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Malaysia Attorney-General: Non-Muslims Rattled By Increasing Islamisation

NON-MUSLIMS are against Islamic criminal law amendments as they perceive them as another step towards the Islamisation of Malaysia, Attorney-General Mohamed Apandi Ali candidly told The Malaysian Insight yesterday.

It does not help either that the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 (or better known by its Bahasa Malaysia acronym, RUU 355) Bill was mooted by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, the propagator of hudud laws in Kelantan in the 1990s, with Terengganu following suit later.

Wading into the issue after Barisan Nasional decided not to table Hadi’s private member’s bill in line with the principle of consensus, Apandi said this issue was always going to be a problem.

“When Hadi introduced this bill and tried to incorporate the 100 lashes and other severe punishment, the perception of non-Muslims was that hudud is coming, in the guise of the private member’s bill.”

In fact, Apandi said, RUU 355 was simply to amend the existing Syariah Criminal Law Act to enhance punishments.

It was also to give Muslims a sense of “feeling good”, as the shariah court currently is even lower than the powers of the magistrate’s court. RUU 355 was to have increased the power of the shariah court to the position of a Sessions Court.

“They (non-Muslims), however, read it as the beginning of an Islamic state government like the ones in Iran, Iraq and Syria, despite being told it was not applicable to non-Muslims. That is why the strong resistance.”

On a personal note, Apandi is relieved that the ruling federal coalition had made a U-turn on RUU 355, as that meant he would not have to draft the amendments to Hadi’s bill, which he felt would have been opposed anyway.

“When we draft, we have to show that it is a government bill, so in the first place, my office will have to make sure that it is different from Hadi’s draft.

“So maybe, just maybe, we may exclude Sabah (and Sarawak), to make it different, and even reduce the sentences.

“On the number of strokes, and even the sentences, I would have probably reduced them.

“The difference from the current laws which the Syariah Court Criminal Jurisdiction covers, imprisonment is only up to three years. They want to change it to 30 years, such a big disparity.

“As for fines, currently it is RM1,000, they want to increase it to RM100,000. The disparity is so big. People are going to start questioning the logic behind this.

“So that is why the perception by the people outside will be ‘Oh, this is definitely going to be hudud’.”

Apandi also said he had mentioned the matter to BN politicians and they have indicated their concerns to him.

Many had said it would be difficult for them to explain to their supporters if the government had adopted Hadi’s bill.

They had also warned that BN could lose seats, especially in Sarawak and Sabah, if the government did not make that RUU 355 U-turn.

Apandi also feels RUU 355 was more political than legal.

“The purpose and intention of this is to reap political mileage. Have you heard anybody from the public clamouring for increase of powers of the shariah court? No, nobody asking is asking for it, isn’t it?

“To my reading, it is mainly political. He (Hadi) has to satisfy the states that have already established hudud laws.

“People in those states are beginning to question him: ‘Hey, we have the law, why can’t we enforce them? What’s happened?’ He needs to say something to these states. And that is why he is trying to get federal support.

“So, yes… it’s political!”

Source: www.themalaysianinsight.com

April 1, 2017
5 Local Companies We’d Love To See Supporting Pink Dot

Pink Dot, with the help of Darius Cheung (CEO of 99.co), has turned to local companies for support for its annual event. The campaign, Red Dot for Pink Dot, aims to be a platform for local businesses to lend their voices to advancing the values of diversity and inclusiveness. Around 50 companies have already done so, and we expect that the target of 100 will be reached with ease.

At the same time, we found ourselves with a niggling sense that something is still missing. Most of the companies that have come forward are hip, contemporary, and millennial-oriented (and driven) brands. Their backing, while praiseworthy, still feels a little like we’re preaching to the choir in terms of corporate support for LGBT rights.

In our opinion, it would be a truly powerful statement if brands we didn’t expect—brands that are familiar, traditional, “uncool,” and mass-audience oriented—actually stepped forward to show their support for the community; brands like the ones below.

1. Sheng Siong

If you think about it, Sheng Siong has kind of always been the anti-NTUC. Their sponsorship would hence be symbolic in its tongue-in-cheek opposition of the Singaporean government and its stand on LGBT rights. For homegrown brands like these, pledging support can only lead to good publicity. After all, it’s not like anyone is actually going to boycott the brand.

2. POPULAR

Unlike companies like Edible Garden City and Carrie K., there is nothing trendy about POPULAR and its bookstores. Instead, they serve a very essential and utilitarian need. In the same way, the goal for LGBT rights has always been for them to eventually become banal and commonplace. Nothing captures this aspiration better than the support of a regular, unsophisticated brand like POPULAR.

3. Eu Yan Sang

Here we have a brand that was literally built by one of Singapore’s founding fathers. Apart from the fun fact that Eu Tong Sen Street is right down the road from Hong Lim Park, how cool would it be for them to show that their values have progressed along with their business? Even their company slogan is ‘Caring since 1879.’

4. TungLok Group

If companies like The Lo and Behold Group can show their support for Pink Dot, why can’t TungLok Group? The restaurant group, with more than 15 brands under its portfolio, has always been known for the family-centric dimension of its restaurants. As such, the brand is aptly positioned to acknowledge the importance of familial support in the lives of queer folk who often struggle with coming out.

5. Kim San Leng

Nothing is more central to Singaporean life than the humble coffee shop. The Kim San Leng group, with more than 30 food centres across the island, is the very definition of mass-appeal. This is exactly why its support would go a long way towards demonstrating that queerness is nothing bizarre. Instead, it’s perfectly normal, just like our undeniable cravings for hawker fare.

For these brands, there’s nothing to lose by doing this. You might get a few idiots talking shit online as a result, but trust us, they’re still going to be eating at Kim San Leng and shopping at Sheng Siong.

Source: http://ricemedia.co

April 1, 2017
Damanhuri Abas: Malays Do Not Mind Waiting Another Six Years As Long As Government Acknowledges Ong Teng Cheong As First EP

By the evidence that Dr Tan Cheng Bock presented this morning, the Government in its haste has clearly made a mistake in terms of the number of elected Presidents to date.

Simply quietly moving the goalpost again by resorting to the AG’s interpretation is arbitrary as Dr Tan has provided all the statements over the years from the Government itself that acknowledges Mr Ong Teng Cheong as the first elected President. Clearly now, the Government must stay true to its own terms and wait for the Presidential election after this coming one for a clear 5 election cycle for a particular minority absence requirement to be met.

It will be a desperate move for the Government to insist on a clearly wrong premise and hide behind the AG.

We the Malays do not mind waiting another 6 years.

No worries mate, we are patient people and used to waiting for many other things which are more priority such as discrimination in the SAF, Tudung and others!!!

Source: Damanhuri Bin Abas

April 1, 2017
Pesta Perdana 2017 – Rahimah Rahim Terima Anugerah Perdana Emas

enyanyi veteran Rahimah Rahim, dijulang dengan anugerah besar yang kedua bulan ini, apabila beliau nobatkan sebagai penerima Anugerah Pencapaian Sepanjang Hayat Pesta Perdana, iaitu Anugerah Perdana Emas.

Anugerah tersebut diberikan semasa majlis anugerah gilang gemilang Pesta Perdana ke-14, yang berlangsung malam ini tadi (31 Mac).

Baru seminggu lalu (24 Mac), Rahimah Rahim dijulang ke dalam senarai Dewan Wanita Masyhur Singapura (SWHF) oleh Majlis Pertubuhan Wanita Singapura (SCWO). Ini sebagai mengiktiraf sumbangan beliau dalam bidang hiburan dan seni tempatan.

Rahimah kelihatan terharu apabila berada di atas pentas dan berkata beliau “rasa menggigil’ sehingga terpacul dari mulutnya perkataan ‘nak cakap apa eh?’.

Yang pasti, banyak yang sudah beliau sumbangkan kepada persada seni tempatan sehinggakan SURIA memilihnya sebagai penerima Anugerah Perdana Emas yang berprestij itu. Anugerah untuk mereka yang sudah menyumbang begitu banyak untuk dunia seni Melayu.

(Gambar: BERITAMediacorp)

RAHIMAH RAHIM – LEBIH 50 TAHUN DALAM DUNIA SENI HIBURAN

Rahimah Rahim yang kini berusia 61 tahun, sebenarnya sudah berkecimpung dalam dunia seni dan hiburan selama lebih 50 tahun – bermula sebagai pelakon kanak-kanak pada usia enam tahun.

Pada usia 19 tahun, Rahimah Rahim menjadi juara pertandingan adu bakat Kimi Koso Talentime di Tokyo, sekaligus mengharumkan nama Singapura di persada antarabangsa.

Seorang penyanyi jelita semasa zaman kegemilangannya, Rahimah Rahim pernah berkongsi pentas dengan gergasi-gergasi nyanyian antarabangsa seperti Leslie Cheung dan Alan Tam, selain membuat persembahan di banyak negara luar.

Sebagai seorang penyanyi, beliau sudah menghasilkan sebanyak 17 buah album, dengan albumnya yang terakhir diedarkan sekitar 10 tahun lalu.

Rahimah kemudian meninggalkan dunia seni selama lebih 10 tahun bermula tahun 1990, sebelum memasuki semula pentas hiburan pada tahun-tahun 2000.

Yang pasti, beliau seorang yang semula jadi dalam industri hiburan dan tidak mempunyai sebarang masalah untuk kembali mewarnakan dunia hiburan tempatan.

Di akhir ucapannya semasa menerima trofi anugerah anugerah khas Pesta Perdana, Rahimah sempat menyanyikan bait-bait bermakna daripada sebuah lagunya. Begini bunyinya:

Jalan ke puncak seni, beronak dan berliku, mencabarkan pendakianku,

Namun tetap kugagahi, jiwa seni ku ini, demi hasrat yang suci…

Kini, nama beliau sekali lagi dijulang dalam ‘Oscar Melayu Singapura’ dan Rahimah Rahim diberikan ‘standing ovation’ selaku penerima Anugerah Perdana Emas.

Source: www.beritaharian.sg

April 1, 2017
Imam Nalla Mohamed Abdul Jameel: Additional Supplication From Text Originating From Indian Village, Not From Quran

Imam Nalla Mohamed Abdul Jameel, an Indian national who is facing police investigations for his remarks that had allegedly insulted Christians and Jews during his Friday sermons at a mosque, on Friday apologised for his “act of indiscretion”, which he acknowledged has no place in Singapore’s multireligious and multicultural society.

Early last month, a police report was lodged against an unnamed imam who had supposedly quoted a verse from the Quran along the lines of “God grant us victory over Jews and Christians”, among other things. His comments were captured in a video and shared online.

In his apology on Friday (March 31), Mr Nalla said he was “filled with great remorse for the inconvenience, tension and trauma that I have caused to this peaceful country”.

His actions were also “not complementary to the ethos and essence of this young yet great nation”, he added.

Mr Nalla noted that he had recited an additional supplication in Arabic, which was taken from an old text that originated from his village in India. It was not an extract from the Quran, he added.

“As a resident here from a foreign land, I should have practised my faith in accordance with, and appropriate to, the social norms and laws of this country. I fully admit that my said actions have no place, wheresoever, in this extremely multi-religious and multi-cultural society,” he said.

Mr Nalla, who said he is “very relieved that the society has remained calm” amid this episode, added that he fully respects Singapore’s laws and appreciates the concerns of Singaporeans. “I am truly sorry that I had offended you, and I must bear full responsibility for my actions, as part of my duty to all Singaporeans and residents,” he said.

Source: www.todayonline.com

April 1, 2017