Posts Tagged ‘Religion’

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

Indira Gandhi still hoping to get her children back

January 19th, 2010
|  Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email


Indira Gandhi. Nope, not the deceased PM of India, but our own local famous person.

The two news below was reported way back in May 2009.

News 1: From Malaysiakini:

The kindergarden teacher who is embroiled in a legal battle to get custody of her one-year-old daughter from her converted husband, has finally reached an agreement at the High Court today which includes visiting rights to see her child.

MCPX

The agreement was reached after 150 minutes of proposing and counter proposing in the chambers of High Court 1 in Ipoh.

Indira Gandhi (left), 34, appeared relieved after the agreement was stitched with her estranged husband Mohd Ridwan Abdullah before judge Wan Afrah Wan Ibrahim in his chambers this afternoon.

However, Ridwan did not appear in court today. He was represented by a legal team of three lawyers led by Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla, while Indira was represented by six lawyers led by Augustine Anthony.

Meanwhile, Perak Bar Council president T Shan held a watching brief for the legal body.

Temporary custody until court hearing

The court was to make a decision today on the contempt proceedings brought against Ridwan for the evasion of custody order dated April 24.

However, a compromise was reached between the two sides and a deal was struck whereby Indra will have temporary custody of her two older children – Tevidarsiny,12, and Karaudinish,11 – while Ridwan will have temporary custody of Prasana Diksa pending the Aug 20 court hearing on custody.

The agreement also states that the two older children will attend school without any interference from their father. Both Indra and Ridwan have visiting rights to see their respective children every fortnight at a place and time to be fixed later.

“I am so relieved that my two months of agonising wait for Prasana has come to a successful temporary agreement,” Indira told journalists outside the court.

When asked about the whereabouts of her husband who was reportedly to be in Singapore, she said, “I do not know but I received a mobile call from him during the court proceedings and he verbally abused me.”

Members of Muslim organisations as well as officials from the Perak Religious Department were seen in full force at the court today.

Their presence appeared to unnerve Indira’s family members and friends, who were clearly outnumbered by them.

News 2: The Star.

IPOH: After more than a month of separation, M. Indira Gandhi may finally see her one-year-old daughter within the next two weeks.

This came about after a High Court here Thursday agreed that the welfare of Indira’s three children should take precedence over the kindergarten teacher’s custody battle with her Muslim convert husband.

As such, although the interim custody order granted to Indira by another court on April 24 was still stayed, Justice Wan Afrah Wan Ibrahim agreed in chambers to a settlement proposed by opposing counsels to allow both parents visitation rights with their children.

According to Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdullah, counsel for Indira’s husband Mohd Ridzuan Abdullah (formerly K. Patmanathan), the settlement permitted both parties to see their children at least once every two weeks.

Currently, the two older children, Tevi Darsiny, 12, and Karan Dinish, 11, reside with their mother while the youngest, Prasana Diksa, stays with the father.

“In the interim, the parties have worked out a situation in which status quo is preserved for the time being, until the court has the chance to listen to full arguments on the main application by Indira’s for custody.

”This means that the two older children remain with their mother and the youngest with her father but both parties can meet once every two weeks until the matter is disposed of in court,” said Mohamed Haniff, when met outside the courtroom here.

He added that terms of the settlement were not strict and would be discussed by solicitors from time to time.

Mohamed Haniff also said that the settlement was proposed to give respect to the two disputing parents and to be fair to the children.

As such, he said Indira’s counsels had also withdrawn their earlier contempt proceedings initiated against Mohd Ridzuan for failure to adhere to April 24’s interim custody order.

Justice Wan Afrah set July 20 to hear submissions on Indira’s main application for custody and Mohd Ridzuan’s application to set aside the interim custody order on grounds that the civil court had no jurisdiction to decide on the matter.

Indira’s counsel Augustine Anthony said that he was pleased with the new arrangement for at the very least, it gave Indira a chance to visit her daughter.

Since the 34-year-old was granted an interim custody on all three of her children, she had embarked on a wild goose chase across the city to locate her estranged husband and youngest daughter.

Despite police intervention and the distribution of over 5,000 posters bearing the faces of her husband and child, Indira still failed to find the two and has not seen them since last month.

And in August last year, this news appeared:

A woman challenging the conversion of her three children to Islam by their Muslim-convert father is seeking leave for a judicial review by the High Court here to quash two decisions handed down by the Syariah Court.

M. Indira Gandhi filed separate applications in the civil court earlier this month to quash her children’s conversion, her lawyer M. Kulase-garan said.

She is also seeking a judicial review to quash the Syariah Court’s decision to grant custody of her children to their father, Mohd Ridzuan Abdullah (formerly K. Patmanathan).

“The court has ordered the husband’s lawyer to file submissions on whether the High Court of Malaya has jurisdiction over the matter.

“If the High Court decides that it has no power, then it will not decide on all other issues,” Kulasegaran told reporters outside the High Court here yesterday.

He added that the High Court had set Sept 4 and Oct 20 to hear the submissions on each of the respective applications.

Meanwhile, Indira Gandhi’s application for custody of her children has been fixed for hearing on Nov 2.

Kulasegaran said that Justice Wan Afrah Wan Ibrahim, who heard the matter in chambers, expressed concern that the children had not seen their mother for months.

Today, this happened:

The Ipoh High Court has ordered both parents embroiled in a custody battle over three children to produce them in court when the hearing continues on Jan 22.

Kindergarten teacher M Indira Gandhi, 35, has filed three applications seeking custody of sons Tevidarsiny, 13 and Karan Dinish,12, and daughter Prasana Diksa, 2, following the conversion of her husband to Islam.

In April 2009, she claimed that her estranged husband Mohd Ridwan Abdullah, 41, previously known as K Patmanathan, had converted himself and the children without her knowledge.

Indira Gandhi also wants the conversion certificates of her children quashed, alongside the Syariah Court’s order awarding custody of the children to Mohd Ridwan.

Today, Justice Wan Afrah Wan Ibrahim heard arguments in chambers for about 90 minutes from lawyers representing Indira Gandhi before issuing the order for the children to be produced in court.

Indira Gandhi is represented by four lawyers – K Shanmuga, M Kulasegaran, D Laithaa and Sahri Azzat – while Mohd Ridwan is represented by three lawyers.

Both parents should have a say

Shanmuga submitted that both parents should have a say in the conversion of children below the age of 18, as stated in Section 5 of the Guardinship of Infants Act 1961.

Mohd Ridwan has been in hiding with the youngest child since Indira Gandhi sought police help to get the girl back. The elder children are with the mother.

Judicial Commissioner Ridwan Ibrahim had, on April 24 last year, granted Mohd Ridwan temporary custody of all three children.

Malaysia has a dual-track legal system, with the civil and the Syariah courts operating side by side on matters of family law.

Non-Muslims have previously claimed that they do not get a fair hearing when such cases are disposed of through the Syariah court system, as they have no locus standi to plead their cause.

Both Indira Gandhi and Mohd Ridwan were present at the court today.

So, its going to be one year, and still no solution in sight for the poor mother. ONE YEAR!

Comments Off on Indira Gandhi still hoping to get her children back »

Posted in BornInMalaysia, Indian, Religion

Tags:

The word that divides when it should unite

January 9th, 2010
|  Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email


Well the Word has gained popularity overnight. I can’t say much because its not my area and secondly, the rules seems to be different for the others.

As of 12.15am, three (or four) churches had some sort of explosives thrown, with one damaged quite bad, and another two escaped because the materials didn’t explode. A pastor was “mandhandled” by four guys and some items vandalised in Kg Pandan. One pastor in Kuala Selangor was given advice by a (hopefully) wellwisher to be careful. Ibrahim Ali, as expected, says it may be acts to sabotage his religion. Well, that’s his opinion and we respect that.

The King has issued statement while PM, DPM, and host of politicians condemned the attacks. MIC guys are still in India (150 over people attending the Parvasi I  think) so local media may not be able to access their response.

But note what Singapore Straits Times quoted from Minister Ahmad Zahidi:

‘This is Malaysia. Do not equate us with another country. We are an Islamic country as stated in the Constitution,’ he said, adding that there was a hidden agenda to use the word ‘Allah’ in the Herald, the Catholic publication.

In raising this issue, Mr Ahmad Zahid said a small group of non-Muslim leaders was trying to question the position of Islam in Malaysia.

Islam is the official religion under the Federal Constitution while the right of non-Muslims to worship is also protected.

‘Don’t play with fire and challenge the Muslims. We are willing to do anything to protect our religion,’ he warned.

If we have people who don’t understand constitution as Ministers, what else to expect? Or is it the paper misquoted the minister?

The former president of the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) , Datuk A. Vaithilingam, said the inter-religious committee should be reconvened immediately. The committee has not met for more than one year, he claimed. I doubt this idea will be welcomed by the protesters.

Small protests (Utusan said 3000 strong, but others put it at few hundreds) at mosques (within compounds) happened in about 10 locations in KL, Selangor, Johor, Terengganu among others. While Home Minister said nothing seditious was said at the protests, MK mentioned that one of the protesters (from the cow head case) mentioned about “burning”. Not sure if there’s any recording of that which can be provided to the police and Home Minister.

What about the situation on East Malaysia, the source of the cause of this problem? Why the protests are largely in KL and Selangor, plus unaffected area like Terengganu? Where are the politicians from East Malaysia? I think only Bernard Dompok and Maximus Ongkili said something so far (here, here, and here). I wonder what Bung Mokhtar would say 🙂 Say, would the folks in East Malaysia remember this?

Makes me think, if the ban was not put into place, all this would not have happened. Things were going well as it is, until someone saw it fit to interfere in the religious affairs of the Christians. I see it as interference because what they do with their religions and books is their problem as long as they don’t proselytize to Muslims. If there’s proof that such attempts took place, then can charge the persons because our law says cannot promote other religions to Muslims.  So, if some of the Muslims purposely go and search for materials from Herald, is it Herald’s fault or the Muslim’s fault?

The religious experts are saying different things about the use, exclusivity, and history of the Word. They themselves can’t (or won’t) agree on this, what more of politicians and public who have practically lesser knowledge. Some experts saying it involves sociological context, sensitivity of the majority, and other what-nots. Some even say Syariah Court should rule on Herald’s application! Lots of factors to consider.

I think the judge ruled wisely saying that banning the Word is interfering with other’s people’s rights because there are laws that exist to ensure others don’t misuse their freedom.

I can’t really see a solution to this problem because ruling on a total ban will most likely damage our name in the international circle and create uproar in East Malaysia (from which the ruling government draws some of its power), while a total approval will provide ammo for more protests and attacks.

I have to offer a word of thanks to the Christian community which consists of various races, for not reacting aversely to the attacks on their places of worship.

As for Hindus, let us pray for a solution, an enlightenment from almighty God, that an amicable solution be found. Let us not become emotional or condemn without purpose and care. We have not used the Word in our prayers, so we are not affected. Yet, we can empathize with the Muslims and Christians, and pray for the Divine to open their minds.

Well, let’s see if the Word divides or unites (and who it divides and/or unites).

Comments Off on The word that divides when it should unite »

Posted in BornInMalaysia, Religion

Tags:

If it was not a church but…

January 5th, 2010
|  Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email


I couldn’t help but wonder, if this was not a church/tokong/temple/gurdwara but you-know-what, would the outcome be different? Maybe the land would have been gazetted, allocations provided, and grand officiating ceremony performed. Hmm…

Temerloh High Court Tuesday dismissed the application by two orang asli who sought a judicial review of the decision by a local district and land office which had cut off water and electricity supply to a multi-purpose building that was also used as a place of worship by 70 Jahut Christians in Kampung Pasu.

Judicial Commissioner Justice Akhtar Tahir said that the decision to cut the water and electricity supply was proper because the building was illegally erected.

He added that under Section 6 and 7 of the Aborigines Act, the state authority was empowered to gazette an area as orang asli reserve land.

“However, in this case, the land or area is not gazetted for the orang asli and as such, the application is dismissed.

”The decision made by the Temerloh District Land Administrator is proper,” Justice Akhtar said.

The judicial review was initiatied by father and son, Wet Ket, 59, and Yaman Wet, 33, who named Temerloh district and land office and Pahang government as respondents.

They filed the application in December 2007.

Senior federal counsel Kamal Azira Hassan represented the respondents while counsel Annou Xavier and Kenny Ng appeared on behalf of Wet and Yaman.

The applicants were accompanied by 10 people in the court here Tuesday.

In July 2003, the applicants erected the building, which was also used as a church by the Jahut Christians.

They, however, received a notice by the district office at the end of July stating that the building was illegally built on government land.

In Dec 2006, Wet and Yaman lodged a police report and complained to the Government and following some negotiations, they were given a compensation of RM35,000 to rebuild the place.

Their application for water and electricity was, however, rejected by the Temerloh district and land office on the grounds that it was erected on an ungazetted land while the building was constructed without the approval from the authorities.

1 comment »

Posted in BornInMalaysia, Religion

Tags:

Ironman Bala stunt success due to yoga

December 28th, 2009
|  Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email


Not once, not twice, but 16 times. This guy had a car run over him while he lay on a bed of nails, for a total of 16 times!

Yoga practitioner P. Balakrishnan repeated his death-defying feat of lying on a bed of 108 nails while having a car run over him.

The 60-year-old drew gasps of awe from the audience during a family day event organised by the Taman Universiti branch of Malaysia Hindu Dharma Mamandram group yesterday.

Balakrishnan, who is a yoga guru and nicknamed “Ironman”, started yoga at 17. He completed similar feats twice when he was 47 and 50.

“I am doing it now at 60 to prove that age is no barrier to achieving anything. It is possible to achieve this feat with discipline and proper yoga exercises,” he said after the event at the MBJBT Hutan Bandar near here.

“To accomplish this feat, I stayed away from red meat, eggs, garlic and red onion. Proper breathing techniques are a must to strengthen the body while the car wheels moved over me.”

Balakrishnan appeared calm as a Proton Iswara Aeroback drove over his abdomen as he laid on a bed of nails. A wooden plank was placed on top of his abdomen.

He said he felt no pain and disclosed that he has practised this mind-boggling feat 16 times since his first attempt in 1993.

Kedah-born Balakrishnan has written four books, including two entitled Yoga Path — an Introduction and Yoga Food.

For the past 15 years, he has embarked on a mission to teach yoga to youth as a means to eradicate social ills.

He is also writing the first- ever English translation of the 12 Thirumurai — the biography and works of 63 prominent poet-saints of Tamilnadu, India.

One of Balakrishnan’s young yoga pupils, Keyshore Kumar, 12, said yoga has boosted his health.

“It was difficult to master yoga at first but I worked hard to overcome the pain. Now I enjoy it as it keeps me healthy,” said the SK Taman Kangkar Pulai pupil.

Comments Off on Ironman Bala stunt success due to yoga »

Posted in Indian, Religion

Tags:

best Christmas gift for Christians in Malaysia

December 24th, 2009
|  Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email


This is the same minister who sent a memorandum together with nine others to ex-PM Badawi in 2006 about the issue of  conversions and conflict between civil/syariah court.

Asked if he still stood by the memorandum, he said: “To my mind, the memorandum was not at all provocative. As a matter of principle, I stand by it.”

– The Sun.

I’m not sure what this guy is trying to say now. That’s politics for you.

The people, regardless of race and belief, can be assured that their interests will always be the concern of the government, says Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Tan Sri Bernard Dompok.He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, the sensitivities of certain quarters would always be looked into and there was always the possibility of the people’s requests being fulfilled in line with the 1Malaysia concept.

“Many people find it hard to believe that freedom of religion works in Malaysia.

“Non-Muslim religious bodies in this country should never feel that their interests are given little attention by the government,” he said at the Penampang district-level Christmas celebration, near here, last night.

Dompok, who is also Penampang member of parliament, said the government had proven that it cared for all races and religions, especially in the recent cabinet’s approval of allowing Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination students to take two additional subjects of their choice next year.

This, he said, allowed the students to continue to improve their mother tongue if they chose an elective language subject, or to practise religious teachings, if they chose an elective religious subject.

“Many Christian organisations were elated with the announcement, even though it would not be accounted for in the overall examination result.

“But allowing Christian students to have the freedom to take up Bible Studies as an elective subject in a national examination is proof that the government understands the concerns of the Christians.

“This is the best Christmas gift for Christians in Malaysia this year,” he said. — Bernama.

I suppose the sane Malaysian will ask why this problem occurred in the first place, thus creating the need for the gift. But hey, who wants sane persons? 🙂

Enjoy your gift folks!

Comments Off on best Christmas gift for Christians in Malaysia »

Posted in BornInMalaysia, Religion

Tags: