“We open our ears to whatever grouses the public, in particular the Orang Asli, have. If anyone says we are depriving them, we are neglecting them, that’s not true.” RURAL and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, speaking to reporters after receiving a memorandum from the Orang Asli protesting proposed changes to the […]
Found in Quotation
Can children marry?
By Ding Jo-Ann“If the syariah court grants the marriage, there is no reason for anyone, not even the civil courts, to question the sanctity of the marriage.” SELANGOR mufti Datuk Mohd Tamyes Abdul Wahid, stating that syariah courts could hear applications to approve marriages involving Muslim girls under 16. Currently, Islamic family law allows girls 16 and […]
Najib’s version of media freedom
By Shanon Shah“As long as the reports do not run foul of our existing laws, the press is free to report on pretty much anything.” PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, denying that Malaysia lacked press freedom and saying that such accusations were grossly unfair. Najib said this to journalists and the business fraternity before giving out […]
Friday sermons to Islam’s rescue
By Shanon Shah“Marilah kita hidup di negara ini dengan hormat-menghormati antara satu sama lain. Budaya ini akan menjamin kesejahteraan dan kebahagiaan. Jika ada pihak lain yang tidak mahu hidup hormat-menghormati, sudah pasti akan berlaku kemungkinan permusuhan, pergaduhan dan pembunuhan yang pastinya kesemua sekali akan rugi negara akan musnah. Hentikanlah menghina Islam, kerana Islam adalah ciptaan Allah.” THE […]
Najib on caning: Who’s listening?
By Ding Jo-Ann“Islam is a religion of compassion and mercy. It is not about corporal punishment. That is the last resort. “That’s how it should be practised. We must not go overboard.” Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak commenting on the sentencing of Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno in July 2009 to six cane strokes after she pleaded […]
Wily Soi Lek
By Deborah Loh“Maybe by sacking me, Ong believes he can sleep better and the party will be more stable … I tarnished the party image. That is a severe crime. I am lucky they did not sentence me to death.” DATUK Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, reacting to his expulsion from the MCA by the presidential council […]
Boon for upholding Islam
By Shanon Shah“I hope there will be no more issues arising from the caning sentence which can be imposed by the syariah court on Muslim women to protect the sanctity of Islam.” HOME Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, anticipating the public’s questions about the feasibility and fairness of the caning of three Muslim women for “illicit sex”, […]
Perils of questioning Islam
By Shanon Shah“If Muslims themselves do not respect the decision by the syariah court and offer contradicting views on the matter, how do we make non-Muslims respect our laws[?]” SELANGOR mufti Datuk Mohd Tamyes Abdul Wahid, on why Muslims shouldn’t question the caning of Muslim women. (Source: Don’t question syariah caning sentence on women, New Straits Times, […]
What’s behind the PKR resignations?
By Shanon Shah and Patrick Kratzenstein“Pakatan [Rakyat] will not last long … I will not be a part of this group of people which are destroying my country, my race and my religion … Today’s PKR (Parti Keadilan Rakyat) and Pakatan [are] now a far cry from practi[s]ing the pure struggle of ‘reformasi’ which de facto PKR leader [Datuk Seri] […]
Normalising caning
By Ding Jo-Ann and Patrick Kratzenstein(Corrected at 3:10pm, 8 March 2010) “The public and world community no longer needs to fear caning as a punishment under the syariah because it is not cruel but instead educates the offenders. It also provides awareness and teaches the offenders to repent and not repeat the acts.” Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, who […]
