On charging non-Muslims caught khalwat-ing with Muslims April 4, 2008
Posted by elizabethwong in Huh?!, Human Rights, Islam in Southeast Asia, Malaysia, Politics, Race Relations.Tags: Aiyoyo!, Ikim, Mohd Asri Abdullah
62 comments
The above is another gem of a proposal from the Institute for Islamic Understanding (an oxymoron?) and the Syariah Judiciary Department of Malaysia.
Syariah Court of Appeal Judge Datuk Mohd Asri Abdullah even had to cheek to say that these non-Muslims should be charged in CIVIL courts.
The most dispassionate response to all this nonsense is:- It is plainly unConstitutional.
Pls go back and reread the Federal Constitution, Datuk.
Big ears (and air in between) January 4, 2008
Posted by elizabethwong in Current Affairs, Democracy, Human Rights, Islam in Southeast Asia, Malaysia, Politics, Race Relations.Tags: Abdullah Badawi, Bebal, Bodoh, Catholic, Christianity
36 comments
For a split-second round about Christmas, I had thought that the panic over the possibility of the non-renewal of the Herald magazine’s BM section was state-manufactured, in order to make the Christians in this country grateful to the BN government for its benevolence and progressiveness, once the printing permit is granted.
Indeed, most Christians praised their Lord and cried ‘Hallelujah’ at year-end.
In less than a week:- (more…)
In the alternate universe of UMNO, SBs November 9, 2007
Posted by elizabethwong in Current Affairs, Democracy, Event, Huh?!, Human Rights, Islam in Southeast Asia, Malaysia, Note2Self, Politics, Race Relations.Tags: Bersih, brainless, Nov 10, Police, Umno
7 comments
On Tuesday night when the Suaram Secretariat met, we were informed that leaflets with a photo of Sivarasa Rasiah, one of our founding members, were found in mosques, surau‘s, bus-stops etc. where there are large populations of Muslims.
The message in the leaflet was to urge Muslims not to attend BERSIH Nov 10th gathering for free and fair elections, as it’s organised by ‘non-Malays Islam-haters promoting the Inter-Faith Commission‘ (paraphrased).
Harrrh?
The next morning, Latheefa Koya sent me a text message. Apparently there are five faces on the leaflet – Sivarasa, Tian Chua, Raja Petra Kamaruddin, Ronnie Liu and … me (!?!).
47th Anniversary ISA August 2, 2007
Posted by elizabethwong in Current Affairs, Human Rights, Islam in Southeast Asia, Malaysia, Southeast Asia.8 comments
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF 50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE IF THE STATE STILL USES THE ISA?
Today August 1, 2007 marks the 47th Anniversary of the enactment of the notorious Internal Security Act. The ISA of 1960 was originally enacted to succeed emergency laws aimed at combating the communist insurgency during the 1940s and 1950s, has since then been used against those who commit acts deemed to be “prejudicial to the security of Malaysia”, or threatening to the “maintenance of essential services” or “economic life”. The government arbitrarily determines which acts fall into these categories and, using a loose interpretation of the legislation, has detained scores of individuals under the ISA, among which are prisoners of conscience, trade unionists, teachers, religious activist and community workers.
We are celebrating 50 years of independence but what is the meaning of it if the state still uses ISA by detaining persons without trial and without any form of judicial process?
The draconian act infringes the Federal Constitution of Malaysia and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), as listed below,
Rasis Cemerlang dan Terbilang July 12, 2007
Posted by elizabethwong in Current Affairs, Democracy, Human Rights, Islam in Southeast Asia, Malaysia, Politics, Race Relations.31 comments
“Don’t test our patience”
[…] Previously, the Tambak Paya Umno Youth division had put up a similar banner at a hawker centre there to warn others against discussing the May 13, 1969 racial riots.
[…]
“The banner was put up as a reminder to the Indians to respect Malays in this village. This is a Malay village, they are showing disrespect by building this temple,” he said […] (photo and news source: Malaysiakini)
My mates in Suaram had once anointed me “penyajak yang paling teruk di dunia” (ok, i confess they used words not fit for posting), so it is only right that I pen these few lines for Umno Youth.
Tajuk: Cukuplah Pemuda Umno
(Insert health warning: You may feel some dizziness and nausea while consuming this..)
Cukuplah, Pemuda Umno.
Kontrak dan projek, semua dah beri pada you.
Keris-keris pun dicium oleh you.
Gadis cun pun nak ikut sama you.
Realpolitik behind Lina Joy decision May 31, 2007
Posted by elizabethwong in Democracy, Human Rights, Islam in Southeast Asia, Malaysia, Note2Self, Politics, Southeast Asia.155 comments
realpolitik
Pronunciation: rA-'äl-"pO-li-"tEk
Function: noun
Usage: often capitalized
Etymology: German, from real actual + Politik politics
: politics based on practical and material factors rather than on theoretical or ethical objectives (Merriam-Webster)
To kill two birds with one stone is to have the majority view advocate for jurisdiction be placed in the realm the Syariah court, and the dissenting view aim at satisfying the detractors.
This is, after all, an election year.
Sexist MPs May 11, 2007
Posted by elizabethwong in Islam in Southeast Asia, Malaysia, Politics, Southeast Asia, Women.10 comments
Is it my imagination, or does Umno actually enjoy provoking us during particular times of the year, like on International Women’s Day and just before Mother’s Day?
The Sun said, “Sexist MPs at work again.”
Nat Tan put it rather nicely, “Can you imagine that ‘Yang Berhormats’ Dtk Mohd Said Yusof and Dtk Bung Mokhtar actually kiss their mothers, wives and daughters with that mouth?”
House Leader of Opposition, Lim Kit Siang linked the incident in Parliament with the breakup of families by the state religious authorities.
Grim.
Thankfully, Parliament session is in recess.
The anger of Anne James April 12, 2007
Posted by elizabethwong in Current Affairs, Islam in Southeast Asia, Malaysia, Politics, Readings.1 comment so far
Anne James, the celebrated thespian of Malaysian theatre, like many of us, is very angry.
There has been an abundance of legal-speak of laws and constitution, and ‘falafel-ing’ known as intellectual discoursing.
But Anne straight-talks to the judges at the appellant court, the religious authorities and the powers-that-be, in the language we understand and employ.
Darwin banned February 25, 2007
Posted by elizabethwong in Human Rights, Islam in Southeast Asia, Note2Self.21 comments
This is getting very tiresome.
An apt corresponding title to this emo post should read, “Darwin, Islam Hadhari and Freaks of Nature”.
Two weeks ago, CIJ‘s Sonia called up to check if it was indeed Darwin‘s The Origin of Species on the gazetted list of banned book. Preferring to err on the side of caution and referring to the author’s name in the gazette – ‘F.susilohardo Basuki Hernowo‘ (line item 51) – I told her it was most probably some Indonesian Christian book.
Last night, a foreign correspondent telephoned to make the same inquiry. After the conversation, I thought it best to have this checked out with some friends.
This morning, well, one should by now anticipate the not-so-stunning news.
Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri October 24, 2006
Posted by elizabethwong in Islam in Southeast Asia, Malaysia, Photojournalism, Travel.1 comment so far
(Aceh, 2006)
Salam dari Korea Selatan
Dengan ingatan ikhlas
Maaf Zahir Batin..
elizabeth wong 