“In our country, if one refers to Allah or mentions kalimah Allah, it will bring to one’s mind that it refers to the God for Muslims. Kalimah Allah is sacred to the Muslims and put at the highest position, and its sanctity must be protected.” “The usage of kalimah Allah as an interpretation of the […]
Current Issues
Deadlock over climate change
By Gan Pei LingAn estimated 100,000 people marched on the streets of Copenhagen on 12 Dec IF a bridge had a 50% chance of collapsing, would you cross it? I wouldn’t. But it seems that most developed countries, except Norway, are willing to take this risk in the face of our global climate crisis, just so they can […]
Malaysia is not an egg
By Ding Jo-AnnSOMEONE should tell the Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department that Malaysia is not an egg. Last week, Datuk Ahmad Maslan reportedly confirmed that Biro Tatanegara (BTN) participants are given eggs to signify how “fragile” our community is. There may indeed be beneficial lessons to be learnt from egg-caring as demonstrated by a US […]
Conversion still a problem
By Deborah LohRemoving the “Islam” label on a MyKAD is not that easy PETALING JAYA, 15 Dec 2009: Despite cabinet announcements about conversions to Islam and proposed legal amendments to allow a Muslim convert to divorce in the civil court, other scenarios arising from conversions are not being addressed. As a result, numerous conversion cases are not […]
Ahmad Ismail = Guan Eng & Anwar?
By Ding Jo-Ann“I don’t see anything wrong in allowing Ahmad to come back and serve the party. “Even Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Lim Guan Eng have served jail sentences before returning to contest and being elected as member of parliament and chief minister respectively. “Ahmad has been penalised and the party felt that his suspension should […]
Syariah law galore
By Shanon ShahKartika WHEN the Kuantan Syariah High Court sentenced Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno to six lashes of the cane and a fine of RM5,000 for drinking alcohol, some Malaysians were shocked. But many others were not, simply because Malaysians know that there is a separate law for Muslims in Malaysia — syariah law. The syariah legal […]
Police stats needed for crime prevention initiative
By Deborah LohPETALING JAYA, 14 Dec 2009: MalaysiaCrime, possibly the first local crime-mapping website, is hoping to get official crime data from the police to arm the public with information on crime patterns in their neighbourhoods. However, the Home Ministry has yet to give its official approval to let police share data with the website developers. Online […]
Double-standard policing
By Ding Jo-AnnCorrected at 3.40pm on 11 Dec 2009 PETALING JAYA, 10 Dec 2009: Foreigners who enter the country to give talks require professional passes from the Immigration Department, the police confirmed today. Event organisers are required to apply for a professional visit pass or Pas Ikhtisas before invited international guests could speak at events, the police […]
Protests against Danish Text at COP15
By Gan Pei LingCOPENHAGEN, 9 Dec 2009: Over 60 African youths demonstrated at the 15th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP15) yesterday in response to a leaked draft climate agreement that the Danish government was expected to put forward. “We’re very disappointed [with the draft] …They’re bringing it to the table to force African heads of government to […]
What’s in a name?
By Deborah LohIs Malaysia an Islamic or secular state? IF there is one enduring debate in Malaysia, it is whether this country is an Islamic or secular state. No less because successive prime ministers keep making declarations that it is an Islamic state to much public confusion. Islam is the official religion of the federation. But what […]
