Posts Tagged ‘intolerance’

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Protest over Buddhist park in Shah Alam

July 21st, 2008
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While there is a protest over building of a surau in Desa Mentari, the new Selangor government faces another potential bomb in Shah Alam, this time over a Buddhist park. The Bodhi Park project by Young Buddhist Foundation Malaysia is to be located in Section U12, Shah Alam. The project was kick off by Ong Ka Chuan, Housing And Local Government Minister. Just like the Desa Mentari surau, this protest happened during the ground breaking event.

According to Star, six people who claimed to be residents from the nearby Desa Alam neighbourhood led by Ahmad Shakri Tarmuchi handed a memorandum to Ong, urging him to scrap the project citing that the neighbourhood was a Muslim-majority area and Bodhi Park should not be built in there. Ahmad Shakri told reporters the residents were not informed of the project by the City Council and there was no notice board at the site announcing the project from the time they had occupied the housing estate in December 2006. Minister Ong replied that “people there should live in harmony”.

Bodhi Park is being built by the Young Buddhist Foundation Malaysia ona 0.68ha of land and the building committee chairman Goh Seng Chai said it would serve as a leading centre for Buddhist educational outreach and cultural activities. A Bernama report mentions that the park will comprise an auditorium, a centre for Buddhist research and studies, a multipurpose hall, and a main shrine for devotees.

In the early 1990’s, the foundation bought a 0.6-hectare piece of land in Section 24 for the project but the state government found it unsuitable for religious use and offered the alternative site in November 2002, Goh added. He said the land for the project was bought from the Selangor Economic Development Corporation for RM95,844 and the sale-and-purchase agreement was signed in April 2004. Goh said the development order for the project was approved on April 24 this year and construction was scheduled to commence in September.

What is your take on this? Is it the previous government’s fault for allocating land in a Muslim majority area for a Buddhist park? Shah Alam itself is 90% Muslim populated, so not much place will be suitable. Generally, I find Buddhist programs are not noisy, so it won’t be disruptive as other religion’s function. So, should the park?

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Protest over surau while MP gets punched in Desa Mentari

July 20th, 2008
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I guess all Malaysians already know that MP for Kelana Jaya, Loh Gwo Burne got punched in the corner of his eye by the aide of fellow PKR state assemblyman, Nik Nazmi (currently overseas). As reported in Malaysiakini, Loh says he has forgiven the attacker, Mior Azam Shah Mior Yahya and had talked to him later. Loh made a police report, nonetheless, and police has taken statement from Azam. Says Loh:

I do not hold any grudges against Azam. I still do not fully understand why he hit me but I am not angry at him. When he saw me at the police station, he apologised. He made a mistake.

However, Loh stated that he will not retract his police report because it was necessary to send out the right message.

I will not retract the police report. If I do so, that sends out a message that anybody can whack me and I don’t want that.
I only hope there will be no serious consequences against him. I don’t want him to go to jail.

The reports in NST and Star did not mention details except saying that its over a place of worship, but Malaysiakini had more details, for example mentioning that the place of worship is actually a surau!

According to my sources, the area in Desa Mentari already has 3 surau. The large Indian community there were upset when plans to put up fourth one came up as it will cause more noise. They were expecting a playground instead.

The Star version:

The alleged incident occurred during the ground-breaking ceremony for a place of worship at Desa Mentari here at about 3pm. It seems residents living in the area had protested against the construction of the building there and Loh, who was present, had approached them.
After speaking to the group, Loh approached the organisers of the function to discuss with them the protesters’ concern when he was allegedly punched by Azam. Loh said he went to the scene after being informed about the protest.He said he was surprised because the matter was supposed to have been resolved on Thursday. He said the problem started two weeks ago when residents complained about construction of the building and he was unable to find out who was responsible for the construction.
“When I arrived there today, I kept on asking him (the aide), ‘Who was responsible for this?’ I must have asked him about 10 times and pointed at him saying that, ‘You as a PA should know’. That was when he punched me in the face above my right eye,” he said.The crowd then stopped the individual, he said.“I do not think I provoked him,” Loh said.He added that the party should do something “comprehensive” against his alleged assailant.

Malaysiakini version:

The parliamentarian went to see what was going on after learning there was a protest by residents living in the area against the construction of the surau. He said the problem started two weeks ago when residents complained about the construction of a surau but he could not find out who was responsible for the construction.
He also noted that the structure has no permit from the local council and the residents disagree with the structure. “The residents wanted a playground for the children, not another surau. “I am not opposed to anything that people want to build as long the
residents are properly consulted and have agreed to it,” he stated.
After speaking to the protesters, Loh approached the organisers of the function to discuss with them the residents’ concern and was suddenly punched in the face by Azam. “I kept asking (Azam), ‘Who was responsible for this?’ for about 10 times and pointed at him saying, ‘You as a PA should know’. That was when he punched me in the face above my right eye,” he said.
Immediately after the incident, the police controlled the crowd who tried to reprimand Azam themselves.

Loh then said that the people behind this construction had decided to halt the project as they await further consultation with about 6,000 of the residents there.

Selangor MB, Khalid Ibrahim said that the assault issue has been resolved after apologies were exchanged by the two persons involved. He claims that incident is due to “young PKR leaders eager to bring forward their respective opinions as representatives of the local people”. Does he mean that there are gangsters in PKR? In The Star, the MB is quoted as saying this issue is an internal dispute.

It’s among the young ones of PKR. We see it as an internal dispute that has been solved between both individuals. Both men have apologised and it’s a neighbourhood issue that will be resolved in an amicable manner with the help of Kelana Jaya division chairman Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud.

Khalid said no disciplinary action would be taken on either individual as it was just a difference of opinion.

The young ones are eager to do their best for the people, express the people’s views but it has to be done through constructive
consultation and must not get physical at any moment of time.

One good thing that has come out of this is the high level of transparency, accountability and the presence of the people’s representatives in the neighbourhoods to solve issues.

Asked how it could be an internal dispute when the incident occurred in public, Khalid once again played the matter down by saying that it was all right as it shows that the party members are very much involved in the field and are with the people.

Differences of opinion take place but we encourage constructive consultation and views shared. It also fosters a better understanding among the leaders and its people in a particular neighbourhood.

Khalid said to avoid future misunderstandings; construction of all places of worship must obtain approval from the respective local authorities. But isn’t this ALREADY a rule for non-muslim places of worship???

By the way, UMNO’s Muhammad Muhammad Taib took this opportunity to tell some lies. Read this:

During Barisan Nasional’s administration, since 1957, there were never incidences about fighting over places of worship. “We
usually resolved everything through a consensus. We allowed churches, temples, mosques and all … but now they have to get physical about it

Does he think we forgot about Padang Jawa?

Question now will arise on how Pakatan Rakyat goverment will solve this problem. Will they allow building of a unapproved place of worship? Will rules be bent to get the plans approved? Does the surau actually have an approval? Were residents’ view taken into consideration before construction? What if the residents continue protesting? What is Hindraf’s stand on this? Will MIC say something?

Hmm… so many questions arising.

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PAS interferes in other religions

July 20th, 2008
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This is most embarrassing, a criminal act. If the PAS authorities are so worried about the muslims being attracted by sexily clad female performers, they should just limit themselves by putting some officers there to arrest such people. It is clear to all that the function is a private program held inside the Taoist temple compound. What business do these muslims have over there. Instead of catching the offenders, the authorities go and harass the organisers. Where go fair?

The organisers were asked to cover up the show – a two-day concert with male and female artistes. The event, to celebrate the birthday of the Gods, was held with an
outdoor community concert organised by members of the Tao Tin Hu Keng
Association.

The Takiyuddin fellow from PAS said that guidelines on outdoor performances clearly stated that female artistes
were barred from performing. He said that although the concert was
within the temple compound, it was held in an open space where others
could watch. He said any permit given by the local authorities were subjected to the same bylaws and should be respected by all.

I think these guys should be more tolerant and understanding instead of enforcing such rules on others. Have some common sense and educate your own people first, instead of going around asking people to cover up their programmes.

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Elangesvaran fond of Lord Ganesha

July 9th, 2008
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Selvam told Malaysiakini that Elangesvaran was never a Muslim and had always been a practicing Hindu.

 

My stepbrother has special affection towards Lord Ganesha (the Elephant God)

However the judge ruled that:

 

the High Court has no jurisdiction to decide over an earlier Syariah Court ruling

This despite the fact that no proper proof was submitted on the conversion.

Their family’s lawyer, Karpal Singh will however go ahead with an appeal to the higher court to seek a landmark decision “to once for all end controversies arising from cases of this nature.”

He believed the grounds for Balia’s decision could be challenged since Syariah Court’s jurisdiction covers only Muslims and it could only make rulings on Islamic apostasy, “not when it involves a person’s religious identity.” “Only civil courts can rule on whether a person is a Muslim or not,” he told journalists outside the chambers.

Karpal said it was wrong for the Perak Islamic religious authority to file for a decision at the Syariah Court when the case was pending at the Penang High Court, thus putting “unwarranted and undesired” pressure on judge Balia.

“It was a direct interference by the Syariah Court into the judicial powers of the civil court.”

Meanwhile HINDRAF representatives expressed shock over the ruling:

 

Describing the decision as shocking, Hindraf national coordinator RS Thanenthiran suggested that “Syariah Court seems more powerful and prevailing over civil courts when the federal constitution says otherwise. This is injustice to Elangesvaran family and the Hindu community at large. “I urge the Appeals Court to make an ultimate and fair decision to put to rest this persisting controversy,” he said.

Hindraf Perak coordinator A Vethamurthy said the decision today implied that “it was waste of energy, time and resources for non-Muslims to seek justice through the civil courts.”

I think there’s something more sinister to this story. Who is Elangesvaran? Why is he important until the religious people want to snatch his body without providing any proof? Why did Elangesvaran continue living with his non-Muslim wife if indeed he converted? Why did he commit suicide knowing that suicide is a big sin in Islam? Will the religious hooligans try to snatch the children as well citing that Elangesvaran already converted them? His wife better send the kids overseas as a precaution.

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MHS on Elangesvaran body snatching case

July 8th, 2008
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Earlier, I wrote that MHS, among others, did not respond to the body snatching case involving the deceased Elangesvaran. It has been pointed out that MHS made a press statement on the 24th (reproduced below) hoping that the religious department does not pursue the case in syariah court. Which is exactly what those people did.

MHS, as the recognised representatives of the Hindu community, were duly ignored.

The statement:

 

MAIP should respect the Federal Constitution and Federal Court

PRESS STATEMENT – 24 June 2008

Majlis Agama Islam Perak should respect the Federal Constitution and the Federal Court.

We refer to the report in the Malaysia Nanban on Tuesday, 24th June 2008 (page 3) regarding the turmoil faced by the family of the late Elangesvaran.

We understand that the late Elangesvaran allegedly converted to Islam at some point. He has now committed suicide, and his body is at the hospital. The Islamic authorities say he died a Muslim, but his family members and friends say that Elangesvaran continued to profess and practise Hinduism all the way through until his untimely death.

The Malaysia Hindu Sangam extends our deepest condolences to his family in their time of grief on the untimely and early demise of Elangesvaran.. We are also saddened that yet again a grieving family is being put through torment because Islamic religious authorities are threatening to snatch away the body of their loved one away.

We have today written to the Menteri Besar of Perak urging him to ensure that the civil courts are allowed to determine the religious status of the late Elangesvaran. Therefore, we urge the Islamic authorities not to prosecute claims in the Syariah court for the bodies of the dead who are in the custody of non Muslim next of kin. If a non-Muslim is a party to the dispute, the Syariah courts should not deal with the matter.

We also urge the Perak State Government to recognise the constitutional right of a non Muslim who may have converted to Islam for some reason to revert to his original religion, or to some other religion. A person’s right to profess and practice the religion of his choice should not be unnecessarily interfered with by the State.

It is our view that the issue of whether the late Elangesvaran was a “person professing the religion of Islam” (quoting the words used by the Federal Constitution) must be determined by the civil courts.

We point out in our letter that it is clear from the unanimous decision of the Federal Court in the case of Latifah bte Mat Zin v Rosmawati bte Sharibun & Anor [2007] 5 MLJ 101, FC that the Syariah courts do not have jurisdiction at all to determine any dispute where a party to the dispute does not profess Islam. The comments of the learned Federal Court judges in latest case of Subashini a/p Rajasingam v Saravanan a/l Thangathoray (2007) also reinforce this proposition already entrenched in Item 1, List II, 9th Schedule to the Federal Constitution.

In our letter, we state our expectation that as a statutory body responsible to advise His Royal Highness the Ruler of Perak on Islamic affairs, MAIP has a responsibility to respect the Federal Constitution as the supreme law of this country and these decisions of our highest court.

The non Muslim family members of the Elangesvaran must have an opportunity for proper access to justice. The crucial question is whether at the time of his death, Elangesvaran professed (or acknowledged) himself to be a Muslim. This must be determined based on the civil law, and the Hindu family members of Elangevaran must be given full access to justice in order to determine this question.

Dated 24th June 2008

Datuk A Vaithilingam
President
Malaysia Hindu Sangam

 

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