(Stationary pic by ba1969 / sxc.hu) DISCIPLINE within political parties has been in the spotlight recently. In the headlines was PAS’s suspension of its Shah Alam Member of Parliament (MP) Khalid Samad. And then there is Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR)’s trio of male Malay Malaysian leaders — Zulkifli Noordin, Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohamed Hashim and […]
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Don’t charge Nasir Safar
By Ding Jo-AnnDATUK Nasir Safar‘s alleged racist remarks have sparked calls by Barisan Nasional component parties for Nasir to be charged with sedition and even detained without trial under the Internal Security Act. Buckling under such pressure, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein announced on 4 Feb 2010 that the now former special officer of the prime […]
Islam’s special position
By Ding Jo-Ann(Corrected at 12:35pm, 1 Feb 2010) THE Home Ministry’s ban on the use of “Allah” by the Catholic Herald publication has once again raised the issue of Islam’s position in Malaysia. “The special position of Islam is enshrined and protected under the constitution,” said senior federal counsel Mahamad Naser Disa during arguments in Herald’s suit […]
Obituarising the Sultan of Johor
By Ding Jo-AnnThe late Sultan of Johor (© Masami Takakuwa | Wiki Commons) SULTAN Iskandar ibni Almarhum Sultan Ismail, one of Malaysia’s most controversial rulers, passed away on 22 Jan 2010 at the age of 77. The late Johor Sultan will be remembered for many things, one of which would be when he got off his podium […]
Still no decision on Wain book
By Deborah LohPETALING JAYA, 27 Jan 2010: After two months of study, the Home Ministry still has not decided whether a Barry Wain book on former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad should be banned or not. Home Ministry secretary-general Datuk Mahmood Adam, when last spoken to on 19 Jan, said a study of Malaysian Maverick: Mahathir […]
“Allah” dan dakyah Kristian
Oleh Shanon Shah(Gambar buku oleh Ivan Petrov; gambar sembahyang oleh Adrian Van Leen / sxc.hu) SALAH satu alasan penganut Islam yang menentang penggunaan kalimah “Allah” oleh orang bukan Islam di Malaysia ialah perbuatan ini akan mengelirukan umat Islam. Ini pula kerana kononnya terdapat konspirasi Kristian untuk menyesatkan orang Islam supaya mereka murtad dan memeluk agama Kristian. Dan […]
Malay rights, Islam and royalty
By Ding Jo-Ann(Ahmad Ismail pic courtesy of Oriental Daily) HARDLY a year goes by in Malaysia without some kind of public dispute involving race and religion. The issue for 2010: “Allah“. 2009: Cow-head protesters and Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno‘s whipping sentence. 2008: Datuk Ahmad Ismail and his “pendatang” slurs against non-Malay Malaysians. 2007: Lina Joy‘s contentious conversion […]
PMs assured Christians of use of “Allah”
By Ding Jo-AnnPETALING JAYA, 13 Jan 2010: Even though the government banned the use of “Allah” by non-Muslims in 1986, the churches refrained from court action for more than 20 years because of assurances from two prime ministers. ShastriCouncil of Churches of Malaysia general secretary Rev Dr Hermen Shastri told The Nut Graph that Christian leaders were […]
“Allah” can be discussed calmly
By Ding Jo-Ann(Corrected at 4:38pm, 12 Jan 2010) KUALA LUMPUR, 12 Jan 2010: Malaysians are mature enough to openly discuss issues without resorting to violence, said the organiser of an 11 Jan 2010 public forum on the “Allah” issue. Despite being told by police to cancel last night’s forum following the spate of attacks on churches, the […]
Correcting the IGP
By Shanon ShahARSONISTS attacked eight churches Musa Hassan (Pic by Ridzuan Aziz / Wiki commons) between 8 and 11 Jan 2010 all over Malaysia — something unheard of in the country’s history. And yet, on 9 Jan, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Musa Hassan advised churches to tighten security at their premises because there were not […]
