I read with some reservations on the future direction the Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC) plans to take in addressing HIV in Malaysia. Firstly, let me say that Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman, Dr Christopher Lee, Dr Ismail Baba, and many others from various sectors, be it the medical, social sciences, as well as the many volunteers who […]
Letters to the Editor
Melayu’s Guidelines for children’s book award
By Rafil ElyasThe following is a response to the article Creation of award for authors of children’s books published on 14 Nov in The Nut Graph. In anticipation of the above, I’d like to propose a first draft of: Guidelines for the Malaysian Excellence in Literature Award for Youth Unity (Melayu) Submissions Submissions to Melayu must comply […]
Fatwas shouldn’t be law
By Sisters in Islam(© Hayat Alyaqout / sxc.hu) SISTERS in Islam calls on the government to review the fatwa as an instrument of mandatory and binding rule-making in Malaysia. Our call is made on the grounds that fatwas having the automatic force of law: has no basis in Islamic legal theory and practice; conflict with the Federal Constitution; […]
Activist’s acquittal welcomed
By Gayathry VenkiteswaranIrene Fernandez THE Centre for Independent Journalism expresses its support and happiness at the acquittal of activist Irene Fernandez of the charge of maliciously publishing false news pertaining to conditions at immigration detention centres. However, we share her sentiments that the acquittal was a result of the prosecution’s decision not to fight the appeal and […]
Fatwa on tomboys is regressive
By Sisters in IslamFatwa protestors outside KLCC (photos by Lainie Yeoh) DOES Malaysia have serious morality and social problems? Definitely. To name a few: corruption, money politics, draconian laws like the Internal Security Act (ISA), abuse of power, violation of citizen’s rights, environmental problems, failure to reduce the high crime rate, rampant snatch theft, domestic violence, and failure […]
Yes, Minister. Let’s meet
By Honey TanPERSATUAN Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor (Empower) is very much disturbed by the ruling made by the National Fatwa Council (the Council) on 23 Oct 2008 which opined that females who dress and behave like males is forbidden in Islam. Protestor outside Suria KLCC (Pic by Lainie Yeoh)On 7 Nov 2008, two groups protested against the fatwa. […]
More disclosures should follow
By Gayathry VenkiteswaranTHE Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) welcomes the government’s decision to declassify all highway concession contracts except one and expresses hope that future contracts with public interest are made under more open and transparent conditions. Though long overdue, the announcement by the Works Minister Datuk Mohd Zin Mohamad is only the tip of the iceberg […]
Getting over Dr M
By Lee Hwok AunIN the rhapsody of Barack Obama’s epic election, some of us (Malaysians) may be caught imagining if such a leader could be elected to our highest office. Let’s give idealism its moment. No one is now mocking president-elect Obama for soaring rhetoric. Didn’t he just tap into real yearning for change, willingness to believe in […]
Dear fatwa council and Malaysians…
ON 23 October 2008, the National Fatwa Council of Malaysia issued a fatwa saying that tomboyism, where a girl behaves or dresses in what is seen as a boyish manner, is forbidden by Islam. According to the council chairman, Datuk Dr Abdul Shukor Husin, this decision was made because — in their reasoning — young […]
Press freedom needs level playing field
By Gayathry VenkiteswaranTHANKS to Utusan Malaysia, discussions about press freedom in Malaysia have revived after a lull since the 8 March 2008 elections, when some vague commitments were made by the home ministry to review the licensing provision in the Printing Presses and Publications Act. The Utusan affair, particularly with regard to the defamation suit filed by […]
