Archive for January, 2008

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Sikhs use Allah as well

January 5th, 2008
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'Allah': What about us? ask Sikhs
Fauwaz Abdul Aziz | Jan 4, 08 1:55pm

For centuries, Sikhs have used the words ‘Allah’ to refer to God as well as the Arabic terms ‘iman’ and ‘ibadat’ for faith and worship.

Following the government’s ban against the usage of purportedly ‘Islamic’ terms by non-Muslims, what will happen to the practice of the Sikh religion in Malaysia?

This was among the question raised today by Malaysian Gurdwara Council head Harcharan Singh following reports that the cabinet had decided against allowing the use of the term Allah by those practicing religions other than Islam.

“We have used the terms Allah and Rahim (Most Merciful), for example, extensively in our writings and in our prayers to refer to the One God. The word Allah is used in our main holy scripture.

"Sikh gurus in India have used these terms for centuries, they have become part of the Punjabi language, and we are still using them today,” said Harcharan when contacted.

Sikhs also use the word ‘Khuda’ for God, he noted in reference to the term used, among others, by Bangladeshi Muslims.

“In addition to these words, we also use the terms 'iman' and 'ibadat' among the many other words (that are used by Muslims),” added Harcharan, whose organisation represents Sikhs in Malaysia.

“If the word Allah has been banned for use by non-Muslims, what’s going to happen to Sikhs and the practice of their religion?” he asked.

Harcharan’s (photo) comments follow on the heels of a decision announced by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Abdulllah Mohd Zin yesterday that the cabinet had disallowed Catholic publication Herald from using the words Allah (God), solat (prayer), Kaabah and baitullah (House of God) in its weekly’s Bahasa Malaysia section.

Abdullah, who oversees Islamic religious affairs, was reported today as having said the prime minister had directed him to clarify the matter so that the public would not be confused.

“One of the reasons given to uphold the restriction is because that it has long been the practice of this country that the word Allah refers to God according to the Muslim faith,” said Abdullah according to the Star.

It was only proper for other religions to use the word God and not Allah when referring to their God in respective beliefs, he added.

Poser for the government
Harcharan pointed out that the usage by Sikhs of Arabic and Persian terms normally used by Muslims is understandable given, among other facts, that Sikhism founder Guru Nanak had traveled extensively throughout Muslim lands.

Nevertheless, the issue raises a poser for the government, said Harcharan.

“I don’t know whether the basis of the government’s ban on the use of the word Allah by non-Muslims is political or religious. But if in today’s age of globalisation we are stopping people of one religion from using the words ‘belonging’ to another, I don’t know where we are heading,” he said.

Herald had earlier faced proscription following the Internal Security Ministry’s directive for it to refrain from using the word Allah in its weekly’s Bahasa Malaysia section.

Herald was later informed it’s permit had been renewed, with its editor Father Lawrence Andrew saying he had received a letter indicating it can resume printing without any restrictions.

Notwithstanding, the publisher has filed a writ of summons in the Kuala Lumpur High Court to seek declarations of use of the word Allah.

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Posted in BornInMalaysia, Religion

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uthaya sues govt over links with terrorists

January 5th, 2008
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I doubt this case will see the light of the day.
 

THE STAR: Uthayakumar files RM 100mil suit against Govt

source

KUALA LUMPUR: Hindu Rights Action Force legal advisor P. Uthayakumar has filed a RM100mil defamation suit against the Government and its two high-ranking officers for allegedly linking him with terrorist groups.  The lawyer, who is currently being detained under the Internal security Act (ISA) at the Kamunting detention centre, named IGP Tan Sri Musa Hassan and Attorney General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail as defendants. 

Uthayakumar said both had falsely and maliciously caused to be written and published defamatory words about him and that the allegation of him having terrorist links were "fabricated and politically motivated."  He claimed the defendants made the allegations more than 10 days after a massive peaceful gathering on Nov 25 last year that was organised by Hindraf.  He said that it was an attempt to destroy his credibility and reputation. 

He filed a writ of summons and a statement of claim through his lawyers M. Manogar and N. Surendran at the High Court civil registry at 9.11am Friday.  Also present is Uthayakumar’s fiancee, S. Indra Devi, 37, and his supporters. 

In the statement of claim, he stated that the words used by the defendants that were published by the media had the meaning that he was a terrorist.  Uthayakumar said the said words also meant that he intended to use violent means to achieve his objectives adding that among others, the said words also meant that he was an immoral person and that he was not a law-abiding citizen.  He said the publication of said words had brought him into public scandal, odium and contempt and has suffered serious damage, both in Malaysia and throughout the world. 

The defendants, he said, had failed to produce any evidence whatsoever to substantiate their allegation of terrorism.  He stated that the act of irresponsibility, bad faith and mendacity on the part of defendants entitled for him to get aggravated and exemplary damages.  Uthayakumar is asking the High Court to give him an injunction to restrain Musa and Gani or their agents from further publishing or causing to be published any similar libel upon him.  He is claiming for RM100mil in damages for libel and other costs and relief deemed fit by the court. 

 

NST:Uthayakumar files RM100 million suit agains govt and police
BERNAMA
 
KUALA LUMPUR, Fri:

Lawyer P. Uthayakumar filed a RM100 million defamation suit against the Inspector-General of Police, the Attorney-General and the government today for linking him with a terrorist group based in Sri Lanka.

Uthayakumar, 46, filed the suit at the Civil High Court registry through Messrs Manogar & Co. He named IGP Tan Sri Musa Hassan as first defendant and AG Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail and the government as second and third defendants. Uthayakumar is seeking aggravated damages, exemplary damages, an injunction to restrain the IGP and AG or their agents or servants from further publishing or causing to be published the said or any similar libel, costs and other reliefs deemed fit by the court.
In his statement of claim, he said that media statements by Musa that a group, which he had been acting for as legal adviser, had links with a terrorist group were widely reported in all the major local dailies in the country. He claimed that this had destroyed his credibility and reputation. He claimed that Musa’s statements had portrayed him as a terrorist and that he had intent to use violence to achieve his objectives in overthrowing the government. He said he decided to file the suit after all the defendants failed to respond to his letter dated on Dec 12 last year, demanding that they retract all the allegations and apologise to him.
Uthayakumar was arrested under the Internal Security Act (ISA) on Dec 13 with four others — M. Manoharan, 46, V. Ganabatirau, 34, T. Vasanthakumar, 34, and R. Kenghadharan, 40, — for alleged involvement in organising illegal gatherings in the city centre on Nov 25 and for alleged sedition. — BERNAMA
 

Terror link: Uthaya slaps gov’t with RM100m suit
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/76669
Jan 4, 08 3:53pm
Hindu Rights Action Force legal adviser P Uthayakumar, presently under a two-year detention under the Internal Security Act, today filed a RM100 million defamation suit against the government for linking him with a terrorist group.

In the suit which was filed at the Kuala Lumpur High Court registry in Jalan Duta, Uthayakumar also named Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan, Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail as the other two defendants.

He claimed that he had been defamed by being linked to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) which is seeking a separate state in Sri Lanka. The United Nations had declared the LTTE as a terrorist group.

The suit was filed by Uthayakumar’s counsel M Manogar.

“Both the police chief and the attorney general have gone on record to announce that Uthayakumar is a threat to national security because of his links with terrorist organisations.

“Where is the evidence? If there is any evidence, charge Uthayakumar in the open court. Uthayakumar is claiming RM100 million for defamation,” Manogar told AFP.

Uthayakumar, 46, is seeking aggravated damages, exemplary damages, an injunction to restrain the IGP and AG or their agents or servants from further publishing or causing to be published the said or any similar libel, costs and other reliefs deemed fit by the court.

In his statement of claim, he said that media statements by Musa that Hindraf had links with the terrorist group were widely reported in all the major local dailies in the country. He claimed that this had destroyed his credibility and reputation.

He claimed that Musa’s statements had portrayed him as a terrorist and that he had intent to use violence to achieve his objectives in overthrowing the government.

He said he decided to file the suit after all the defendants failed to respond to his letter dated on Dec 12 last year, demanding that they retract all the allegations and apologise to him.

Seeking support and help

On Dec 6, Musa issued a press statement stating that Hindraf was trying to solicit help and support from terrorist groups.

“Of late there have been indications that Hindraf is trying to seek support and help from terrorist groups,” Musa had said.

A day earlier Abdul Gani, while rejecting bail 31 Hindraf supporters who were charged for illegal assembly and attempted murder, had similarly alleged that Hindraf had links with the Tamil separatist movement LTTE.

Uthayakumar had vehemently rejected these claims then.

“Let me repeat this. We are definitely not trying to get help or support from any terrorist groups,” he had said.

Uthayakumar was arrested under the ISA on Dec 13 with four others – M Manoharan, 46, V Ganabatirau, 34, K Vasantha Kumar and R Kenghadharan, 40, – for allegedly being a threat to the security by involving in organising illegal gatherings and for alleged sedition.

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court allows husband to block muslim burial

January 5th, 2008
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read the initial articles here:
 
 

Court allows Christian husband to block Muslim funeral

http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/76691
Jan 4, 08 5:48pm

The Kuala Lumpur High Court today granted an order to a non-Muslim husband to bar Islamic authorities from giving his dead wife a Muslim funeral.

The tug-of-war over the body of Wong Sau Lan, who died Dec 30, would mean that she will remain unburied until the court determines whether she converted to Islam before her death.

Wong's Christian husband, Ngiam Tee Kong, sought the court order after the Federal Territory Islamic Council claimed that Wong had converted to Islam on Dec 24. The religious body sought to bury her according to Muslim rites.

Wong’s body would now remain in the Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (HUKM) mortuary until the court starts hearing the case on her alleged conversion on Jan 18.

Ngiam’s lawyer Karpal Singh was quoted in the media today as saying that it was unclear as to how long the case might take to resolve.

Ngiam, a 53-year-old manager of an entertainment outlet, is claiming that his wife, who was 53, remained a Christian at her death and that any conversion was legally invalid.

In his affidavit, Ngiam said when he went to HUKM to claim his wife's body, he was informed that it would only be released to him if he confirmed that she was a Muslim at the time of her death.

He was also told that the body would be released to him only for having Christian rites to be performed, after which it was to be returned to the hospital for it to be buried according to Muslim rites.

Invalid conversion

Ngiam claimed that on Dec 31, a day after Wong died, he received a declaration of conversion dated the same day signed by the Federal Territory Religious Department director, stating that Wong converted to a Muslim on Dec 24 at a flat in Jalan Siakap, Cheras.

Ngiam said the letter given to him did not state his wife's Muslim name. He said she was a practising Christian at the time of her death.

He said the letter of conversion was not in compliance with the provisions of Section 90(1) of the Administration of Islamic Law (Federal Territories) Act, 1993, as it was not given to Wong before her death.

Ngiam is seeking, among others, declarations that:

– Wong was a Christian at the time of her death;

– she did not fully embrace Islam before she died;

– she was not a Muslim at the time of her death.

He also wants the court to issue an order that he had the right to his wife's body and for the HUKM hospital director to release it to him immediately.

This case is the latest in a string of similar cases which have been referred to the civil courts over disputes involving the burial of people whom Muslim authorities claimed had converted to Islam.

A national debate erupted when M Moorthy was buried as a Muslim in December 2005, ignoring objections from his Hindu wife, after an Islamic court ruled he had converted from Hinduism before his death.

Ethnic Malay Muslims make up about 60 percent of Malaysia's 27 million people, while the rest are predominantly Buddhists, Hindus or Christians from ethnic Chinese and Indian communities.

 
Court allows husband to prevent MAIWP from claiming wife’s body

BERNAMA

 

KUALA LUMPUR, Fri:

The High Court (Appeals and Special Powers Division) here today granted temporary injunction to a snooker centre manager to prevent the Federal Territory Islamic Council (MAIWP) from claiming the remains of his wife who died on Sunday.

Justice Lau Bee Lan made the decision after hearing an ex-parte application by lawyer Karpal Singh who representd the plaintiff, Ngiam Tee Kong, 52, in his chamber.

Lau also allowed Ngiam’s application to prevent the Director of Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (HUKM), its agents or staff from handing over the remains of his wife, Mong Sau Lan, 53, to MAIWP.

The judge set Jan 18 as the date for hearing of the inter-parte application.

In the writ of summons filed on Jan 2, Ngiam said Mong died on Dec 30 and her remains were being kept at the HUKM morgue.
Ngiam said they were married in 1979 at the Civil Registration Office, Petaling Jaya, and before her death, his wife was practising Christianity.

He said he had made a claim for his wife’s remains at HUKM but was informed (by HUKM) that the handing over of his wife’s remains to him was only for the purpose of performing rituals according to the Christian faith and thereafter the body must be returned to MAIWP for a Muslim burial.

Ngiam said he refused to comply with the request and demanded that his wife’s remains be handed over to him as the legal husband but the defendant disagreed to do so.

He said that on Dec 31, he had received a letter declaring that his wife had converted to Islam authorised by the Director of the Federal Territory Islamic Religious Department and according to the letter, his wife had converted to Islam at a house at the Sri Melaka Flats, Cheras, at 10.45am on Dec 24, last year and this had been registered at the department on Dec 31 of the same year.

Ngiam claimed that the declaration of conversion to Islam was not in accordance with the law. – BERNAMA

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sjkt tepi sungai klang storeroom classes

January 4th, 2008
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also read earlier stories at:http://poobalan.com/blog/tamil-schools/2007/12/28/schooling-in-storerooms/
http://poobalan.com/blog/tamil-schools/2007/12/24/tamil-sjkt-tepi-sungai-classes-in-storerooms/

Making the best of 'classes' at council storerooms

source


Students at SRJK (T) Tepi Sungai are temporarily having their classes at the Klang Municipal Council storerooms along Jalan Tepi Sungai.

KLANG: Students at SRJK (T) Tepi Sungai began the school term yesterday without a "school".

The 150 pupils and 11 teachers had to make the best of "classes" at Klang Municipal Council storerooms along Jalan Tepi Sungai.

They had been using a single classroom and open space at the nearby school premises until fire damaged the building on Dec 22.

They could not use the other classrooms in the building as termites had eaten their way through the structure. But this, and the rain yesterday, did not dampen their spirits.

Parent-Teacher Association deputy chairman N.Subramaniam said conditions at the school were far from ideal but the future looked brighter with plans for a new three-storey block of classrooms.

"Work on the project is scheduled to start and we hope the building will be completed as soon as possible."

Subramaniam said a ground-breaking ceremony will be held later this month on the 0.7 hectare site.

Education Ministry parliamentary secretary Datin Paduka P. Komala Devi visited the school yesterday.

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SJKT Kg Jebong Lama is a container!

January 4th, 2008
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Where classroom is a hot container

By : M. Husairy Othman

source

Pupils of SJK (T) Kampung Jebong Lama in Simpang near Taiping in their ‘makeshift’ classroom.

TAIPING: SJK (T) Kampung Jebong Lama in Simpang may have the smallest "class" in the country.

Pupils of SJK (T) Kampung Jebong Lama listening intently to their teacher despite their less-than-perfect surroundings.

Measuring six metres by three metres, the container has been used by students since 2002 due to a shortage of classrooms.

Despite the subsequent construction of a two-storey block with four classrooms, the school with an enrolment of 56 students still does not have enough built-up space.

Students have to alternate between the classrooms and another in an adjoining wooden building and the container. Those using the container can only do so until 11am as the heat gets unbearable after that.

When this happens, they adjourn to the canteen to resume their lessons.

The 74-year-old school has three containers donated by former Kuala Sepetang assemblyman Datuk Siew Kok Kan with the other two used as a storeroom and a resource centre.

Kuala Sepetang assemblyman See Tean Seng has agreed to donate air-conditioners for the containers.

It is also learnt that the federal government has approved a RM550,000 allocation for the construction of a new block of classrooms.

For those using the container, classes boil down to sitting cross-legged on plastic mats with low wooden tables for writing.

Two stand fans offer a brief respite from the sweltering heat.

Despite the less-than-perfect learning conditions, students met by the New Straits Times yesterday were generally happy.

M. Vaanmaly, 8, said that it was quite hot in the container.

"It's a bit hot, tapi boleh la," the Year Two student said.

Year One students T. Shavin and M. Hemadarsiny were happy to be able to make new friends.

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Posted in Tamil-Schools