.

On the one hand, non-Malay citizens are often criticised for their purported lack of loyalty when they did not speak Bahasa Malaysia, but when they did, like in this case in order to read the Bible, which they had been doing for generations, they were denied that right.

CCM Youth reiterated that as citizens of this country, it was their God-given birthright, which “should not be given up, negotiated, traded away, nor 'sold for a bowl of pottage'”, being simply rushed into just because Christian leaders were offered a “quick-fix” solution to the immediate problems that were originally created by unjust parties.

4. The 10-point proposal does not carry the weight of law

CCM Youth decried attempts to create a 'band-aid' compromise solution that did not carry the weight of law. If the government were truly sincere, there would not be a need for a 10-Point Proposal.

Insofar as this matter was concerned, all the government needed to do was to instruct the Home Ministry to drop its appeal on the 'Allah' issue, which the Catholic Church won on Dec 31, 2009 when it took the case to the High Court. This action would immediately lead to the withdrawal of the Allah and the Al Kitab from any further restrictions in the country.

CCM Youth urged the government to uphold democratic principles and not play games by taking a round-about route that did not reflect their sincerity.

5. 10-point proposal sows disunity amongst Christians

The 10-Point Proposal served only to promote disunity amongst Christians, playing to the ruling government's 'divide-and-rule' tune. CCM Youth questioned how it could be plausible for a 1Malaysia, yet a 2Bible and 3Rule solution?

If at all, it only cemented CCM Youth's opinion that 1Malaysia had been nothing but political rhetoric.

If Christian leaders had agreed to this proposal, the Orang Asal of Sabah andSarawak would have one rule; while believers in the peninsula, including the Orang Asli, would have another rule.

Should Christians subject themselves to such confusion and be manipulated to accept such terms? Likewise, by agreeing to such terms now, would Christians then forfeit the right to resolve future outstanding matters beyond the Al Kitab issue?

6. No guarantee that pledges or assurances will be honoured

Time and time again, the Christian community have been given assurances but only to be disappointed later on. CCM Youth urged church leaders to be wise, for what had been dressed as compromise could turn out to be an entrapment – “Even the elect were deceived, if that were possible.”

CCM Youth pointed out that they were well aware that there were many obstacles ahead, and they understood the “card game was in the hands” of the government.

Even if the federal government gave the impression of giving way, they could fall back on the state government machinery that would kick in and take that to another gear which involved harassing book stores, printers, forwarding agents, schools and so on, located in affected states.

7. The tipping point - today's decision will impact future generations

CCM Youth urged church leaders to take their time and not to be in a hurry. It was imperative that they did not fail future generations, or act in a manner that could adversely undermine or enslave future generations from practising their faith freely.

CCM Youth urged church leaders to remain faithful and to take as much time as they needed to ponder and to ask pertinent questions without compromising the faith.

Otherwise, future generations would return to remind past generations of leaders of "compromises" made today, or that the church leaders held silent when they could have spoken up, having restrained themselves from pursuing justice when they had the opportunity to do so.

CCM Youth urged church leaders not to worry about having to come to a decision by the CFM's Biennial General Meeting on April 14, 2011, but to take ample time to pray and seek the Lord before coming to a decision.

CCM Youth reminded church leaders that even the youths today were still learning the full extent of the rights that had been eroded to-date as events unfolded, and CCM Youth would endeavour to support church leaders to their best of abilities to recover that which was lost, and hand over full freedom to future generations as their legacy.

8. Are we speaking to the right party with the authority?

With due respect to Senator Idris Jala, CCM Youth raised concerns that there were no assurances that he had the full weight of the cabinet behind him in this regard, given the underlying tones and lack of media support from cabinet ministers. Even the prime minister himself had been strangely silent.

From remarks given by the home minister and various “shadow gatekeepers”, there had been no assurance that the relevant ministries would honour any form of agreement. What remained consistent so far had been the consistency of the government's inconsistencies. The danger of flip-flops was not a probability, but a given.

CCM Youth believed that this rush to force a solution was inadvertently linked to the outcome of the Sarawak elections and the potential impact from its Christian majority population.

CCM Youth observed that it was this careless 'short-term opportunistic' attitude of the government for political expediency that had made them wary of such overtures and advised church leaders to exercise greater caution under such circumstances.

If the government were sincere in addressing the grievances of the Christian community, CCM Youth believed that nothing less than the coming together of a task force from the Prime Minister's Department, the Home Ministry, the attorney-general, the Education Ministry and all state governments and Islamic departments had to take place.

9. Sorry seems to be the hardest word

CCM Youth pointed out that it was Idris Jala (centre) who apologised.

So far, no official statement of apology had been offered by any ministry, especially none was forthcoming from the home minister, the main protagonist who directed the stamping of the Bibles.

The public ought to know that this entire episode of the desecration of the Christian's Holy Scriptures happened during the holy month of Lent which precedes and commemorates the Lord Jesus Christ's crucifixion and celebrates His resurrection.

If an opportunity presented itself for reconciliation and restoration to properly right the grave wrong committed, CCM Youth would certainly offer forgiveness. Obviously, the situation had yet to present itself.

10. Christian cabinet ministers must take leadership

CCM Youth noted that except for Idris Jala, many Christian cabinet ministers have kept silent. One cabinet minister even called Christians foolish for holding prayer rallies. CCM Youth challenged cabinet ministers to be faithful and to choose today whom they served - whether God or man.

CCM Youth reiterated that they were not being unreasonable, audaciously demanding or stirring trouble. CCM Youth regretted that for a long time, the church had remained silent, having compromised when it should not have.

In good faith, church leaders had been drawn into endless unproductive closed-door meetings, given verbal promises and handshake agreements that never materialized.

Unfortunately for the church, Christian goodwill had not been reciprocated, and closed door agreements never honoured. The recent desecration of the Al Kitab was the last straw.

CCM Youth called upon all Christians today to rally firmly behind their Christian leaders as they worked towards a resolution for the community. CCM Youth urged the Christian community to uphold their leaders in prayer more fervently.

CCM Youth reiterated that they remained committed to nation-building and bringing about justice, peace and reconciliation for all Malaysians and migrants, and would stop at nothing to bring about change for the betterment of all peoples regardless of creed, race or religion, through proclaiming truth and bringing about justice and transformation to the nation.

Home Minister says Defacement of the Bible is Standard Practice!!

The home ministry has defended its decision to place a ministry stamp on copies of the Al-Kitab Bible that were impounded in Port Klang and in Kuching, saying that it was not “defacement” but standard practice. (taken from Malaysiakini)

"(They were stamped) based on amalan (the standard practice) before...(like) even during (former premiers) Dr Mahathir (Mohamad) and Pak Lah's (Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's) time.

"There was no intention to deface the Bible... we will not entertain this kind of talk," Home Minister Hishamuddin Hussein (left in photo) said at a press conference at the Parliament lobby today.

Hishammuddin also dismissed claims by the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM), that stamping serial numbers on the holy book was a new practice.

"I am hearing all sorts of talk, about the size of the stamp, the colour of the ink... if they want to find fault they will find fault... you can even say the Bibles are smelly after being kept for so long

"It is not a real big issue to me... we have engaged (BSM) but you can only engage with people who want to engage, and resolve issues with people who want them to be resolved," he said.

OH! The arrogance of this UMNO man!!!

In a press statement earlier, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Idris Jala said that the Bibles would be release in accordance with the 1982 gazette under the Internal Security Act, which allows for the import of the Bible in the Malay language for the use of Christians in Sabah and Sarawak.

However, Christian Federation of Malaysia chairperson Bishop Ng Moon Hing was not happy to this response.


He said, "This is Idris' way of handling things. (The government) wants it to look like it is the one giving in, when it should have followed the gazette in the first place. In fact, it is we who have lost so much ground," the bishop said.

Ng said the gazette was unsettling, since placing the Malay language Bible under the Internal Security Act meant the holy book was considered an issue of national security.

"CFM has always taken the position that the Bible is not a threat and contains nothing to threaten national security.

"All along, we Christians have never wanted to take a confrontational path, and have appealed against the (classification of the Bible under the ISA), but it has gone on for far too long," Ng added.

SO WHY IS THE BIBLE UNDER THE ISA?!?!

I DON'T WANT THIS KIND OF 1 MALAYSIA GOVT!!!

DO YOU!!!

I prefer PAS!! At least they talk with moderation more than UMNO! Prove is here!

BN- Home Ministry Violates Dignity of the BIBLE!!

Hishammudin and his Home Ministry must answer for this OUTRAGE!!!

Not only have they kept the Bible for 2years! But now they have violated the Bibles without permission!!

I call on all Christian in Malaysia to show that they will not stand for this great injustice and make sure that Najib, Hishamemoodin and BN not come back to power in the next Election!!

The 5,100 Malay-language Bibles which have been impounded at Port Klang for about two years, have been stamped with a Home Ministry reminder on its front pages without the consent of the importers. According to the importer, the Bible Society of Malaysia, the Home Ministry had stamped the Bibles with words that were different from what was agreed upon between its representatives and the ministry, as stated in a letter on Dec 22, 2005. Also stamped onto the Bibles were areas to print serial numbers. In a statement issued late this afternoon, the importer said that it was informed that the ministry had done so when a ministry representative called them to collect the shipment. "At 5pm today, KDN informed Bible Society of Malaysia that they had already (stamped) the Bibles and asked Bible Society of Malaysia to come collect the Bibles," it said.

According to the society, the ministry had stamped spaces for the serial numbers into the Bibles and the words "Al Kitab Berita Baik ini untuk kegunaan penganut agama Kristian sahaja" ('This "Al Kitab Berita Baik" is only for use by Christians only.")

'We should have been consulted'

In the 2005 letter, the society added, the ministry had agreed to allow the import of Malay-language Bibles provided that the sign of the cross and the words 'Penerbitan Kristian' (Christian publication) be embossed onto the covers by the Christians themselves. "As the Bible is the holy book of the Christians, due respect should be given to it by consulting the relevant Christian representative organs before any external text is inserted into the Bibles," said the society. It added that it was "alarmed" by the notification and is now urging the ministry to stop stamping the Bibles with such wordings. An urgent letter was also faxed to the Home Ministry secretary-general Mahmood Adam urging for a negotiation of the terms of the Bibles' release that will not "mencerobohi maruah (violate the dignity) of the holy books". Putrajaya had decided to release the Bibles from impoundment yesterday, claiming that it is upholding an 1982 Internal Security Act gazette allowing the import of Malay-language Bibles.

It also claimed that the decision was made upon advice by the attorney-general, who said the Bibles would not impact the government's appeal against the ruling on the use of the word 'Allah' by Catholic publication The Herald.

BN Turns Communist with Bible Conditions!

Catholic bishop Paul Tan Chee Ing has denounced the two conditions imposed by the Home Ministry for the release of detained consignments of 'Al-Kitab' as "crass forms of censorship redolent of the communist era".

The president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference, speaking toMalaysiakini in his capacity as titular head of the Malacca-Johor diocese, said the news of thegovernment's release yesterday of the detained consignment was "welcome but the two conditions are plainly unacceptable".

The two conditions, conveyed by the Home Ministry to the importer of the copies in Kuching, were that each copy should carry a serial number and should be stamped 'For Christians Only'.

"The two conditions smack of crass forms of censorship redolent of the communist era when reading material was the monopoly of the reigning oligarchy," decried Bishop Paul.

"The two conditions are flatly unacceptable to Christians who are duty bound to bring the good news of salvation to all who want to listen.

"In Malaysia, we draw a line on this dissemination where Muslims are concerned because the law of the land prohibits proselytising among Muslims.

"In this respect, we defer to Caesar what Caesar has legislated but the two tacked on stipulations in this instance are egregious and flatly unacceptable."

Bishop's analogy

The shipment arrived at Kuching Port on Jan 11, but the consignee was advised against taking it out the following day as the copies contain the word 'Allah'.

The 30,000 copies, costing US$26,400, were printed in Indonesia for distribution to churches, schools and longhouses mostly in Betong and Saratok areas.

Bishop Paul described the two conditions as akin to releasing a prisoner who has been unjustifiably detained and then slapping him with a restricted residence order.

"After telling the prisoner that he is free, you tell him that he has to stay indoors between dusk to dawn," he said.

"You may as well put him back in prison," chided the prelate.

More related post here!

A true 1 Malaysia story?!?

* All names have been changed to protect privacy. (From Malaysiakini)

The name on the identity card (MyKad) reads Ravichandran a/l Muniandy*. For the 17 years of his life, this gangly teenager has lived as a Hindu, and yet his MyKad states that he is a Muslim.

But at least he has a MyKad - received three years after he first applied for it, and only because his father, Muniandy, had made a scene at the National Registration Department (NRD) in Putrajaya.

"We applied when he was 13, but even then the registration officer there tried to reject the application, saying that his mother's name is Malay so my son's name must be changed to a Malay name too. I refused, so they told me to go to Putrajaya," Muniandy said.

The second application was lodged with the boy's name, Ravichandran a/l Muniandy, as per his birth certificate, but nothing came out of it, and the boy was forced to sit his PMR with only the application slip.

"We went to the (NRD) branch several times and were told the card never arrived, so I went to Putrajaya, and they made us submit another application, again with a Malay name," he said.

After an altercation with the NRD officers, both at the counter and at the legal department, Muniandy managed to convince them into retaining his son's name as per his birth certificate.

"But the officer told me that they could not guarantee that his religion on the card will not be Islam," he said.

Ravichandran's sister Saraswathy is 15 years old and still awaiting her MyKad. If she is as 'lucky' as her brother, she will receive hers in time for the SPM examination, but her case might be more complicated.

Assaulted and threatened into converting to Islam

Born during a tumultuous period in her parents' life, her birth certificate was claimed by officials to be missing and the replacement states that Sarawasthy's religion and that of her parents is Islam.

Her name on the birth certificate is 'Sarawaswathy binti Kamal Shah' - the name religious officials forced onto her father.

Her mother Laila, a Muslim, was pregnant with her when religious department officials broke into their home after midnight to conduct a raid, acting on a tip-off.

"They broke open the front door and wiped the 'pottu' off my wife's forehead. We were so afraid - they had surrounded the house," said Muniandy, tears welling up in his eyes.

That was not the only time - after the first incident, the family absconded only to be found out again when Muniandy insisted in having his and his daughter's names on the birth certificate reflect their Hindu faith.

"We were raided again, I was beaten up. They took my wife and children away and told me to go to the religious department to 'negotiate'.

"They put me in a tiny room and put on (the azan) on loudspeaker," he said, of the many things done to him in an effort to make him convert to Islam.

But what sounded like brainwashing sessions masked as 'counselling' failed, and Muniandy survived the ordeal by agreeing to change his name to a Muslim name on his identity card, albeit not converting.

A white-collared worker, Muniandy said that almost two decades ago, he was advised by an Islamic welfare organisation that if he did not have faith, then he should not convert.

The organisation provided him with a card which states a Muslim name, adopted without converting, and with this the couple registered their marriage and lived as Hindus.

Muniandy never changed his name to the Muslim one at the NRD.

NRD officers added 'Muslim elements'

"It was a difficult time (after the raids). My photo was published all over the country and people harassed me at my workplace, so I lost my job," said Muniandy, who now has five children, with the youngest in primary school.

The family has had to live in fear of both religious persecution from officials and vigilantes, moving house at least five times in the past 20 years, sometimes after threats from parang-wielding Muslims.

For the past few years, life has been relatively quiet. Muniandy now has an understanding employer, and the principals of the national schools which the children attend have also registered the children as non-Muslim after the parents explained the situation.

But the MyKad issue remains for Saraswathy, who was told to reapply with a Muslim name, a problem that is likely to recur for her younger siblings.

The couple's other daughter's birth certificate also carries a Muslim name but the two younger boys' birth certificates have neither the religion of their parents nor the term 'bin' (to denote that they are Muslims).

"In my application for my (second daughter's) birth certificate, her name was (Shantini) a/p Muniandy, but her name is printed as Shantini binti Kamal Shah," he said.

Another son has the name 'Shah' added as a middle name by the NRD officer who claimed that he should have a 'Muslim element' in his name.

Other NRD officers have also blocked Muniandy from dropping the 'Kamal Shah' alias from his identity card, even though his MyKad states that he is Hindu, for unclear reasons.

"This NRD officers insist that we must all have Muslim names, Malay names. But how would they know what our faith is? I have nothing against Islam, but I don't want to desecrate Islam by taking a Muslim name or declaring myself Muslim but living as a Hindu," he said.

No freedom of religion

What Muniandy essentially wants is to raise his children as he sees fit, and for his children to be provided identity cards to reflect what they really are.

But for some, this seemingly harmless request would amount to heresy, and that removing the word 'Islam' from his children's MyKad is actually a case of apostasy.

With cases like Muslim apostate to Christianity Lina Joy meeting a dead end, and a happy ending on Malaysian shores remaining unlikely, this is precisely why Muniandy is fighting so hard to obtain identity cards for his children.

"This is so that they can sit for their exams and then later, hopefully, study abroad and live there... there is no freedom of religion here," he said.

Lina was not the first and only person to renounce Islam in Malaysia. Likewise, the story of Muniandy and Laila is in no way unique.

Quietly, all around Malaysia, many Muslims enter into marriages with non-Muslims, without their spouses converting.

Such choices made by consenting adults, however, have deeper repercussions for children born into such marriages.

Assumed to be Muslim by virtue of one parent's religion by seemingly well-meaning NRD officers, these children later face lengthy legal battles to renounce a faith they know nothing about.

I wonder if this is truly what Najib have in mind with his 1 Malaysia policy? If this is so I think we will be in better hands with PAS!