Archive for the ‘BornInMalaysia’ category

Revathi’s glad to be back home – NST version

July 7th, 2007
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Housewife glad to be back home

source

SHAH ALAM: M. Revathi, the housewife and mother who was released on Thursday after six months' internment in a faith rehabilitation centre, is overjoyed at being reunited with her family.

"The separation was unbearable. I do not want any woman to go through the same ordeal," she said at the Shah Alam High Court yesterday, where she was following a habeas corpus application her husband V. Suresh filed on her behalf two months ago.

The mother of an 18-month-old daughter described her stay at the centre in Hulu Yam Bharu, Selangor, as a sad chapter in her life.

"I really missed my husband and daughter who was then still being breast-fed."

Revathi, whose Muslim name is Siti Fatimah Abdul Karim, said she had always looked forward to seeing them once a fortnight even if it was for a short while outside the centre's gates.

Wearing a red pottu on her forehead to symbolise her marriage to a Hindu, she said she would continue to profess and practise the Hindu faith.

Revathi was detained at the Baitul Aman faith rehabilitation centre on Jan 8.

On Thursday, the Malacca Syariah High Court ordered that she be placed under the care of her Muslim parents.

Revathi said the court had also ruled that she should remain a Muslim.

Recollecting her time at the centre, Revathi said she would be up at 5am and undergo religious programmes until 11pm each day.

"But I was left alone when others performed obligatory prayers five times a day," she said.

She said the other women, including wayward girls, at the centre sympathised with her and comforted her.

Revathi said she cried a lot, especially when she was left alone.

"I looked forward to the day I would be set free," she said.

Her parents had converted to Islam before their children were born. Revathi, the eldest of five siblings, was raised by her grandmother in Merlimau, Malacca.

She met Suresh nine years ago and in 2004 they underwent a Hindu wedding, whereupon she took the name Revathi.

Soon after the marriage, she attempted to change her Muslim name and religion at the National Registration Department but was told to get a certificate from the Syariah Court.

Her misery began when she made the application and the state religious authority obtained a court order to send her to the rehabilitation centre.

Rais waiting for Indian community recommendation – National Heritage listing

July 7th, 2007
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Dr Rais said he was now waiting for recommendation of cultural practices from the Indian community to be included in the list. 
 
any idea who is in charge of providing the recommendations for the indian community?

Parliament and Batu Caves among 50 national treasures on heritage list
 
By IZATUN SHARI

KUALA LUMPUR: The Parliament House, Batu Caves, St George Church in Penang, Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall building and the lion dance on a pole have now something very important in common – they are all considered national heritage.  

Roaring tradition: The lion dance on a pole being performed outside the Parliament House. Both the dance and the building have been declared as part of our national heritage

They are among the 50 things (18 buildings, 20 objects and 12 cultural practices) that were granted such status in conjunction with the country's 50th Merdeka celebrations. (See graphics for full list) 

Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said the ministry had looked at 500 things, but currently, it only conferred the national heritage status to 50. 

"Today, the lion dance on pole which originates from Malaysia and not from China, has been declared a national heritage.  

"We should all be proud of it," he told reporters at the declaration of the 50 national heritage and the launch of national heritage register. 

He said with the declaration as stipulated in the National Heritage Act, Malaysia now joins countries such as Britain, the United States, France, Germany and Australia as having legislation to protect their heritage. 

Dr Rais said he was now waiting for recommendation of cultural practices from the Indian community to be included in the list. 

Asked whether Baratanatyam dance could be included in the list, he said: "It is not a problem. It is one of the foremost dance which has been performed by various sectors.  

"Classical Indian dancer, Ramli Ibrahim has performed it worldwide. 

"The only thing is that we would like the dance to be localised by the Indian community. If that is done, I will forward the suggestion that it be included in the list."

Revathi released conditionally

July 6th, 2007
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Revathi really freed and placed under parents care? imagine that..an adult..married and mother of a child is deemed unfit to take care of herself. what a joke!!! no wonder she says

"Because of their behaviour, I hate (benci) Islam even now," she added.

 
lets hope our voice – the consultative council – and MHS will take some action over this. perhaps start an online and offline petition or  even candlelight vigil all over malaysia – 31st august is a good date, public holiday so many can come and support.

 
please forward.
 
 
The mild version from the Sun

Woman freed from Islamic centre, court dismisses habeas corpus application
R.Surenthira Kumar

source
SHAH ALAM (July 6, 2007): The High Court here today dismissed an application by the husband of a woman whom he claimed was unlawfully detained for 180 days in an Islamic faith rehabilitation centre in Hulu Yam Baru in Batang Kali, Selangor.
Lawyers representing Siti Fatimah Abdul Karim's husband V.Suresh had prepared to argue the Habeas Corpus application but were only informed late yesterday about her release from the Baitul Aman Faith Rehabilitation Centre in Hulu Yam.

The remand period, initially for 80 days and then extended to 100 days, was supposed to expire midnight today.

Suresh had claimed his wife, who goes by the name M.Revathi, 29, was being unlawfully detained in the centre after she was taken away by officials from the Malacca Islamic Religious Council officers (MAIM) when she turned up at the Syariah court on Jan 8.

Lawyer representing the Superintendent of the centre and the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (MAIS) Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla told the court Siti Fayimah was released from detention and ordered to be placed under the custodyof her parents following a decision by the Syariah court in Malacca yesterday.

"Since the Syariah court has the wisdom to release Siti Fatimah, she is no longer under detention and therefore this application becomes redundant," said Mohamed Haniff Khatri.

He cited several Federal Court cases and decisions on the issue to support his argument and appealed to judge Datuk Su Geok Yiam to dismiss the application.

Lawyer representing Suresh, Karpal Singh appealed to the court for the case to be heard despite it becoming academic after Revathi's release.

He said it was necessary for the matter to be heard as it was a case of public interest and perhaps it was an appropriate time for the court to ventilate further on the case because there was an increasing trend in such cases.

Karpal also cited some Federal Court cases on the issue and appealed to the court to give Revathi a chance to tell the court what transpired in the Syariah court.

He also said the Syariah court's order for Revathi's parents to take custody of her was odd because she was no longer a minor and is married.

Judge Datuk Su Geok Yiam, in her decision, said since Siti Fatimah was no longer under detention and therefore she had no choice but to dismiss the case.

"The law on this issue is clear, once the subject matter of a habeas corpus application is no longer under detention, the court has no jurisdiction to hear the application," said Su.

Later outside the courtroom, Revathi claimed the following took place at the centre:

-not given medical attention when she was sick;
-no proper food and was also forced to consume beef;
-forced to wear headscarf;
-not allowed to meet her 18-month-old daughter Diviya Dharshini; and
-threatened her "thali" (saffron coloured woven thread or gold chain worn around the neck by Indian women who are married) would be removed and forced to embrace Islam.

She added her husband took care of their daughter before Diviya Dharshini was handed over to her parents' custody.

Revathi said her parents had converted to Islam before her birth but she was raised as a Hindu by her grandmother.

She married Suresh in March 2004 according to Hindu rites in a temple in Malacca, but the marriage was not registered. Revathi had sought to renounce Islam and was told to go throught the Syariah court to obtain the necessary approvals and certificate when she was taken away by MAIM officers for rehabilitation.

The couple is now having difficulties registering the birth of Diviya Dharshini.

MAIM spokesman Tuah Atan, who was present in court, said Siti Fatimah is a Muslim and her parents were given custody to enable her to continue living as a Muslim.

He said they will assist Siti Fatimah to "return to the right path" in due time.

Suresh, meanwhile, said he is glad his wife has been released but was uneasy about the Syariah court order handing custody of his wife to her parents, adding he will seek advice from his lawyers on the next course of action.

Mohamed Haniff Khatri was assisted by counsels Zainul Rijal Abu Bakar, Rahim Sinwan and Abdul Halim Bahari.

Karpal was assisted by J.Amardas and Nicholas Netto while Edward Saw held a watching brief for the Malaysian Bar and Sunil Lopez for the Malaysian Consultative Council on Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST).

AND the STRONG version from MK

Revathi, 29, still steadfastly wants to remain a Hindu, despite her six month detention by religious
authorities and ongoing efforts to make her a Muslim.

"My name is Revathi. I want to hold on to that name forever. I want to drop the name Siti Fatimah,"
Revathi, sporting pottu (Hindu symbol) on her forehead, told reporters outside the Shah Alam High
Court today.

Born Siti Fatimah Abdul Karim to Muslim convert parents, she was called Revathi Masoosai by the
grandmother who raised her.

She married to V Suresh in 2004 according to Hindu rites and has a 18-month old daughter.

In January this year, Revathi was detained at the Malacca Syariah High Court when she attended a hearing
over her application to have her official religious status be recognised as a Hindu.

She was detained at the court and subsequently held at the Ulu Yam religious rehabilitation camp in Selangor
for six months until she was freed yesterday.

Speaking about her experience inside the camp, Revathi today described that she was subjected to 'mental
torture' and claimed that she defied attempts to coerce her to follow religious classes.

"Their programmes are solely on religion. (There were also) prayer classes. I never attended (any of them).
I only attended counselling. During counselling, they said I had to do this and that. They said I had to
follow (religious) laws. I just buat tidak tahu (ignore).

"I argued that I had a right to choose my religion, but they replied that I should not talk about (my)
rights," said Revathi who is presently living with her Muslim parents as ordered by the religious
authorities.

She claimed that many had ran away from the 'jail-like' conditions of the camp but she had not.

"A lot of people ran away, even though (the camp was for Muslims). Though I'm a Hindu, I could bertahan
(bear with the conditions), because I'm upholding the good name of Hinduism," she added.

During her detention, she was not allowed visits. Recalling the only time she got to see her husband
during her detention, Revathi said: "Even though I was allowed to meet my husband, I got
to see him (standing) outside the camp, without their permission. I saw his car and I ran towards the fence.
It was only once (I got to see him during the detention). After that, they (from the centre) dragged
me away.

"Before, it was not enclosed. Now, they used zinc (sheets) to surround the area. You can't see inside
and we won't know who is outside," she said.

The emotional moment where Revathi and Suresh were momentarily reunited was captured on film by
Al-Jazeera and aired on April 23 in current affairs programme Everywoman.

Revathi was initially detained for 80 days at the camp but her detention was extended for 100 days twice. Her
stint ended yesterday when she was presented before the Malacca Syariah Court.

She was ordered to live with her parents and undergo counselling. She lamented that she was "unsatisfied"
with the decisions made by the court.

"They held me for six months, only to say that I cannot leave Islam. If that is the case, they should
have told me earlier, so I don't have to go into the centre.

"Who's going to compensate for the six months I was there? (It is a) waste of my time! I was separated
from my child and husband. How are they going to compensate?" she asked.

"I have a right to choose my religion. In six months, they cannot make me change my mind, how can they do it now?"

She also said that religious officials tried to force her to pray, eat beef and wear a headscarf.

"Because of their behaviour, I hate (benci) Islam even now," she added.

Broga project dropped – Sun version

July 6th, 2007
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Govt drops Broga incinerator project

KUALA LUMPUR (July 6, 2007): The government has dropped the the controversial RM1.5 billion incinerator project in Broga, Semenyih, Selangor.

The cancellation was notified through a letter issued by the Attorney-General's Chambers to the lawyer representing Broga residents who had sued the government over the project in the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya today.

It was signed by Senior Federal Counsel Suzanna Atan and addressed to Uma Parvaphy Thokhathri of the law firm Messrs Uma and Associates.

The letter read : Untuk makluman pihak tuan, Kamar ini telah dimaklumkan oleh kementerian berkenaan bahawa projek yang menjadi subjek perkara kepada tindakan seperti di atas telah ditamatkan.

(Translation: For your information, this Chambers has been informed by the ministry concerned that the project your party is disputing has been cancelled.)

Uma said the letter dated yesterday was produced in Appeals Court 4, Palace of Justice in Putrajaya today just before the residents' suit was to be heard.

"This (letter) is confirmation that the government has called off the project," Uma said when contacted by Bernama.

"Therefore, my clients have instructed me to file a discontinuation notice within seven days," she added.

The Housing and Local Government Ministry also confirmed that the government had called off the project.

However, the minister concerned, Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting ,did not have immediate plans to give any statement on the matter.

"Yes, there is a letter that has been issued on the matter. However, the Minister will not make any statement today as he is busy with a few meetings. You can publish the details in the letter," said Ong's press secretary Ng Kian Nam when contacted by Bernama.

The decision to call off the project was only known to the media today after the letter was produced in the court.

The hearing was originally scheduled to be heard in the Shah Alam High Court but as Judge Suriadi Halim Omar has been elevated to an Appeals Court judge, it was to continue to be heard by him.

Judge Suriadi later awarded costs to the residents.

Had the project materialised, the 1,500-tonne thermal incinerator would have been the biggest in the country.

It was designed to reduce Kuala Lumpur's dependence on landfills for waste management.

The residents first filed a lawsuit against it in 2005 and obtained a temporary injunction to prevent work done on it from continuing further. However, when the injunction expired, work resumed causing the residents to file a second lawsuit.

The residents complained that they were not consulted about the project and that it also did not undergo Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

They said they feared for their health and environmental effects if it was to be built in their town.

HOT NEWS – Broga incinerator project called off

July 6th, 2007
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after govt was being adamant that the project will go on, they residents filed a suit. and in a surprise turn of events, the govt sent letter saying the project will be terminated! what would the investors, contractors, and other stakeholders do now? sue the govt?
 
this is indeed a major, major surprise.
 
Broga incinerator project called off

By LOONG MENG YEE and ROYCE CHEAH

SHAH ALAM: The RM1.5bil incinerator project in Broga has been terminated. 

Court of Appeal judge Justice Suriyadi Halim Omar, who was sitting as a High Court judge, was informed of the matter by counsel Uma Parvathy Thothathri when the court commenced Friday for the continued hearing of an action taken by a group of Broga residents to block the project. 

About 30 residents present in court cheered and applauded in court when lawyers acting for the Government confirmed that the project would no longer proceed. 

Uma was acting for the residents who took the Government to court in 2003 over the project. 

Friday's was supposed to have been a continuation of the hearings for the case but in a surprising turn of events, Uma informed Suriyadi that the firm had received a letter from the Attorney-General's Chambers on Thursday evening. 

Uma then told the court the letter stated the project had been "ditamatkan" (terminated). 

Justice Suriyadi then turned to the two counsel representing the Government and inquired why the project was terminated. 

Senior Federal Counsel Suzana Atan and Selangor legal adviser Datuk Zawyah Be Loth Khan replied that the project had indeed been called off. 

The court also decided that the Government would pay costs to the plaintiff's solicitors. 

Outside the court, Alice Lee, who led the action and whose name appeared as the plaintiff in the suit, said the 402 residents who sought justice in court were "so very happy". 

"We are meeting tonight to plan for a celebration. We want to invite all those who had helped us in this struggle. Particularly, we want to record our appreciation to Judge Suriyadi. He has been very fair to both sides and he made sure the lawyers did their job on time," said Lee. 

On Nov 8, 2003, Lee filed a suit seeking a declaration ordering the Government to divulge details of the controversial RM1.5bil municipal solid waste thermal treatment plant. 

On Jan 20, 2005, Lee filed an application on behalf of the villagers for a stay order pending the outcome of the suit against the Selangor Menteri Besar, the Science, Technology and Environment Ministry and the Selangor Land and Mines Department director. 

On Feb 14 that same year, the High Court granted the temporary stay order. 

Outside the courtroom, Uma said she would not withdraw the suit in the event the Government decided to revive project in the future. 

"If the Government does, that would tantamount to contempt of court," she said. 

Broga no-incinerator committee chairman Zulkefly Mohamad Omar said the residents were very happy that the matter has finally been put to rest and thanked the court. 

"This issue involves public and not political interest," he said. 

Selangor state executive councillor in charge of environment Datuk Ch'ng Toh Eng said there had not been any official statement from the Federal Government to the state regarding the cancellation of the incinerator project.

By LOONG MENG YEE and ROYCE CHEAH

SHAH ALAM: The RM1.5bil incinerator project in Broga has been terminated. 

Court of Appeal judge Justice Suriyadi Halim Omar, who was sitting as a High Court judge, was informed of the matter by counsel Uma Parvathy Thothathri when the court commenced Friday for the continued hearing of an action taken by a group of Broga residents to block the project. 

About 30 residents present in court cheered and applauded in court when lawyers acting for the Government confirmed that the project would no longer proceed. 

Uma was acting for the residents who took the Government to court in 2003 over the project. 

Friday's was supposed to have been a continuation of the hearings for the case but in a surprising turn of events, Uma informed Suriyadi that the firm had received a letter from the Attorney-General's Chambers on Thursday evening. 

Uma then told the court the letter stated the project had been "ditamatkan" (terminated). 

Justice Suriyadi then turned to the two counsel representing the Government and inquired why the project was terminated. 

Senior Federal Counsel Suzana Atan and Selangor legal adviser Datuk Zawyah Be Loth Khan replied that the project had indeed been called off. 

The court also decided that the Government would pay costs to the plaintiff's solicitors. 

Outside the court, Alice Lee, who led the action and whose name appeared as the plaintiff in the suit, said the 402 residents who sought justice in court were "so very happy". 

"We are meeting tonight to plan for a celebration. We want to invite all those who had helped us in this struggle. Particularly, we want to record our appreciation to Judge Suriyadi. He has been very fair to both sides and he made sure the lawyers did their job on time," said Lee. 

On Nov 8, 2003, Lee filed a suit seeking a declaration ordering the Government to divulge details of the controversial RM1.5bil municipal solid waste thermal treatment plant. 

On Jan 20, 2005, Lee filed an application on behalf of the villagers for a stay order pending the outcome of the suit against the Selangor Menteri Besar, the Science, Technology and Environment Ministry and the Selangor Land and Mines Department director. 

On Feb 14 that same year, the High Court granted the temporary stay order. 

Outside the courtroom, Uma said she would not withdraw the suit in the event the Government decided to revive project in the future. 

"If the Government does, that would tantamount to contempt of court," she said. 

Broga no-incinerator committee chairman Zulkefly Mohamad Omar said the residents were very happy that the matter has finally been put to rest and thanked the court. 

"This issue involves public and not political interest," he said. 

Selangor state executive councillor in charge of environment Datuk Ch'ng Toh Eng said there had not been any official statement from the Federal Government to the state regarding the cancellation of the incinerator project.