Fitnah and tango around khalwat
April 11, 2008
By Helen Ang
_____________________________
The Star recently carried an article headlined ‘Proposal to prosecute non-Muslims for khalwat’, reporting on a seminar organised by Institut Kefahaman Islam Malaysia (IKIM) and the Syariah Judiciary Department.
It created a public uproar, and had IKIM jumping up and down. This time around, I believe the reporter; I do not credit IKIM’s contention– made in a Press statement by institute Director-General Dr Syed Ali Tawfik Al-Attas – that her report “is entirely erroneous”.
The reporter had quoted Syariah Court of Appeal Judge Datuk Mohd Asri Abdullah saying: “The Muslims can be sentenced in Syariah courts, and the non-Muslim partners can probably be sentenced in the civil courts, to be fair to both parties.”
There are two reports in Star Online, the original on April 2 and an updated longer version April 3, where the exchange with Asri was transcribed verbatim. In this case, The Star has stuck to its story.
(Side note: theSun, as regular People’s Parliament participants might remember, did not publish our letter of clarification, and not only that, I do not remember either any outcome highlighted on former Kelana Jaya MP Lee Hwa Beng’s allegation that a Sun reporter misquoted him).
In the IKIM DG’s rebuttal in The Star on April 5, Dr Syed Ali expressed his disappointment that the article sensationalised the khalwat aspect.
Nonetheless, I find his claim viz. – “khalwat meant that the couple caught committing it should ‘have no space between them or were joined together’ therefore proving khalwat was almost impossible” – does not tally with reality as we know it. While it is rumoured that several prominent VIPs caught in the act have escaped punishment, it’s certainly fact that lots of ordinary Muslims have paid their summons for this offence.
The DG had also said in his clarification – “If indeed the learned Syariah Court of Appeal Judge made those statements, we strongly advise that it would behoove the learned Judge to be more circumspect in future” – which I’m construing as Dr Syed Ali telling off Datuk Asri to be more careful the next time he opens his mouth to reporters.
Dr Syed Ali, in couching his explanation in such an obscurantist fashion, is hardly convincing in his ‘denial’. Why doesn’t he just simply say there never was such a proposal mooted to charge non-Muslims for khalwat?
The Star had gone a step further reporting that “the proposal, contained in a draft resolution from the seminar’s findings, would be forwarded to the Attorney-General’s Chambers”, and quoted Datuk Asri saying: “It is up to the AG’s Chambers or the relevant authorities to decide how to create such law”.
Dr Syed Ali’s obscurantism is further deployed in this segment of his Press statement where he said: “Towards the end of the article, it also alleges that there was a proposal calling ‘for the establishment of a rehabilitation center for those convicted of offences related to morals and faith such as prostitution and effeminate men’. To my knowledge, I have never interpreted being effeminate as an offence. But more importantly this so called proposal as reflected in the article is not representative of the proposals made during the seminar at IKIM.”
Again, the good doctor accuses the paper of sensationalising while failing to say outright there was never such a proposal to enforce the rehab. His remarking on ‘interpretation to his knowledge’ is only beating about the bush.
In Malaysia, we have a bevy of Little Mullah Napoleons who insist they know better than the layman. They are adamant the Average Ali is unable to match their level of understanding to discuss or debate Islam. They are even more adamant that non-Muslims have no right to talk about Islam at all.
Well, in the DG of IKIM, we have among one of the country’s most learned men in Islam. And yet Dr Syed Ali doesn’t seem able to give a clear explanation on matters that occurred only recently at his own seminar.
As such I, for one, wouldn’t want to depend on the Muslim ‘clergy’ to help me understand ‘Fitna’ the video clip [read Haris’ fifth instalment of the discussion] or on the avoidance of fitnah, the Muslim’s duty not to obfuscate.
REF.
Original Star article (April 2)
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/2/nation/20080402162105&sec=nation
Updated Star article (April 3)
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/3/nation/20830111&sec=nation
IKIM DG rebuttal in Star (April 5)
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/5/courts/20862154&sec=courts
IKIM DG Press statement:
http://www.malaysianbar.org.my/letters_others/statement_by_the_director_general_of_ikim|.html
April 11, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Islamisation in Malaysia is typified by the Iranian approach to drinking beers. We want to drink beers but beers contain alcohol. So we have non-alcoholic beers. That’s it. The Islamisation of beers!
Last week, no less than the Institute of Islamic Understanding (Institiut Kefahaman Islam Malaysia or IKIM in short) had a brainstorming session. You know, sometimes these people would converge and talk about how big their LCD televisions are and how many horse power their office air conditioners have…..continue @:
http://thegazerofnavels.blogspot.com/2008/04/as-yet-untitled.html
April 11, 2008 at 6:57 pm
Now we understand better why BN government recent proposal to ensure the Little Mullah Napoleons are better educated till Masters level.
Hopefully with masters level education their brains are better used unlike brand new brains now running the show and talking nonsense.
April 11, 2008 at 7:13 pm
after our political tsunami, we need a religious tsunami, well said bro
Hamzah,
I think you mean well said, Helen
April 11, 2008 at 9:06 pm
umno,can have thousands master degree holder in islamic studies but as long as umno championing race base party and religion as they main agenda to unite the malay muslim,the ulamaks can have PHD.
With PHD ulamaks at umno disposal it wont unite malaysian.
Lets leave race and religion alone and dont try to be smart ass using religion to champion malay muslim.
Its will just corrupt the people more for political gain for $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.
Why is the mamak indian want to betray their race to become malay? Hello bumiputra mamak,are you all still want to be malay bumiputra.You all no proud of your culture.Just selling your dna indian for political mileage.SHAME ON YOU PEOPLE LIKE UMNO.traitor to own dna.
I JUST WANT TO BE MALAYSIAN PUTRA REGARDLESS MY RACE OR RELIGION.raj raman
Ps.Sorry haris,bad mood today due to mahathir sleeping well and i short of supply of valium.Economy slow,no money to buy valium.
April 11, 2008 at 9:30 pm
Why is it some Muslims are dead against any idea of having an inter-religious dialogue between Muslims and non-Muslims.
As far as I’m concerned, all men are created equal in the eyes of God. By the same token, all religions that subscribe to the same God must also be equal in the eyes of God.
So, how is it that some Muslims find it hard to sit down on a level playing field and have a meaningful and constructive dialogue with their non-Muslim bretheren.
Very often we hear Muslims complaining about how Islam has been misunderstood by non-Muslims. If certain Muslims continue to object to having dialogues with non-Muslims, then I’m afraid Islam will continue to be a misunderstood religion.
Someone once told me that the reason why certain Muslims don’t want to have dialogues with non-Muslims is because in a level playing field, Islam has to be seen as equal with other non-Muslim religions. These Muslims believe that Islam is above all other religions. As such, they can’t accept the idea of seeing Islam as equal to other religions.
I do not know how true this is but I will appreciate if someone can clear the air about this.
http://margeemar.blogspot.com
Margeemar,
My 2 sen is that the problem stems from a misapprehension of what ‘Islam’ means or represents.
If ‘Islam’ represents a pronoun, the name that God bestows upon the religion he has decreed for man, then the verses in the Qur’an where God says he will not accept any other than ‘Islam’ takes on the meaning of one superior to all other religions, as understood my many.
If, however, as I have come to understand ‘Islam’, it is an adjective in the Arabic language and represents the way of life (ad’deen) of peace through submission to one’s Maker ( Islam ), then all who strive to attain to peace through submission to their Maker ( regardless of the faiths they claim to adhere to ) should be able to sit and discuss on the basis of equality.
My 2 sen
April 11, 2008 at 10:44 pm
The Downfall of UMNO
Contrary to the widely-held view, the downfall of UMNO did not begin with the election results of March 2008 nor with the ascent of Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to the post of Prime Minister of Malaysia. It commenced about 26 years earlier when Mahathir Muhammad assumed the position of Prime Minister of Malaysia and then things came to a boil when he (Mahathir) about 10 years ago vindictively denounced and removed the then Deputy Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim , to preserve his own position as President of UMNO and Prime Minister of Malaysia and to forestall any possible challenge to his position by Anwar. Mahathir brought trumped- up charges of corruption and homosexuality against Anwar and had him convicted of the same and sentenced to jail.
Anwar was then UMNO’s rising star and had risen fast to the position of Mahathir’s deputy, both in the party and country, and had displayed all the qualities of being a capable and charismatic leader, both at the national as well as international level.
Mahathir however could and would brook no challenge to his own position and as demonstrated by him in earlier years had manipulated the removal of other capable leaders within UMNO, including Musa Hitam and Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.
To Mahathir, his own survival superceded all other matters, including the interest of the nation and UMNO.
When he removed Anwar and had him jailed, Mahathir appointed Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as his deputy in both UMNO and the country. His choice of Abdullah was typical Mahathir. Abdullah was and is an uncharismatic leader, who despite having Islamic credentials and a reputation of being clean, would pose no challenge to him. Mahathir did not want a strong, capable deputy who might pose a challenge to his own position.
It may be recalled how when Musa Hitam had been manipulated to resign his position as Mahathir’s deputy years earlier, Mahathir replaced him with Ghafar Baba, a leader with limited capabilities at the national level, who could pose no challenge to Mahathir.
It did not matter to Mahathir if the nation and UMNO loses out thereby so long as he (Mahathir) does not. Nor did it matter to Mahathir that by removing Anwar and some of the others earlier he was depriving UMNO of its capable leaders. All that mattered to Mahathir was his own self-interest and survival. The party and country could suffer, for all he cared.
In removing Anwar and attempting to destroy him politically however Mahathir badly miscalculated. He did not forsee the disgusted reaction of the people to the abuse he heaped onto Anwar and the injustice meted out to him nor the determination of Anwar to fight back.
UMNO suffered electoral setbacks in the next general election in 1999 as a result of this. The writing was on the wall and Mahathir, seen as the perpetrator of the injustice to Anwar, had to go if UMNO were to survive. Thus it was that Mahathir unwillingly stepped down a few years later and Abdullah succeeded him.
To his credit Abdullah freed Anwar and loosened some of the shackles that Mahathir had in his totalitarian style imposed on the media and people. Abdullah even consented to the Royal Commission to investigate claims that some members of the Judiciary previously may have been corrupt and less than circumspect and that Mahathir was no innocent party to these goings-on. Abdullah restored some of the democratic practices that the people had enjoyed before Mahathir’s time and he was more tolerant of dissent than Mahathir ever was. All these however enraged Mahathir, who also had seen Abdullah cancel some of Mahathir’s earlier mega-projects.
Instead of playing the role of the elder statesman who proffers advice quietly when asked, Mahathir and his supporters launched attack after attack on Abdullah seeking to oust him.
Abdullah had thus to deal with attacks not just from the Opposition but also from within UMNO, led by Mahathir and those still loyal to him. Mahathir encouraged social activists and non-government organizations to spew hatred towards Abdullah, even going so far as to grant exclusive interviews to websites like malaysiakini and malaysia-today.net which had earlier borne the brunt of Mahathir’s criticism and well-known sarcasm.
Unknown to many Mahathir even quietly told people to vote for the Opposition in the run-up to the general election of 2008. When UMNO and the Barisan Nasional suffered severe losses in the general election of 2008, Mahathir triumphantly blamed it all on Abdullah and barely hours after the election results were known announced at a press conference that Abdullah should resign. How he managed to organise a prèss conference so early the next morning (11am) to demand Abdullah’s resignation when, it can safely be assumed all pressmen would have been up till the wee hours of the morning watching the election results roll in, is a mystery. Or was it all planned beforehand?
UMNO and Abdullah are now left with the daunting task of reviving the flagging morale of UMNO members whilst at the same time fending off continued attacks from Mahathir. Mahathir and his supporters have been actively organising Abdullah-bashing sessions at hotels and other venues.
In doing so it is manifestly clear that Mahathir is not interested in the welfare of UMNO or in assisting its revival but consistent with himself is only concerned with his own selfish interest. He amended UMNO’s rules on contesting in party-elections to safeguard his own position and now has the gall to term it undemocratic.
Seriously it must be asked, has this man no sense of shame? Has he no fear of God?
He had destroyed capable leaders in UMNO during his time. He favoured having deputies who he knew were not the best UMNO had to offer. It did not matter to him that he promoted to Ministerships and Deputy Ministerships within the Government those who were incapable and scandal-tainted so long as they remained loyal to him. And now he has the audacity to criticize and complain what he himself has created.
Mahathir in short wreaked havoc in the country during his reign of 22 years. He consolidated and centralized power in himself like no one this country has ever seen. He castrated the Judiciary, rendered impotent the mass media and Government agencies that were there to protect the peoples’ rights and made subservient to his will all branches of Government. He treated the funds of Petronas like his own personal kitty, being answerable to no one. He allowed his cronies and those loyal to him to flourish and to rape the country’s wealth, enjoying immunity from the law. He showed absolute disdain for anyone who had views opposed to his and was not averse to detaining his opponents without trial.
Mahathir twenty odd years ago destroyed the original UMNO formed in 1946. Now he is unperturbed if his actions destroy the imitation (UMNO Baru) that he formed in 1988 so long as his own selfish interests are served.
History will judge him, and not Abdullah, as the true cause of UMNO’s downfall. God, Anwar and the people will make sure of that.
April 12, 2008 at 1:12 am
Dear Malaysians,
Ur urgent attention needed. This is attempted murder
P.UTHAYAKUMAR DISCHARGED PREMATURELY AND SUFFERS SILENT HEART ATTACK
Posted by Raja Petra
Friday, 11 April 2008
Mr. P.Uthayakumar was yesterday discharged prematurely despite his blood sugar level being recorded at 13.5. (normal being 6) We believe this was deliberately done upon pressure by the Police and Prison authorities on doctors to discharge him.
Since being discharged and taken to Kamunting prison he was again not given medication for about 20 hours even that upon various complaints made by him.
His diet is still the same and it appears they are still serving him with food which contains high sugar level.
During his stay in Hospital Mr.Uthayakumar was informed by the doctor that there is some damage to his eyesight ( retinopathy) and his heart muscles may have been damaged but that only be confirmed after an ECO cardiogram test which is fixed on 28th April 2008. There is excessive urea and protein in his blood system and his blood pressure is still very high and despite all this he has been discharged.
There is no resident doctor or visiting doctor at the detention centre and in cases of emergency he has to be rushed to Taiping Hospital which is about an hour drive and with no modern medical facilities.
April 12, 2008 at 1:55 am
Not to just non-muslims; that such so-called laws are ridiculous, but also to Muslims! The laws are there due to the politicizing of Islam; instead of it belonging in the personal spiritual realm of cultural tradition; where then it becomes dynamic. Because sprituality is about individuals discovering personally self-enlightenment in a long and endless self-discovery journey, to be a better, liberated and true human being ultimately, and then progresses on with such ideals and practises socially. Besides; when Islam is politicized, it’s as if the words of the (male) Mullahs are the absolute words of God rather than their human interpretation of what supposed to be words of God. Hence why Islamic followers need to realize how such so-called laws can be so deceitfully manipulated to serve the (male) elite class interests; in order to keep ordinary followers especially women, under their absolute control. By the way, why don’t these Mullahs correct all the injustices justified under such laws; maybe then they can understand what it means to progress towards modernity and only then Islam might gain respect from other faiths’ followers??!! So start looking at themselves in the mirror first before blaming everyone else! And Muslims, rather than get so worked up over insignificant issues like pig-farming, which seems now is politicized for Umno’s elite ends. Besides, if Muslims called themselves just, why should they regard their religious beliefs and practices as superior to other religion; hence “pigs” are non-Muslims’s cultural tradition; thus need to be respected!
April 12, 2008 at 8:28 am
PHD ulamaks my foot. Permanently Head Damage more likely.
April 12, 2008 at 8:56 am
So long as it pays to play the religious card, there will be someone that will play it. In the US where separation of religion and state is highest, there are many who still play the religious cards simply because it pays for them to do so.
It has little to do rights and believes, more about rewards and gains.
April 12, 2008 at 7:27 pm
Dear MR.haris,
I am getting tired of all this politics and religion.
Its seems for me,we are just making noise or i am the one making noise.All the bloggers like you,anillnetto,sloone have alots of ideas and i joint in to shouts together.
Why not you organise all this bloggers to save the indraf guy from inhuman treatment by the goverment before it to late.
Maybe in the eye of goverment he is a anti malays/umno but AT LEAST LET HIM HAVE A PROPER MEDICAL TREATMENT BEFORE ITS TO LATE.
tHE BALL NOW AT YOUR FEET HARIS.I BELEIVE YOUR BLOGGERS GANG CAN STOP FOR AWHILE ABOUT OTHER ISSUE AND FOCUS IN THIS INHUMAN TREATMENT BY OUR GOVERMENT.please save this guy utuyakumar
thanks haris.
April 12, 2008 at 8:05 pm
As Raj Raman says, there is something more urgent than all the other bullshit that is going on. Uthayakumar is sick. The Hindraf 5 ought to be released. Uthayakumar needs medication.
Let me say this to whoever it is that is responsible for one more day’s stay of the Hindraf 5 in Kamunting and to the director of the Kamunting ISA detention centre.
Pakatan Rakyat will rule. Soon! The day after they take over the government I will urge that they NOT eradicate the ISA and Kamunting camp. I shall urge them to release all the unwilling residents who are there now and replace them with all you guys. After all it is you guys who seem to want it more than anything else and anyone else. I guess you are welcome to it and I shall be a happy volunteeer to make sure you experience what life in Kamunting is really like.
As for HARTAL, maybe it is time we shift our focus. Let us target the cash cows of UMNO that we the public can hurt and hurt hard.
I want to target the AP. And how to do it? Simple. If you are looking to buy a new car, go to the car show rooms. Take a free drive of the cars..and then tell the salesman you will buy it. BUT MINUS THE AP they paid for it.
Yes, let us force Pakatan Rakyat to issue a policy statement NOW about what they will do with the AP when they come to power. I want them to abolish it. That statement from Pakatan Rakyat now is enough to kill the car industry. And the car industry in turn will want to kill the AP kings and queens. That AP will be gone even before PR comes to power. Just imagine, whatever car you buy will then be anything between RM10,000 and R100,000 cheaper. And believe me even the ordinary UMNOmembers will be happy. They are such idiots who don’t even know that their own leaders are ripping them off.
So far Pakatan Rakyat has said it will abolish ISA,OSA and whatever else.But will they also abolish the AP? Immediately they come to power?
This suggestion of mine is solely for the purpose of letting the UMNO goons know that we mean business. We want the Hindraf 5 and all the other ISA detainees freed!!
April 12, 2008 at 9:30 pm
Thanks Paul Warren.
To,haris and the gang of bloggers
Why is the silents.
As i told before,i dont have the tolerence in time management.
Pakatan politician gains alots from hindraf factor and they are also silent.They have use them for the political agenda and the game over.
I not good in IT/PR but i call a spade a spade.
What i want from you bloggers just focus on uthayakumar medical needs.
Thats all i am asking.Pls haris,i only can appeal to you at this moment to unite your bloggers for one reason.MEDICAL ATTENTION BEFORE ITS TO LATE.FORGETS FOR AWHILE ABOUT POLITICS AND SAVE UTHAYAKUMAR.
A RAPIST OR ROBBER ALSO GIVEN MEDICAL ATTENTION,WHY DENY FOR HIM?JUST BECAUSE HE IS A TRAITOR IN THE EYE OF GOVERMENT?
pLEASE,
April 12, 2008 at 10:33 pm
one hour,you are trying to moderate my comments or try to justify whether its worth for you to champion uthayakumar health.
Sorry haris,you can keep on moderate.I have taken my valium and need to wake up early to work.
take your own sweet time.