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Anwar to testify in Sabah RCI
Hearing of appeal against Anwar's acquittal for sodomy
Don’t sacrifice national unity for political agenda, MCA tells politicians
Hadi’s son-in-law says he’s PAS backbone and saviour
Ban Syiah books
Raya dog video: Chetz held in Segamat
Pua: Hidden debts behind negative Fitch Ratings outlook
DPM: Education blueprint to be implemented in spite of Dong Zong protests
Policing the police
Wee says school head’s apology insufficient, suggests ‘severe action’
Dogs In Islam; An Insult Or Just Misunderstood?
Kelantan Banning Shisha Too

Posted: 31 Jul 2013 11:40 PM PDT

The PKR de facto leader also did not announce the much speculated new Sabah PKR line-up said to be led by Lajim Ukin.

Luke Rintod, FMT

PKR supremo, Anwar Ibrahim, today said he is ready to testify before the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on illegal immigrants in Sabah.

"I am ready to testify before the RCI. Tomorrow we will have a meeting with the authority in Kuala Lumpur for the RCI to fix the date I am to appear and I will come here," he told a press conference here soon after a breaking-of-fast dinner with PKR leaders in a hotel here.

The opposition leader, who was at one time a deputy prime minister and deputy Umno president, said he would share with the RCI hearing whatever information that was available to him while he was in Umno.

Anwar arrived in KK late this afternoon and went straight to a meeting with his Sabah PKR liasion committee at the hotel.

Also present at the meeting were state party chief Ahmad Thamrin Jaini, as well as PKR assemblymen including Lajim Ukin, Wilfred Bumburing, Christina Liew, Jelani Hamdan, Jeremy Uku Malajad and Terence Siambun.

Flanked by Lajim and Ahmad Thamrin, the charismatic top leader of Pakatan Rakyat (PR) also revealed that the party would decide on a new line-up of Sabah PKR a month from today.

"Today's meeting held that Thamrin would continue as Sabah liaison chief until the party headquarters decides on a new line-up next month," he said.

Anwar also said that he had advised the party leadership here to also give roles to senior leaders especially Lajim for him to help strengthen PKR programme in the state.

Posted: 31 Jul 2013 06:36 PM PDT

(Bernama) - The prosecution's appeal against Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's acquittal in a sodomy case will be heard over two days from Sept 17.

Court of Appeal deputy registrar Darmafikri Abu Adam fixed the dates in chambers today when the case came up before him for case management.

Meanwhile, Anwar's lawyer Sangeet Kaur Deo, who was present at the case management proceedings, said the defence would be filing an application to disqualify Datuk Seri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah from appearing as the lead prosecutor in the appeal.

She told reporters that Darmafikri had fixed the same dates to hear Anwar's application to disqualify Muhammad Shafee from leading the prosecution in the appeal.

Shafee's appointment to lead the prosecution was by way of a fiat (decision) which was signed by Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail on July 2 this year.

At the case management proceedings, Darmafikri also instructed Anwar's lawyers to file the application to disqualify Muhammad Shafee before Aug 23.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Noorin Badarudin appeared for the prosecution.

On Jan 9 last year, the High Court in Kuala Lumpur acquitted and discharged Anwar on a charge of sodomising his former aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, 26.

He was alleged to have sodomised Mohd Saiful Bukhari at a Desa Damansara condominium unit in Bukit Damansara between 3.10 pm and 4.30 pm on June 26, 2008.

High Court judge Datuk Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah ruled that there was penile penetration but it was uncorroborated by other evidence.

He had held that the court could not be 100 per cent certain on the integrity of samples taken for DNA testing from Mohd Saiful Bukhari as the samples could have been compromised before they reached the Chemistry Department for analysis.

Meanwhile, Muhammad Shafee, who was at the Palace of Justice for another court matter, told reporters that he was not aware of any grounds to disqualify him as public prosecutor.

He was responding to questions from reporters on Anwar's move to file an application to disqualify him as public prosecutor.

Muhammad Shafee said Anwar's lawyers did not mention the grounds when they objected to his appointment in the Court of Appeal on July 22 this year.

Asked whether there were valid grounds to disqualify him, Muhammad Shafee said "not that I am aware of", and added that he would reply to Anwar's application once it was filed.

On July 22, when Ram Karpal Singh, another of Anwar's lawyers had raised an objection to Muhammad Shafee's appointment, he was told by Justice Datuk Ramly Ali, who chaired a three-member panel, to raise the matter at the next hearing date.

Ram Karpal Singh later told reporters on that day that the defence was objecting on the grounds that it might not be proper for him (Muhammad Shafee) to represent the prosecution as Anwar's case was politically motivated, and that he (Muhammad Shafee) had been appointed in the past to represent Umno in several court cases.

Don’t sacrifice national unity for political agenda, MCA tells politicians

Posted: 31 Jul 2013 02:52 PM PDT

Elizabeth Zachariah, TMI

Public figures should not sacrifice national unity for the sake of their personal political agenda, MCA said today, referring to the outcry over a video clip of a Muslim dog trainer washing her dogs.

MCA publicity chief Datuk Heng Seai Kie (pic) said instead, they should be cautious and restrain from making baseless allegations.

"Although we understand that many political parties are now in the process of holding their party elections, we urge all quarters to be cautious with whatever comments they utter," she said in a statement in Kuala Lumpur today.

Her comments came on the heels of a controversial YouTube clip of Maznah Mohd Yusof, 38, celebrating Hari Raya with her dogs, causing an uproar this week among Muslims who deemed it to be insulting to the religion.

Police arrested Maznah yesterday for questioning over the video that was first uploaded three years ago.

Before she was identified, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had blamed non-Muslims for the video, saying "the callousness of some towards Islam and Muslim sensitivities" could spark disharmony among Malaysians.

"Is this a manifestation of the assumption of some quarters that we (Muslims) are weak and that they could walk all over us? Or that we are afraid to react when others insult the sanctity of Islam? No Muslim has made fun of other faiths," he had said during an event.

Heng, who called the video "provocative and displays irresponsible behaviour", hoped the incident would be able to alert and educate the public to be more cautious and sensitive.

"It is regrettable that this video comes at the heels of similar incidents such as the Alvivi buka puasa greeting, shower room canteen controversy and "balik India dan China" slurs by a school principal.

Posted: 31 Jul 2013 02:46 PM PDT

Hasbullah Awang Chik, TMI

Addressing party critics, the son-in-law of the PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang has described himself as the "backbone" in the fight against those out to undermine the credibility of the party's leadership.

Zaharudin Muhammad said all his actions in the party was aimed at protecting Abdul Hadi, PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, and deputy president Mohamad Sabu from those within the Islamist party who wanted to discredit them.

Zaharudin, or Din Ayam as he is popularly known, said he was forced to become Abdul Hadi's "supporting entity" in the party during the last general election as there was a group within that wanted to see the party do badly.

He said this in a statement posted on his Facebook page following a report in The Malaysian Insider that highlighted his growing influence in the Islamist party through Abdul Hadi, which has had tongues wagging.

Zaharudin criticised The Malaysian Insider for equating his relationship with Abdul Hadi as being on the same footing as former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin, the Youth and Sports Minister.

"I am amused by this comparison with the Umno experience. If this is the case, who in PAS is the equivalent of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Datuk Seri Najib?" he asked in a statement posted in his Facebook page yesterday.

"Is this an attempt to topple Abdul Hadi by the 'Mahathir PAS' the way Mahathir toppled Pak Lah? Who is the Najib PAS who will replace Abdul Hadi?" he said referring to the country's longest serving prime minister and Abdullah.

Zaharudin said he would provide witnesses to his claim that he was not the source of the problems in the party but, rather, it was those out to topple the president.

The influential Syura Council member also denied that he was the cause for the Pakatan Rakyat's defeat in the Kota Damansara seat in the May 5 polls.

"Who is to be blamed then for PR defeats in Sungai Acheh, Labuan, Bukit Besi and other state and parliamentary seats where PAS and PKR had overlapping claims for the same seats?"

He said the claim that the Parti Sosialist Malaysia (PSM) candidate Dr Nasir Hashim would have won if PAS had not fielded a candidate is flawed.

Zaharudin said his critics' assumption that the 7,312 votes received by the PAS candidate would have gone to Dr Nasir is wrong.

READ MORE HERE

Ban Syiah books

Posted: 31 Jul 2013 02:37 PM PDT

The government should also have more detention depots to cater for the rising number of illegals detained.

(Bernama) - The Home Ministry was been urged to immediately ban printed materials such as books and novels written by Syiah followers on the deviant religious doctrine.

Senator Noriah Mahat said the ministry should also take stern action against any such individual so that their writings would not erode the faith of Muslims in the true teachings of Islam.

"If it is not controlled, I fear for young Muslims because they could be easily influenced by Syiah teachings as they are a curious lot," she said when debating on the Supplementary Supply Bill (2012) 2013 in the Dewan Negara yesterday.

Noriah said she meanwhile supported all efforts by the Home Ministry in combating Syiah activities in the country, whereby the government had already banned the Malaysia Shia Organisation based on Section 5, of the Societies Act 1966.

On another matter, Noriah suggested that the government increase the number of detention depots to cater for the rising number of illegals detained before being repatriated.

"Considering that the number of illegals has reached 1.3 million (as at August 2012), surely we need more detention depots for the illegals to avoid congestion," she said.

She added that urgent action was required to solve the presence of so many illegals in the country due to the arising problems which could affect security and order in the country.

Raya dog video: Chetz held in Segamat

Posted: 31 Jul 2013 02:23 PM PDT

Maznah Mohd Yusof, better known as Chetz, is to be remanded there following public outcry over her controversial video deemed to be "insulting Islam".

Anisah Shukry, FMT

Dog trainer Maznah Mohd Yusof is now in Segamat and will be remanded till tomorrow afternoon after having spent a night in police lockup here.

Her counsel Latheefa Koya, in a text message this morning, said: "She has been brought to Segamat…just spoke to (Investigating Officer) Inspector Othman.

"He confirms she (is) currently being taken to the magistrate in Segamat to be remanded. I am trying to get a lawyer to represent her. (Being further remanded) is a normal procedure.

"But it is an abuse of power as there is no need to bring her all the way to Johor just (because) a police report was apparently lodged there."

She later confirmed that the police had obtained a two-day remand against Maznah.

Lawyers for Liberty tweeted last night: "Even if the report was made in Segamat, it's no reason to take her there. PDRMsia has taken her statement. She (should) be released".

In a following tweet, they wrote: "@PDRMsia ni betul tak masuk akal, saja nak salahguna kuasa. Jadi kalu ada 100 repot suluruh negara, Chetz akan dibawa merata2? Kerja bodo".

(The police are not making any sense, they are just abusing their power. So if 100 police reports were made across the whole country, Chetz will be brought all over the nation? This is foolish.)

Police arrested Maznah also known as Chetz under Section 298A of the Penal Code as well as the Sedition Act yesterday evening after a three-year-old video of her bathing her dogs and wishing viewers Selamat Hari Raya resurfaced online the day before.

She was brought to the Bukit Perdana Commercial Crimes Department at around 5pm, where she had her statement recorded by the police as well as the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).

'No forgiveness for such a video'

The controversial video was uploaded by user "acaiseven fiska" two days ago, who titled it "Video menghina Islam. 1 hari di hari raya" (video insulting Islam. 1 day in Hari Raya).

But Maznah has clarified to the media that her intention was to remind Muslims to celebrate Hari Raya with animals and humans.

"I have no intention to demean Islam. I made the video for fun but later decided to 'educate' outsiders on dogs and cleanliness," the 38-year-old was quoted as saying by news site Mynewshub.com.

But many, including the Director-General of the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim), see her video as insulting Islam.

Posted: 31 Jul 2013 02:04 PM PDT

Pua said the government was ignoring warnings on spiralling hidden debts as it continues spending money without fear of increasing its budget deficit. — File pic

(The Malay Mail) - "In reality, if both official government debt and government-guaranteed debt are put together, our debt to GDP ratio will be a much higher and worrying 68.9 per cent," Pua explained.

DAP MP Tony Pua fingered the Najib administration today for Fitch Ratings' negative reading of Malaysia's finances, saying it was due to Putrajaya's penchant for hiding debts that led to its credit rating revision from "stable" to "negative".

This comes following the global ratings agency's recent report that Malaysia's public finances are its "key rating weakness", and warned of future negative shocks should no reforms and measures be taken by the federal government to remedy the country's financial standing.

"We call upon the government to follow the reform (of) its outdated accounting practice of 'off-balance sheet financing' and recognise fully these hidden debts as the federal government debt commitments," the Petaling Jaya Utara MP said in a statement.

Fitch's report noted that the federal government debt rose to 53.3 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) at the end of 2012, up from 51.6 per cent at the same period the year before.

The general government budget deficit had also increased from 3.8 per cent of GDP in 2011 to 4.7 per cent in 2012, coming from a 19 per cent rise in public wages expenditure in a pre-election year.

Putrajaya has always maintained that federal government debt is well below its targeted ceiling of 55 per cent of GDP, but Pua stressed that the figure does not include government-guaranteed debt which is hidden.

In December 2012, Fitch had warned Putrajaya that its reliance on off-balance sheet funding could make the 55 per cent ceiling meaningless.

Fitch also highlighted recently that government-guaranteed debt has jumped from nine per cent of GDP at end-2008 to 15.2 per cent by end-2012.

"In reality, if both official government debt and government-guaranteed debt are put together, our debt to GDP ratio will be a much higher and worrying 68.9 per cent," Pua explained.

He accused Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak of ignoring warnings on spiralling hidden debts as it allows Putrajaya to continue spending money without fear of increasing its budget deficit.

"By channelling development expenditure to off-budget measures, it enables the Najib administration to paint a false perception of financial prudence, that his government has the necessary political will and financial discipline to reduce the country's fiscal deficit," he added.

To remedy the problem, Pua also called on Najib to ensure that all privatisation projects are tendered competitively and government procurement be open and transparent.

Pua also urged Najib to cut down unnecessary spending in the Budget 2014, expected to be tabled in October this year, by reducing "Supplies and Services" expenditure which ballooned to RM33.7 billion in 2013 compared to RM23.8 billion in 2012.

According to Bank Negara Malaysia, the federal government debt currently stands at RM508.9 billion in the first quarter of 2013 compared to RM501.6 billion in the previous quarter. Government-guaranteed debt is at RM147.7 billion in the same quarter.

DPM: Education blueprint to be implemented in spite of Dong Zong protests

Posted: 31 Jul 2013 02:00 PM PDT

Muhyiddin receiving business tithe amounting to RM150,000 from Ahmad (L) during a ceremony at a surau in Bakri, Muar yesterday.

(fz.com) - Muhyiddin, who is also Education Minister, said the government would really like to see all children in the country, regardless of their race, be it Malay, Chinese, Indian, Orang Asli or the ethnic group in Sabah and Sarawak, to attend national school for the sake of racial unity.

The National Education Blueprint (PPPM) 2013-2025 will be implemented as planned beginning Sept 6 in spite of the protests from the United Chinese School Committee's Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong).

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said there was no reason for Dong Zong to continue protesting the government's move to transform the national education system because it would not affect the status of the Chinese language in national education.

"When I want to launch it, they started to protest. Recently, Dong Zong had even held a convention in protest of the implementation of the PPPM, which they claimed would diminish the Chinese language.

"I would like to challenge them to read every sentence in the PPPM and try to find any word that proves that we are trying to diminish the Chinese language. Let me tell them, there is none.

"The government wants to uphold the status of Bahasa Melayu and to improve the quality of education in national school where Bahasa Melayu is used as the medium of instruction. What is wrong with that?" he asked.

READ MORE HERE

Policing the police

Posted: 31 Jul 2013 12:45 PM PDT

While policing the police has become a major concern, Barisan Nasional (BN) political leaders are of the view that the Malaysian police force suffers badly from a "negative perception" of being corrupt. They are of the view that the success and achievements of PDRM are often not highlighted.

Christopher Fernandez, FMT

In the past, drug abuse was the most feared enemy of Malaysians. Now, corruption has become Public Enemy No. 1. What is worse is how Malaysians view law enforcement agencies in the country.

Malaysians are up in arms that law enforcement agencies in the country have become heavily corrupted and have a strong dislike for having to deal with these public authorities. They have come forward in droves to channel their displeasure through different paths especially social media.

Malaysians have the idea that corruption is now a very serious matter in this country. But once again, it is the Polis DiRaja Malaysia or PDRM that has topped the list of complaints lodged with Suhakam against law enforcement agencies for violation of human rights.

According to Suhakam's 2012 annual report, of the 202 complaints made against the Police, Prisons, National Registration and Immigration departments, PDRM tallied a total of 126 complaints.

Inaction or no action by the police accounted for 44 complaints, abuse of power 43 complaints and use of excessive force 39 complaints. This is similar to the previous two years with 113 out of 156 complaints in 2011 and 125 out of 212 in 2010.

Suhakam's damning verdict

The Suhakam annual report states that the complaints against cops were related to assault of arrested persons during interrogation to compel them to confess. This clearly shows the wanton and brazen act of power and position abuse by the police.

Other complaints included allegations of unlawful arrest which is re-arresting those who have been freed; extended remand by producing the arrested person in the magistrate's courts in several districts; and complaints of intimidation to pressure those who complained against the police to withdraw their reports; and acts of biasness.

Owing to the gloomy findings of Suhakam against the police, follow-up measures have been recommended by the commission which is to fit every interrogation room with a closed circuit television, a doctor to examine the suspect before and after interrogation and for every complaint against an officer to be investigated either by Bukit Aman or the state police headquarters.

In the latest global corruption survey by Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M), the police and political parties are discovered to be the most corrupt public institutions in the country. This is according to the 2013 survey, which polled 1,000 Malaysians between September last year and March this year.

Respondents were asked to rate public institutions on a scale of 1 (least corrupt) to 5 (most corrupt). The police were rated 4 and political parties were rated a close second at 3.8, making PDRM the worst culprit.

It was discovered in this survey that 39 percent of the respondents believed corruption has become worse compared with 37 percent in 2011. However, 87 percent of those polled agreed ordinary people can make a difference in the fight against corruption.

Generally, the perceived effectiveness of the government's action in fighting corruption has decreased. Even the perception that the government's effectiveness in dealing with corruption has suffered, dropping to 31 percent from 40 percent in 2011.

Wee says school head’s apology insufficient, suggests ‘severe action’

Posted: 31 Jul 2013 12:35 PM PDT

(The Malay Mail) - The apology by the SMK Alam Megah headmistress over her "balik India, China" remarks is insufficient as it had come with a claim that she had also insulted her own race when making the jibe, MCA Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong (picture) said today.

The former deputy education minister pointed out that in her apology yesterday, the school head had claimed that apart from telling the Chinese and Indian students to return to their home country, she had also told the Muslims to "balik Indonesia".

"The dichotomy over citizenship is satirical," Wee said in a statement here. "If the allegations are found true, her behaviour calls for severe action and nothing less."

He said it was okay to reprimand the students if they had indeed been disruptive when the national anthem was being sung during the school assembly, but her use of such incendiary comments was unreasonable.

"The incident alone reflected our country poorly, but her apology even more so builds a seemingly intolerant and zealot image of Malaysia," he said.

"We are all rakyat Malaysia; patriotic and proud. Besides Malaysian citizens, any person who resides in Malaysia legally, with the necessary work permit and visa, whether he/she may be an investor, diplomat, expatriate or even the humble migrant worker does not deserve to be subjected to such bigoted hurls.

"Statements such as hers must cease immediately as they can taint Malaysia as racist, thereby putting off would-be investors and international relations," he added.

According to MIC leader A. Prakash Rao yesterday, the school headmistress admitted to making the jibe and apologised for her remarks but pointed out that apart from addressing the non-Malays, she had also told the Malay students to "return to Indonesia".

"She has promised to meet the students on Friday to apologise to them," news portal Malaysiakini reported the MIC leader as saying after he visited the school.

On Tuesday, Deputy Education Minister P. Kamalanathan confirmed that the headmistress was under probe for making the incendiary remark.

According to reports on Monday, the headmistress had purportedly lashed out at non-Malay students for being unruly during an assembly, allegedly telling them to "Balik India dan China" (Go back to India and China).

The latest incident in Shah Alam is reminiscent of the 2010 case where the headmistress of Sekolah Menegah Kebangsaan Bukit Selambau in Sungai Petani, Kedah accused Chinese pupils there of being insensitive towards their Muslim peers by eating in the school compound during Ramadan, before ordering them to "return to China" if they could not respect the culture of other races.

The same year, the head of a school in Kulai, Johor had labelled non-Malay pupils "pendatang" (immigrants).

Although both school heads later apologised, the incidents and others in the same vein led to accusations of perceived tolerance for racism within the government and the civil service that some blamed on programmes conducted by the National Civics Bureau (BTN).

Dogs In Islam; An Insult Or Just Misunderstood?

Posted: 31 Jul 2013 12:30 PM PDT

(Malaysian Digest) - How many of us who cry foul that the video is an insult actually bother to research and find out about what Islam says about dogs?

And how many of those who are non-Muslims understand the concern pertaining to dogs in Islam before crying foul that Muslims are being overly sensitive in the case of this video, or any other instances related to dogs?

Dogs and Muslims are a very touchy subject, no doubt.

Just on the heels of Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee's 'bak kut teh' Ramadhan posting on their Facebook account, an old video uploaded several years ago has gone viral purportedly insulting Islam by associating Aidilfitri with dogs.

For the most part, Muslims hold on to the belief that dogs are haram in Islam.

To associate a holy celebration such as Aidilfitri with dogs is seen to be as a blatant insult and insensitive.

However, how much do we really understand about the position of dogs in Islam?

How many of us who cry foul that the video is an insult actually bother to research and find out about what Islam says about dogs?

And how many of those who are non-Muslims understand the concern pertaining to dogs in Islam before crying foul that Muslims are being overly sensitive in the case of this video, or any other instances related to dogs?

Before the age of borderless information, for the most part, we accept things and do not question much.

We were taught that dogs are haram and we stuck to it without questioning.

But today, people have questions and as in the nature of questions, it has to be addressed.

In light of the video incident, we at Malaysian Digest, would like to attempt to break down this matter and bring to light several explanations on dogs in Islam to give a clearer perspective to our readers so you can make your own conclusion on whether the video was an insult to Islam or not.

Or could we be overly sensitive and quick to jump without thinking of how it makes us look in the end?

The first thing that is clear to most Muslims and is not far from being the truth is that owning dogs in Islam is not like owning cats or hamsters or birds or fishes.

Another thing that is also apparent but is overlooked by ignorant Muslims is that dogs, like any other animals, must not be mistreated or harmed.

Animal cruelty is a big no-no in Islam because Islam is a religion that is full of compassion.

Muslims must not only treat humans with respect, but also all living things.

To the understanding of this writer, there is no where in Islam that states a Muslim can be cruel to animals.

In a well-documented report, it has been said that the prophet Muhammad (pbuh) himself taught that a prostitute, and in some versions, a sinning man, secured their places in Heaven by saving the life of a dog dying of thirst in the desert.*

Therefore this clearly illustrates the point that Muslims are not to be cruel to dogs, or any other animals for that matter.

Now on the matter of portraying dogs equals to insulting Islam, it is rather subjective and resides in a grey area.

The best to do, of course, is not to quicky arrive at a conclusion that in the end will only serve in creating unnecessary tension.

Another thing that is apparent in the instance of Chetz Yusof and the dog-Raya video she made in 2010 is that, at best, it was not the most appropriate way to 'educate', as she reasoned.

Knowing full well that she lives in Malaysia, a country that is sensitive when it comes to racial and religious matters, what is perhaps an effort to educate can be misconstrued as an attempt to provoke.

The late film director, Yasmin Ahmad, also wanted to educate the public about dogs.

She too received flak, but the way she attempted to educate was not too provocative.

Yasmin featured a scene in her movie Gubra, where an Imam touched a dog before going to the mosque to do his prayers.

What we need to note before jumping and saying that it was insulting for her to portray that scene is the fact that the dog was dry.

If the dog was dry and the person touched the dog with dry hands, there is no issue.

One only needs to samak (washing the body part that came in contact with the dog with sand and water) if either dog our toucher was wet.

Therefore to say that Chetz Yusof's video was an insult to Islam, is probably jumping the gun a little.

But the video is provocative in manner, in that Chetz played on the sensitivity of Malaysian Muslims, without attempting to further explain on the position of dogs in Islam.

Perhaps it can be said that Chetz herself is not aware of the full explanation of dogs in Islam, choosing only to take one side of the explanation that suited her.

That is the case with many today, who choose to only take half the explanation of something that suits their lifestyle, while leaving out the rest that they feel are too imposing.

Malaysian Digest spoke to Ustaz Daud Che Ngah, who said that a Muslim can keep dogs for guarding purposes, but this is based on three conditions:

1. Must get the consent of their neighbors, if the neighbors are Muslims.

2. Must be put in an area where they are free to ease themselves.

3. Must not be used to hunt other animals.

However Ustaz Daud also noted that dogs are not to be kept as pets like cats, because it is considered 'najis mughallazah'.

He added that a dog's owner can touch his or her dog, provided both are dry, and if either one is not, the owner needs to wash himself with sand water, and six times after with water (air mutlak).

Another local Islamic scholar, Dr Mohd Asri Zainal Abidin, meanwhile, told Malaysian Digest that dogs are not the enemies in Islam.

"Scientifically, the viruses a dog carries are not the same as cats; Muslims can keep dogs for safety but they must not be together in the house, or sleep together with their owners," he said.

"Islam does not tell us to go and kill dogs," Dr Asri added.

We also spoke to another scholar, Ustaz Rosdi Long, who echoed the statements made by Ustaz Daud Che Ngah and Dr Asri.

He added that a dogs position in Islam is not exactly like pigs, whereby it is stated clearly in the Quran that pigs are haram for Muslims.

Therefore different scholars have had differing views when it comes to dog ownership in Islam.

Meanwhile, on a website, www.islamicconcern.com*, an article says that it is not haram to own a dog, though it is not hygienic to keep a dog in the house; and it is not haram to touch a dog or any other animal. If the saliva of a dog touches you or any part of your clothing, then it is required of you to wash the body part touched and the item of clothing touched by the dog's mouth or snout.

With the basic explanation given above, a conclusion can be made that Chetz video is more an indication of Chetz' lack of intelligence rather than a blatant insult of Islam.

Islam is a religion filled with compassion, as mentioned earlier. Sometimes it is the people who turn it into something that is not.

News reports yesterday said that Chetz Yusof has been hauled in by the police for questioning over the video.

Another important thing to note is that the video was posted by her in 2010.

The police should also consider arresting the individuals who were responsible for recirculating the video these past few days, with the captions of 'Lagi Video Menghina Islam,' which is clearly more provocative than the video itself.

Among the first few accounts on YouTube to cause Chetz's video to go viral is TheHarimauTV and acaiseven fiska.

A recent update on the situation of Chetz Yusof is that she is being sent to Segamat IPD where a police report was initially lodged against the video she made.

Kelantan Banning Shisha Too

Posted: 31 Jul 2013 12:28 PM PDT

(NST) - "Based on my experience in other issues, we (state Fatwa Council) will normally agree with whatever decision made by the National Fatwa Council," he said.

Kelantan is set to issue a fatwa to ban shisha smoking to be in line with a edict on the matter made by the National Fatwa Council.

State mufti, Datuk Mohamad Shukri Mohamed, said the fatwa would be issued after the state's religious authorities had complied with specific procedures, including receiving royal consent.

"Firstly, I will meet the state's Fatwa Committee members after Hari Raya. Then, I will take our decision to the board members of the state Islamic and Malay Customs Council.

"Once they have agreed, we will submit the document to Sultan of Kelantan Sultan Muhammad V to get his consent to enable the fatwa to be gazetted," he said yesterday.

He said once gazetted, the fatwa could be adopted by local authorities, such as the Kota Baru Municipal Council, as a reference before they enact their own by-laws.

"Based on my experience in other issues, we (state Fatwa Council) will normally agree with whatever decision made by the National Fatwa Council," he said.

The shisha smoking issue became the topic of national headlines recently, especially after it was reported that substance abuse by youths in several states were linked to shisha.

Kelantan will join Perlis, Perak and Malacca in declaring shisha as haram.

The National Fatwa Council declared shisha smoking as haram for Muslims on July 19.

Its chairman, Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Dr Abdul Shukor Husin, was reported to have said that Muslims were also prohibited from providing shisha-smoking services or any activity associated with shisha.

He had said the council decided to prohibit shisha after listening to advice from experts from the Health Ministry and studying medical and scientific evidence.

Kredit: www.malaysia-today.net

Khamis, 1 Ogos 2013

Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

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