Isnin, 19 Disember 2011

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Reckoning the peace/violence ambiguity in the apostasy debate

Posted: 18 Dec 2011 08:57 PM PST

Such notion is simply too familiar to human experience. This peace/violence ambiguity is observable in recent history. For instance during the first half of the 20th century, the Japanese propagated the ideology of 'Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere', which presented them as the messenger of peace and the liberator of Asia from western oppressors. The caption of one of the Japanese poster reads: "With Japanese, Chinese, and Manchu working together, a great peace can be brought to the world." We can always ask those who lived through the war to find out what kind of "great peace" the Japanese brought. In China, such peace is remembered as the Nanking massacre. In the Malaya peninsular, the Sook Ching massacre.

The point here is not to identify any religion to the aforementioned horrendous acts, but to establish the crude reality of one's 'peace' can be violence to another. If we learned anything from history, it is the way to reckon the peace/violence ambiguity by evaluating the relationship between the advertised peace and the actual act of the regime.

Zulkifli Hasan's article 'Refining the misconception of apostasy in Islam' attempts to demonstrate that the 'peace' of Islam as he understands it does not contradict the "sanction on the matter of apostasy." He asserts that Islam recognizes the liberty for non-Muslims to join any religion, yet it is a different matter for Muslims to convert out of Islam. In showing how such 'peace' is conceptualized, he wrote:

 "The freedom of religion should not be abused and any elements of irresponsible religious anarchy that may lead to religious disharmony should not be allowed. This is because Islam considers religious freedom as a matter faith and not as legal or political issues." […]

"It is found that this issue has been heavily politicized as an ideological weapon to get the support of the public particularly by secular humanists including many Western-oriented Muslim intellectual. If the element of politics can be put aside, the apostasy in Islam will not be an issue either in the aspect of human rights or fundamental freedom of an individual." […]

"The debate and arguments on the law of apostasy in Islam is often superficial, marked by political intentions as well as religious prejudices."

There are several matters in this quotation for us to look at. Firstly, this gives the impression that western-orientation is somewhat political in a way that problematize the issue on apostasy in Islam.

This means, to Zulkifli, that the root cause of the current debate on apostasy lies in the difference between the 'West' and Islam: The former is political, while the latter is not. Therefore, the solution to the problem is to loosen the root, to "put aside" such western-orientation.

I find that this point is too presumptuous in a way that does not do justice to the 'West'. To illustrate what I mean, let us first consider another article written by Zulklifi, titled 'The Challenges of Globalization to Muslim Youths'.

READ MORE HERE

 

Ketirisan RM1 trillion wang rakyat ke luar negara - ABU adalah jawapannya

Posted: 18 Dec 2011 08:52 PM PST

Jumlah penyelewengan yang tidak pernah kita bayangkan akan berlaku dalam negara yang melaungkan slogan-slogan, lepas satu slogan dengan slogan yang lain yang kesemuanya untuk memberikan 'branding' individu pimpinan masing-masing.

Akhirnya dari pimpinan Dr Mahathir sehinggalah sekarang mereka-mereka ini hanya mempunyai satu slogan yang hakiki; iaitu tamak, haloba, perasuah, pembohongan, penipuan dan bersikap seperti anjing nampak tulang; meleleh air liur bila nampak harta rakyat yang banyak.

Pengaliran keluar negara wang rakyat sebanyak RM1 trillion sejak sepuluh tahun yang lalu menunjukkan sikap mereka yang berkuasa sejak 3 dekad yang lalu yang tidak ada sedikit pun rasa bertanggungjawab terhadap rakyat atau setidak-tidaknya rasa kasihan terhadap rakyat yang semakin hari semakin menderita terutamanya di kalangan rakyat kelas menengah.

Kita diperdaya dengan longgokkan slogan-slogan satu demi satu apabila bertukar kepimpinan negara. Rakyat sudah terlalu kenyang dengan slogan-slogan tetapi kesemua slogan itu hanya tinggal slogan tanpa membuahkan apa-apa hasil yang memberi muafaat kepada rakyat ramai.

Semasa Perdana Menteri yang telah memerintah negara selama 22 tahun, kita di sumbatkan ditelinga kita slogan bersih, cekap dan amanah. Akhirnya bersihnya tidak ada malah bertambah kotor dan jumud, cekapnya tiada; hanya cekap melonggokkan harta kekayaan untuk diri dan keluarga mereka dan amanahnya pun tidak ada.

Kalau ada amanah masa kan di biarkan wang yang mengalir keluar negara tidak dapat di tahan malah digalakkan lagi. Pengaliran keluar wang yang sudah berjumlah trillion ringgit ini bermula dengan hebatnya semasa rakyat sedang dilenakan dengan nyanyian slogan bersih, cekap dan amanah itu.

Selepas itu datang pula seorang lagi PM yang membawa slogan, 'jangan bekerja untuk saya, tetapi bekerja bersama saya'. Akhirnya rakyat tidak dapat membuat apa-apa kerja kerana beliau tidak tahu untuk membuat apa-apa kerja. Wang negara mengalir begitu besar keluar negara masih hebat seperti waktu negara dipimpin oleh pemimpin sebelum beliau.

READ MORE HERE

 

Where's the Art Scene? In Malaysia, Politics is Everything!

Posted: 18 Dec 2011 03:05 PM PST

For a note, Beijing is fast becoming Asia's cultural city and a hub for International Chinese music and film production. There's a growing number of International artistes shifting their base from Taipei or Hong Kong to Beijing.

I told her in Kuala Lumpur, politics is everything. You can find drama, music, sitcom, stand-up comedy, X rated and thriller in Malaysian politics.

Why? Remember the Quran swearing tendency whenever politicians are caught in personal controversies? Malaysians surely believe more in Heaven intervention than facts. How to find out if the Malaysian government had taken any financial aid from World Bank? Go swear using a Quran...

How to confirm if someone had been sodomized? Go swear using a Quran...

Hopefully a convicted killer or rapist would not demand for the same method to prove his innocence. If only God can swear back. However, we trust His quiet wisdom and patience.

Remember the Datuk T sex video scandal? By the way, it does involve Quran swearing too. Sex and politics has caught major headlines for Malaysia worldwide. The gala is coming on the 9th January 2012. No wonder another prestigious event, the Anugerah Industri Muzik, is facing a bleak future and a sagging rating.

Malaysians have cleverly used music to spice up their politics too. Remember the catchy tune, 'Jom Ubah!"? Or Namewee's crude and cynical rap songs? Or those famous Malaysian Chinese artistes and sexy 'getai' girls performing at various MCA & SUPP political dinners and talks? 

READ MORE HERE

 

A bad govt represses its good citizens

Posted: 18 Dec 2011 02:52 PM PST

Yet the message of Christmas is hope for all mankind. That is why the angel could proclaim, 'Joy to the world...a savior has been born to you.' And Magi – the three wise Oriental kings came to worship him and place gifts at his feet.

How such a simple message of hope that Christians tell others can be offensive I haven't the slightest clue, except when I consider the 'god of this world' – the devil – wants people not to be reconciled with God as the Scriptures tell us.

How else do we explain the greed and evil, the inexplicable cruelty of the politicians and those in power, they who would be seen to pray and go to religious houses only to act in the unkindest manner?

How can you send planes to bomb and kill innocent civilians along with your enemies? Or how can you justify blowing innocent bystanders to pieces in the name of God? But we know the devil comes to kill and destroy, so guess whose will is being done when people harm one another?

Foremost in our minds is the imminent verdict of Anwar's sodomy trial, more like an ordeal. When all is considered he had no more chance than Jesus did before Pilate who washed his hands clean of the blood of an innocent man. Whatever the court's verdict, in the eyes of many Malaysians and foreign observers, they will deem Anwar innocent, the ultimate political sacrificial lamb.

The country can only hope that the judge will do the right thing but don't hold your breath. If Anwar stood a chance there would have been no trial because the prosecution can't win when there has been proven to be reasonable doubt and the taint of political conspiracy is too overwhelming.

Sodomy may be a crime but when has anyone been convicted of sodomy? Despite kicking against the goads, Anwar and his defence team have earned our respect for still abiding by the rule of law, even as it appears bent, and subjecting himself to the indignity and injustice.

Spirit of moral conscience

Intrinsic in the message about the birth of Jesus is the hope when people come to their senses and submit to God and allow his Spirit to in-dwell and guide them, they will do the right things though living in a depraved world.

But if they fear man and like Pilate washed his hands clean and did the politically expedient, they will forever bear the scourge of their cowardice and their name will be dragged through slime for many generations.

'God with us' is the theme of Christmas and it is worthwhile to remember that whatever our beliefs, we need to learn to live with and care for one another. 'What good is it for a man to win the world and lose his soul?' is a piercing question we need to consider even if we devalue our souls. The truth is not subject to our ideas.

Because we criticize those who do wrong does not negate our duty to pray for and love them. And if people don't believe in prayer then what harm does it do? Even Christopher Hitchens, the noted atheist did not mind people praying for his healing, even his redemption.

And although he thought religion was a bane to society he nonetheless acknowledges that it is an integral part of human society.

Jackboot of religious fascists

By now people should realize that there is something innate in every human being that protests against the lies and untruths and acts of injustice they see around them, regardless of their religion. It is called moral conscience. It is a human and divine attribute to oppose evil and to be civic-minded and to take part in peaceful efforts to right the wrongs in your country.

Only good governance can solve the problem of bad governance for it takes a bad government to repress good citizens who protest for the welfare of their nation. The government made a mistake with Interlok and has tried to remedy it.

Similarly it has made a mistake with the Peaceful Assembly Bill and should redeem itself. The United Nations thinks so too and has criticized the bill. It is too obvious, too crass, too politically motivated, and when tested will be found to be unconstitutional.

TIME magazine has named 'the protestor,' as its Person of the Year in 2011 and in so doing indirectly opposes government attempts to stifle legitimate political dissent.

Martin Luther was the original 'protestor' who dared prove the religious authorities were wrong. His remonstrance was met with persecution but the world would have been under the jackboots of the religious fascists had the Reformation not taken place.

If true, name the Christian offenders

There is right and wrong protesting.

When a politician harps on Christians proselytizing Muslims in the country, there are two things he can do. Name the organization, provide the proof or zip up. Nothing annoys as much as an alarmist troublemaker crying wolf and protesting over nothing once too often.

Why should society be disrupted by the antics of these subversive creatures whose mission in life it seems is to create trouble for others?

So what if Christians are proselytizing when state-sanctioned Muslim groups are proselytizing everyone?

Which religion has grown by not proselytizing? Why make a fool of yourself by denying others what you claim as your God-given right? Usurping the rights of others that the Constitution gives them makes a person guilty of lawlessness.

Mahatma Gandhi emulated the life of Jesus in his teaching on non-violence and was inspired by Christ's sayings known as the 'Beatitudes' found in Matthew 5 in the New Testament.

Gandhi in turn inspired American civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr  to regularize the freedom and equal rights for all black Americans.

Human civilizations progress from the cross-fertilization of ideas and it is wrong to keep Malaysians under a coconut shell. The notion of separate development is so like South Africa's once damned apartheid.  And if some politicians hold their sway, Malaysia is headed in that downward spiral.

READ MORE HERE

 

Malaysia in the Era of Globalization #93

Posted: 18 Dec 2011 11:34 AM PST

It is at this point that the religious types sense an argument against capitalism. Their argument is simply this: capitalism feeds on the individual's motivation to make a profit, to get rich. My rebuttal is equally simple. The entrepreneur provides a much-needed service or product where none exists before. If that product or service is not needed, then his enterprise will fold soon enough. As for the personal greed motive, it is worthwhile to note that every successful entrepreneur ignites a chain of events that brings benefit to countless others. Ray Kroc who founded McDonalds restaurants with the simple premise that consumers need a reliable place to get consistently tasty and affordable meals, started a chain of process that helps ranchers and butchers (source of meat), potato growers (the chips), and countless youngsters with their first job. This is separate from the great services it provides consumers.

As for the personal greed argument, it is well to remember McDonalds create more Black millionaires in America than the all the professional sports leagues combined. Similarly when Bill Gates created that software operating system, he also provided opportunities for thousands of other software engineers to write applications for his Windows program. Of course Ray Kroc and Bill Gates became fabulously rich, but they were not alone; they brought along countless others. Equally important and bears repeating, they provided much-needed services, products, and most importantly, jobs. The value of the benefits to society they created with their services and inventions far outweigh the wealth and rewards that they get. That is the beauty and genius of free enterprise.

While the religious types may emphasize the material gains accrued on the individual businessman and trader, I emphasize the goods, services, and jobs she provides to the community.

READ MORE HERE

 

They don’t seem to have a clue!

Posted: 18 Dec 2011 09:14 AM PST

Thank you Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity to address the House on the 2012 Budget. I would like to start by referring to two articles that appeared recently in our newspapers. On 13 October 2011, Starbiz carried an article that read, "The Philippine President unveiled a 72 bilion peso (US$1.7bn) stimulus package of public works and poverty reduction projects as a weakening global economy forced the country to cut growth forecasts."

On the same day there was another article in The Star which said among other things, "The Monetary Authority of Singapore warned that the headwinds from slower global growth will mean slower growth in Singapore in the next few years."

In denial mode

It is clear that our neighbours are worried. They are aware that there is a real possibility of a global recession, and they are lowering their forecasts for growth of their GDPs. But we in Malaysia appear oblivious to this! Our Finance Minister declared during his budget speech that our GDP will attain an overall growth rate of 5.5 per cent for 2011. This is despite the fact that (annualised) growth rate for the first quarter was only 4.5 per cent and that for the second 4.0 per cent. Yet our Finance Minister remains confident that we can attain 5.5 per cent for 2011, and that we will grow our GDP by 5-6 per cent in 2012.

Our Finance Minister claims that our "fundamentals" are strong. What fundamentals may I ask? We are a trading nation – about 53 per cent of the goods and services we produced in 2010 were exported. Which among our "fundamentals" can protect us from a global downturn in demand?

But our government is in denial. They claim that a downturn in Europe will not affect us much as we have diversified our trade. According to their statistics for the period January-July 2010, exports to Europe ranked fourth, only RM39.8bn, compared to Singapore (RM48.6bn), Asean, and China (RM46.7bn). Therefore, argue the government planners, a recession in Europe will not have much of an effect on us!

What kind of thinking is this? Are they really that confused? Sure, Singapore was the number one destination for our exports for that period. But would Singapore have consumed most of what she imported from Malaysia? Surely not. Singapore would have exported to other countries including to Europe.

Another argument that our government trots out is that the slow rates of growth in Europe and the US will not affect us much because of the much faster rates of growth in China and India. Mr Speaker, the GDP of the European Union region was US$16.2 trillion in 2010 according to the IMF, even larger than the GDP of the US, which stood at US$14.5 trillion! Taken together the GDP of Europe and the US represents close to 50 per cent of global GDP, which stood at US$62.9 trillion in 2010.

In comparison, the GDP of China in 2010 was US$5.9 trillion while that for India US$1.6 trillion. So to argue that the 7-10 per cent growth rates seen in these two countries will offset a downturn in Europe and America is not based on fact. It is mere wishful thinking. And it does not take into account the fact that economic growth in China and India is based to an extent on the demand from the EU and the US.

Permit me to quote an article from the Business Times on 10 October 2011, which said, "The European Union is the world's biggest buyer of Chinese exports – worth about US$380bn in 2010 – and a collapse in demand could trigger heavy job losses in China." And that is the sober truth of the matter! So the government's estimation that the Malaysian GDP will grow between 5-6 per cent in 2012 is not only unrealistic but also irresponsible.

Why do I say "irresponsible"? The Annual Budget is the economic plan for the nation. Through it the government of the day informs the public and the business community how the government intends to steer the economy especially in times of uncertainty and turbulence. We need a realistic budget to reassure all parties that the government knows what it is doing.

Larger deficit looms

The government says it wants to reduce the budget deficit to RM43bn for 2012. However, the government's income is predicated on a GDP growth of over 5 per cent. Taxes, which make up about 70 per cent of the government's income, are forecast to be RM35.6bn. What if we only grow at 2-3 per cent because of the downturn in Europe and America? Definitely tax revenue will drop. But public expenses will remain the same. It is almost certain that our deficit for 2012 is going to be much higher than the RM43bn forecast!

If our government takes a realistic look at the global economic situation, it would realise that a default in sovereign debt in countries such as Greece is almost a certainty. This has the potential to shake the banking system in the West and precipitate a sharp downturn. The capacity of many European countries to re-finance their private banks in their countries is severely curtailed by the size of public debt in Western countries. Public debt in Greece has reached 147 per cent of GDP. But public debt for Germany has already exceeded 80 per cent of their GDP, while that in the US stands at 99 per cent of the GDP of the US.

If we are realistic, if we are responsible, we can take several steps to protect the most vulnerable in our society from the effects of a serious downturn. We could, for example implement a Retrenchment Fund. During a time of recession, some workers will experience "lock-outs", where their employers run away because they have no cash to meet their commitments. This happened to the Nikko workers in Butterworth not too long ago. And workers in this situation get no compensation at all. Even the pay for the last month of work may not be paid to them. If there was a retrenchment fund, this group of workers will get some relief!

Many families face problems keeping up with loan payments when there is a downturn. The government should set up a fund to help such families restructure their debts so that they do not lose their homes or their businesses because of the downturn. We have set up Danaharta and Danamodal for the big companies. Why not something similar and smaller for the ordinary citizens?

A government that is sensitive to the needs of its people will set up several funds and programmes that can help the ordinary citizens if a recession were to take place. But to be prepared in this way, the government must first recognise the risk of a recession. Unfortunately our government is in denial. They reject the possibility of a recession. We shall continue to enjoy a 5.5 per cent growth rate, says the Finance Minster.

READ MORE HERE

 

‘TENDER GATE’ KKLW (SIRI PERTAMA)

Posted: 18 Dec 2011 08:37 AM PST

Surat Pekeliling Perbendaharaan (SPP) Bil.9 tahun 2009 dan SPP Bil.2002 jelas menyebut bahawa semua tender melebihi RM10 juta perlu kelulusan Kementerian Kewangan terlebih dahulu. Ini bermakna kuasa tender KKLW di bawah RM10 juta adalah di bawah kuasa sepenuhnya Menteri KKLW.

Adalah jelas Menteri KKLW telah menyeleweng dan mengarahkan tender terhad kelas B diluluskan dalam Lembaga Perolehan KKLW untuk Projek Jalan Access Kg. Menawo, Keningau Sabah.

Namun selepas tender dijalankan, kos melaksanakan projek tersebut melebihi had tender PKK Kelas B dan terpaksa melantik Syarikat Juz Jati Sdn Bhd (Syarikat Kelas B) dengan harga RM 11 juta.

Sehubungan itu KKLW terpaksa membuat permohonan semula kepada Kementerian Kewangan agar meluluskan projek tersebut di atas secara khas memandangkan segala urusan tender dan pelantikan kontraktor telah dibuat.

Kementerian Kewangan melalui suratnya S.K.KEW/PL/KI 1/700/810209/156/12-43 JLD 12 SK 3 (7) bertarikh 3 Oktober 2011 telah memaklumkan kepada KKLW bahawa pelaksanaan tender terhad bagi projek di atas tidak teratur kerana tidak mematuhi peraturan yang ditetapkan dalam Surat Pekeliling Perbendaharaan (SPP) Bil.9 tahun 2009 dan SPP Bil.2002.

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Magnificent Pearls Of Wisdom

Posted: 18 Dec 2011 08:12 AM PST

Most of the following hadith are from the collection of Bukhari - which is considered to be the most 'sahih' or authentic. There is also one from Abu Muslim - who is considered the second most authentic after Bukhari. . . 

It is said by many that hadith represent the most important source of reference for the Ahlul Sunnah Wal Jamaah (the Sunnis) after the Quran. . . 

I have given the references for these hadith as I found them through the Internet. I hope all these references are the correct ones. There are so many. I have just picked a few. . . 

For non-Muslims and anyone else who does not know, hadith are extra-Quranic writings of the religious scholars who came long after the Prophet had died. . . 

Muslims must believe that the Quran is  revealed by Allah to His Messenger (the Prophet). 

The hadith however represent (what the religious people think) the sayings of the Prophet. By their context, sometimes the actions of the Prophet are also described in some of these hadith.  

The big issue that has always bugged the 'hadith' is their authenticity. Among the Sunnis, they have six major compilations of hadith of which the compilation by Bukhari is thought to be the most authentic. Abu Muslim's collection is ranked number two and so on. That is why I have chosen the following hadith from Bukhari and one from the Muslim collection. 

Some admirers of the Bukhari collection of hadith say that they are like "magnificent pearls of wisdom". 

Just another point of accuracy - the hadith collection of Bukhari does not come to us directly from the hands of Bukhari himself.  Bukhari is believed to have died in 256 H or 835 AD - about 200 years after the Prophet. So he compiled information that was about 200 years old.

However what is generally accepted today as the Bukhari collection of hadith was actually put together by someone else, by the name of Ibnu Hajar Askalani in Cairo in 852 Hijrah or 1430 AD (over 800 years after the death of the Prophet) and 596 years after Bukhari.  Ibnu Hajar's work was called the "Fath Al Bari" from which the present collection of Bukhari hadith has been compiled.

Ibnu Hajar in turn based his selection of Bukhari hadith from other earlier sources like Khushaymani (389 H / 960 AD) 470 years prior to him and Firabri (320 H / 910 AD)  520 years before him .   

Here is a timeline :  

11 H / 632 AD  death of Prophet  

256 H / 835 AD  Bukhari 

320 H / 910 AD Firabri  

389 H / 960 AD Khushaymani  

852 H / 1430 AD Askalani 

Here is some reference :   "The scholars themselves say that "Bukhari's text has not come down to us in a single uniform version, but exists in several 'narrations' (riwayat), of which the version handed down by al-Kushaymani (d.389 H) on the authority of Bukhari's pupil al-Firabri (d. 320H) is the one most frequently accepted by the ulema" (Abdul Hakim Murad, Cambridge University).

So Ibnu Hajar did not have a complete, fully bound set of "Bukhari hadith" to work with. They were in various collections. 

OK here are some of those  'magnificent pearls of wisdom'.  I have some comments only.

READ MORE HERE

 

Sailing into a sea of corruption

Posted: 18 Dec 2011 07:42 AM PST

With corruption, people can cut corners. It turns our society into marauding groups of shysters and hustlers. Already we are now experiencing some sort of a perverted Stockholm syndrome. Kidnapped victims get syok with the kidnappers. In our case, captive minds get captivated with our captors through their hustles.

We get enamored with crooks and hustlers. We induct into the committee on education celebrities and all that. Where are the serious academics and thoughtful people? Why can we induct Danny Quah into our committee if we are serious about education? But then, I quickly appease myself when I remember, we have a PM who is at home launching premium outlets as he is with public toilets.

Back to the scourge of corruption. How was it, I asked, the double tracking project originally given to China Railways which was endorsed by the cabinet was rescinded? How did it come to the state, when cabinet revised its earlier decision and in light of new 'data and information', the project was taken away from China Railways and given to China Harbours? Who provided new data and information? Who directed the provider of the information to submit new evidence?  

Any layman would think, China Harbours is a company expert in doing harbours and China Raiwlays in rail lines.  The proper thing is to give it to China Railways. The Oracle answered as a matter- of- factly- because huge sums of money have changed hands.

This is the number one problem of our country. Once our leadership is corrupt, it's difficult for the leadership brought up within the same system to correct things. It will take paramount political will by a leadership and a messianic zeal to stem corruption to succeed. In our country, the only answer is a change in leadership. The present leadership has no political will and no messianic zeal. As Dr Mahathir said, the whole country, from top to bottom is corrupt. I take that to mean, Dr Mahathir also includes the PM.

Money changing hands- that's bribery simpliciter. The businessmen who pays the aides to the PM and DPM monthly allowances, engages in bribery. The politician, who pays Najib's people to always say good things about him so that he continues to be minister or CM, does a bribery number.

Where the money involved run into hundreds of millions and even billions, the bribery reaches a more sophisticated levels. The oracle must have meant that- manipulation of facts and figures and methods to arrive at decisions. Appointing a project management consultant that deducts points from the track record of China Harbours to make it look unqualified and extolling the virtues of another competitor. These manipulations take place. This is corruption of a more sophisticated level. It means, the level of corruption here in Malaysia, takes a network of likeminded people to work. Corruption is a team effort.

These teams are running wild in this government. This government is suffering from a serious credibility problem. Every purchase, contract and project that it dishes out is never free from suspicions of financial improprieties. Every damn business decision involving for example even GLCs or any companies linked to the government is not above shiftiness.

We haven't got answers about allegations surrounding E&O business. We haven't got answers behind the questionable MAS-AA deal. Mahathir wants the proton shares to be sold- but already has the buyer in mind. His method is the Henry Ford method- you can have any color as long as it's black. Hence, you can sell to anyone as long as its DRB and Syed Mokhtar. It seems that politicians are coming out with all sorts of projects and purchases in order to make money on the side. Everyone seems to be on it. They make hay while it shines.

The number one issue of this country is corruption. Over the last 10 years, we lost over 1 trillion through illicit transfer. What does this term mean? It means precisely that- money gotten through illicit means is transferred into accounts belonging to groups of people. Perhaps one day, the identity of these people will be published so that people can get heart attacks going through the gallery of rogues.

The recent exposure of the Nataional Feedlot Centre (NFC) scandal represents yet another chapter in a seemingly unending series of gross financial irregularities. That has become the hallmark of the BN government beginning from the 1980s. These scandals always involved politicians. The BMF affair for instance was used by politicians to assassinate rivals. The main protagonists in that scandal were Dr Mahathir and Tengu Razaliegh Hamzah.

READ MORE HERE

 

Refining the misconception of apostasy in Islam

Posted: 18 Dec 2011 07:31 AM PST

Freedom of religion is frequently misunderstood by many and this includes the issue on apostasy. The misunderstanding by the public and even in the Muslim community on the concept and legal position of apostasy has negated the image of Islam as a religion of peace. This is not surprising as there are numerous negative allegations upon the religion of Islam such as condemning it as barbaric and incompatible with modernity and human rights. This serious misconception should be rectified and in fact, it is a religious duty for every Muslim to portray a true picture of Islam and to respond to any allegation and negative arguments upon this issue.

In view of this negative phenomenon, this article aims to refine the misconception of apostasy in Islam and attempts to respond to two articles published by New Mandala entitled 'Apostasy in Malaysia: The hidden view' by Joshua Woo Sze Zeng and 'Malaysian Muslims Responses to Conversion' by Norani Bakar whereby the former heavily relies on the essay written by Abdullah Saeed entitled 'Freedom of Religion, Apostasy, and Islam' and online resources and the latter highlights Malaysian Muslims responses to apostasy with reference to the HIMPUN initiative by several non-governmental organisations.

Before presenting my arguments on the issue of apostasy in Islam, it is important to note that ABIM was not involved with the HIMPUN initiative. It is worth to emphasise here that ABIM has been very consistent with its stand to promote healthy discussion, interfaith dialogue and intellectual discourse rather than advocating any confrontation or provocation. With the aim of refining the misconception of apostasy in Islam, the preceding discussion in this article will consist of the position of the law of apostasy in other religions; the position of Islam in guaranteeing the freedom of religion, the limitation on freedom of religion, framework for implementation and finally the concluding remarks.

Apostasy is not unique to Islam only

The offence of apostasy is not unique to Islam and applicable to the Muslim community alone. The other religions such as Christian and Judaism also have their own legal mechanism to resolve problems on apostasy. In fact, both religions clearly declared apostasy as public offense and punishable by law. For instance in Deuteronomy 13:6-11, the stipulated punishment for an offence of apostasy is death penalty. This indicates that apostasy is not unique and exclusive to Islam but other major religions in the world also considers apostasy as a serious offence which is contrary to their basic religious epistemological foundation.

Islam guarantees freedom of religion

Islam is the religion of peace and it protects the basic individual rights and these include freedom of religion. Islam treats freedom of religion as a matter of right. Every individual has the right and free to choose his religion either Islam or any other religions that he likes. This is unconditional freedom guaranteed by Islam. To evidence this, al-Quran strongly repudiates religious coercion as stated in (10:99) "Had your Lord so willed, all the inhabitants of the earth would have accepted faith altogether. Would you then coerce people to become people of faith". In another verse (2: 256), Allah says "Let there be no coercion in religion."

Freedom of religion is not absolute

Nevertheless, the situation is different once an individual is a Muslim. The right and freedom of religion is not absolute. As a matter of fact, the notion of absolute freedom is against the principle of natural justice. The freedom of religion should not be abused and any elements of irresponsible religious anarchy that may lead to religious disharmony should not be allowed. This is because Islam considers religious freedom as a matter faith and not as legal or political issues. In this instance, in order to protect the sanctity of this religion, Islam has laid down specific sanction on the matter of apostasy.

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