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only Malaysian father…

February 24th, 2009
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If I remember correctly, there’s no gender discrimination in the registration / immigration rules/acts (need to check).

But why is it the statement below was made?

The Education Ministry will soon issue a circular to all schools nationwide, advising them to accept all ‘stateless’ children, even if they have no birth certificate, so long as the father is a Malaysian citizen.

MCPX

However, the advice will come with a caveat: the children must have already applied, through the Malaysian parent, to the National Registration Department (NRD) for a birth certificate, citizenship or MyKad.

“A birth registration certificate will be issued to the child which will state that the child is not a citizen…,” deputy minister Wee Ka Siong said while on an official visit to Kota Kinabalu over the weekend.

“This will not be a problem as long as the father is a Malaysian citizen. The status of the mother is not important (whatever country) she is (originally) from…”

However, Wee could not categorically confirm, despite persistent questioning by the media, whether children of non-citizen fathers and Malaysian mothers will be accepted into government schools.

He merely said: “Malaysia definitely supports the Unesco policy of ‘education for all’.

Is this written down in law or just some SOP which worked it way in to the system? Aren’t we propagating equal gender rights?

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Lim Guan Eng to sue Utusan over inter faith council

February 24th, 2009
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Well, Malaysiakini report says that Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has denied a report in Utusan Malaysia today that the state had established an inter-faith council last year.

“These are lies…we have no such council,” he told reporters in Parliament today.

Thus, his lawyers will be file a defamation suit against the daily.

“And if they have any evidence of us setting up such a council, then bring it to the court,” he said.

The paper published the news on front page today:

Utusan Malaysia today published a front-page lead stating that the DAP-run government in Penang was insulting Islam with the setting up of the inter-faith council.

The daily quoted the Penang Islamic Council chief Shabudin Yahaya as saying that the inter-faith council must not be allowed to be established as it would place Islam on par with the other religions.

This, said Shabudin, was an insult to Islam.

The daily said that the inter-faith council was headed by Lim and three-Malay members as well.

Original Malay version:

DAP hina Islam?

Oleh HASNURUL MOHAMED
utusanpenang@utusan.com.my

NIBONG TEBAL 23 Feb. – Penubuhan Majlis Perundingan Antara Agama oleh kerajaan negeri Pulau Pinang mesti dihentikan kerana ia meletakkan Islam sama taraf dengan agama-agama lain.

Yang Dipertua Majlis Agama Islam Negeri Pulau Pinang (MAINPP), Shabudin Yahaya berkata, cubaan menyamakan Islam dengan fahaman agama lain ternyata menghina Islam dan tindakan seperti itu mesti dihentikan.

Katanya, MAINPP berasa cukup tersinggung apabila ada beberapa ahli jawatankuasa (AJK) majlis tersebut terdiri daripada orang Melayu.

‘‘Saya difahamkan ada tiga orang AJK Melayu beragama Islam duduk dalam majlis tersebut yang kononnya mahu menuntut kesamarataan agama.

‘‘Ini sesuatu yang cukup menakutkan kerana agama Islam dipandang sama seperti Buddha yang diasaskan oleh manusia bernama Gautama Buddha, disamakan juga dengan Kristian, Taoism dan Bahai,” katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian kepada Utusan Malaysia ketika diminta mengulas ucapannya semasa majlis penyerahan Dana Zakat Program Didik Cemerlang Akademik 2009 di Sungai Dua di sini semalam.

Ketika berucap pada majlis tersebut, Shabudin melahirkan rasa kurang senangnya terhadap penubuhan Majlis Perundingan Antara Agama Pulau Pinang yang bertujuan meletakkan semua agama, termasuk agama Islam sebagai sama rata dengan agama-agama lain.

Majlis tersebut ditubuhkan tahun lalu iaitu selepas kerajaan pakatan pembangkang yang diterajui Ketua Menteri, Lim Guan Eng mula memerintah negeri itu.

Majlis itu dipengerusikan Guan Eng sendiri. Mengulas lanjut, Shabudin yang juga Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Permatang Berangan, Tasek Gelugor berkata, agama Islam itu tinggi dan tidak ada yang lebih tinggi daripadanya.

Looking through my archives, I found that Guan Eng did mention setting up a council, but the name is different:

We have also formed an inter-religious council called Majlis Silaturahim to promote goodwill and understanding among all religions

Its from the Star article dated 23 June 2008.

Is there a difference between “inter faith council” and “inter-religious council”, or in Utusan’s report “Majlis Perundingan Antara Agama” which translates to inter-religious consultation council”?

BTW, isn’t the Majlis Agama Islam Pulau Pinang under Penang state government authority?

Any comments?

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Abdul Ghapur stands up for Kugan in parliament

February 24th, 2009
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One month has passed by as pointed out by Abdul Ghapur Salleh (BN-Kalabakan) since Kugan died in custody. He is the rare voice from BN side to express some sort of disappointment over the pace of investigation. He also was disatisfied that police were investigating Murugiah and Devamany, citing that he would have been at the scene if was informed earlier.

One month has passed since the controversial death of 23-year-old car theft suspect A Kugan in police custody, but his spirit still lingers on in Parliament today as a BN MP stood up in protest over the issue.

MCPX

Abdul Ghapur Salleh (BN-Kalabakan) has expressed his disappointment over the investigation into Kugan’s death as no one from the police force has been charged so far.

He stressed that an independent inquiry should be set up to investigate the police officers who are alleged to be involved in the case.

The independent inquiry, he explained, could be set up by anybody as long as it runs impartially and is not bias in favour of the police.

“We cannot defend the police who are criminals. Even if the Indian boy (Kugan) was a criminal, it was not up to the police to punish him,” the outspoken MP told the House during his Royal Address speech.

Abdul Ghapur also expressed his dissatisfaction over the police investigations into two deputy ministers – SK Devamany and T Murugiah. The two were investigated over the “barge-in” at the mortuary last month.

“They were there to help the family and also to express their sympathies, but why were they investigated? Police are the ones who should be investigated here!

“If I knew about it (Kugan’s custodial death) in the first place, I would have joined them!” exclaimed Abdul Ghapur.

… Met later in the lobby, Abdul Ghapur said the government would have to pay a big price if it does not do something to solve the matter.

“Otherwise, the next (political) tsunami will sweep us all,” he said, adding that people would start losing confidence in the police force and the BN government would lose the federal government in the next general election.

When asked as to why Kugan’s custodial death has got his attention rather than previous similar cases, Abdul Ghapur said Kugan’s case was such a “high-profile” one that it was constantly highlighted in the media.

“We also want the police to behave. So, we must have an independent investigation and the investigator must report the outcome to the public,” he said.

Abdul Ghapur further agreed that the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC), as recommended by the Royal Commission “would be the perfect body” in investigating such cases in the future.

While its heartening to see an MP focusing on the lack of investigation (even though its for political reasons), one wonders if anything will change.

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SJKC Sin Ming invites opposition to function

February 22nd, 2009
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Some time ago, when the Selangor government announced ceremony to award RM4 million to Tamil schools in Selangor, quite a number of schools stayed away because they were verbally warned by Education department. I didn’t see any comments from MIC to protest against the warning. True, the state government could have been more discreet and avoided the controversy, but I guess they wanted to milk as much publicity and good name as possible.

Today, SJKC Sin Ming, which is quite near my house, invited Selangor MB Khalid to officiate the new four-storey building. Worse still, they also invited Anwar Ibrahim as guest of honor! Others invited included Kuala Langat MP Abdullah Sani Hamid, Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo and three Selangor exco members – Teresa Kok, Ronnie Liu and Yaakob Sapari. One can only imagine the anger in Education Department 🙂

Malaysiakini reports that, in response, the education authorities have barred the school’s headmaster and teachers from the event, according to board chairperson Chai Yoon Peng.

The chairperson also said that invitations were sent to key federal and state reps from Umno, MCA and Gerakan.

“No one should view education issues through a political lens,” said Chai, adding that the school board would invite anyone who is willing to assist the school.

The chairperson was worried that a pledge of RM120k by Education Ministry through the deputy minister Wee Ka Siong may be retracted.

“He (Wee) said he has approved the funds, but we must wait until the Feb 22 (today) and see what other issues we have. Then, we must ask (Sungai Pelek assemblyperson) Yap Ee Wah (from MCA) to call him,” said Chai.

Inviting the MB was not in vain. He announced a donation of of RM50,000 to its coffers, courtesy of the Selangor state government, and also announced that the state government would assist the school in adjacent vacant land for expansion purposes.

At a press conference later, Anwar responded to the possibility that the Education Ministry may withhold funding for the school.

“That would not be very smart. This is about education and the rights of all schools. This (the money) is not coming from the education minister’s pockets. If it was, he can hold it. We’re talking about taxpayers money and funds which have been promised.

“I think it is absurd and irresponsible on the part of the deputy (education) minister to threaten schools in this manner and treat Chinese schools as part of the MCA outfit… don’t condemn children just because you have lost support of the Chinese community,” he said.

Response from Wee:

Deputy Education Minister Wee denied that his ministry had exerted pressure on teachers not to attend today’s event. He told Malaysiakini that he did not hold back on the RM120,000 funding to Sin Ming school. According to him, the final approval of the funding will be made next month.

I think MCA won’t dare to do anything as stupid as that. It will be the death knell for the party if it is seen potentially harming chinese schools. Anyway, I think the school was trying to pre-empt any backlash from politicians at federal level by given ample publicity to the pledge by Education Ministry. As it is, the episode in SJKC Damansara (relocated to Tropicana)  is still a bitter pill to swallow even though the school has been reopened this year. They won’t want to have another potential bomb on their hands.

I wonder if this happened to Tamil schools, what would the response be from community political leaders.

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MCA suggests Merit and Income criteria only for JPA scholarships

February 20th, 2009
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I’m quite surprised that not many people talked about the article below. Before this there was a big uproar by certain quarters when the scholarship ratio was fixed at 55:45 for Malay: non-Malay. Now, MCA had talks with JPA, resulting in a victory for MCA:

Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan has agreed that the Public Service Department scholarship should be awarded based only on merit and household income, after discussions with MCA leaders and community heads.

MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat said consensus was reached at a recent meeting and that the idea would be brought to the Cabinet for further discussion.

The other leaders involved in the move were from the Indian and Sabah and Sarawak ethnic communities.

“The consensus reached also included the fact that students who qualify for the scholarships will be eligible not only for overseas study but also for local universities.”

The proposed criteria to select students based on good results and low household income ought to be strictly adhered to, Ong said at the Serdang MCA Chinese New Year open house last night which was attended by top MCA leaders such as secretary-general Datuk Wong Foon Meng, vice-presidents Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen, and Youth chief Datuk Wee Ka Siong.

Perhaps things will get heated up when the proposal is brought to the cabinet for approval.

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