KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has called on the Bar
Council to hold its forum on religious conversion behind closed doors.
He said some could take offence at the open forum tomorrow.
"I don't think it is suitable. It can get emotions up among some quarters. We do
not, however, object to the discussions themselves."
Najib said the government would not stop any form of discussion, including on
religious matters, but sensitive issues should not be discussed in public.
Najib was asked to comment on the forum after he launched the Vista Jet and
Skypark Malaysia's Fixed Based Operation at the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport
yesterday.
The forum, entitled "Conversion to Islam: Article 121(1a)
of the Federal Constitution, Subashini and Shamala revisited" will be held
at the council's headquarters. Several groups had expressed their objections to
the forum with some calling for its cancellation.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar had expressed his reservation and
declared that any discussion on sensitive matters which could stoke racial
sentiments and hatred should not be held.
Commenting on Wednesday, Bar Council vice-chairman Ragunath Kesavan said the
forum would take place as scheduled.
"The issue to be debated involved the rights of parties which have not been
clarified by the Federal Court," he said.
Bernama reported that Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Dr
Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had urged the Bar Council to call off the forum as it touches
on "a very sensitive issue" among the Malays and Muslims.
He said the council should not interfere in matters related to Islamic affairs,
the Malay royalty and the Malays.
He said the council should be aware that Article 121(1a), which pertained to
religion and the Malay race, should not be discussed openly as doing so could
provoke the Malays.
"Even though there was already the first series of the forum and this will be
the second, the silent majority among the Muslim community in Malaysia has not
risen to show its protest.
"But don't make us do so," he said when opening the National Faraid and Hibah
Convention yesterday.
Ahmad Zahid said the government was now working on restoring Islamic law as the
basic as well as the main law for Muslims in Malaysia. This would be done by
upgrading and bolstering the status of the syariah court and setting it free
from the interference of the civil court, he said.
"Thus, the Article 121(1a) plays an important role in defining the syariah
court's jurisdiction in Malaysia," he said.
In another development, the Persatuan Ulama Malaysia, in warning the Bar
Council, said it should stop the forum or face opposition from the Muslim
community. It said any debate on religion without reference to anyone of
authority or done without responsibility was bound to cause confusion and
misunderstanding.
The SIlent Malaysians written by Richard Wee Thiam Seng,
Friday, August 08 2008 01:36 pm
"Even though there was already the first series of the forum and this will be the second, the silent majority among the Muslim community in Malaysia has not risen to show its protest.
"But don't make us do so," he said when opening the National Faraid and Hibah Convention yesterday.
We've read about this 'Silent Malaysian'. They are everywhere and mysteriously, they take many positions. We have silent Malaysians who are:-
1. UMNO supporters 2. PKR Supporters 3. Religious based groups
etc etc.
The most telling "Silent Malaysians" came out in force on MArch 8th 2008, when they almost voted out UMNO-led BN.. That would indicate the Silent majority is not happy with the policies of UMNO-led BN and all.
As for the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who made the statements above, it would be nice if UMNO stop appointing thugs and gangsters as Ministers. No one likes Ministers who go around giving threats as he did in the last quote above.
Richard Wee Thiam Seng
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Talk on Intellectual Property Law (10 Feb 2012) Organised by the Selangor Bar Committee, the talk on “Intellectual Property Law” will take place at 5:00 pm, at the Selangor Bar Committee Auditorium, on 10 Feb 2012 (Friday). The talk will feature Bahari Yeow Tien Hong. Click on the link above for more details.
Seminar on the Fundamentals of Bankruptcy Proceedings (21 Feb 2012) Organised by the Kuala Lumpur Bar Professional Development Committee, the seminar on “The Fundamentals of Bankruptcy Proceedings”, featuring Sanjeev Kumar Rasiah, will take place at 3:00 pm, at the Kuala Lumpur Bar Auditorium, on 21 Feb 2012 (Tuesday). Click on the link above for more details.
Seminar on the Fundamentals of Conveyancing (24 Feb 2012) Organised by the Kuala Lumpur Bar Professional Development Committee, this seminar featuring Jeremiah R Gurusamy will take place at 3:00 pm, at the Kuala Lumpur Bar Auditorium, on 24 Feb 2012 (Friday). Click on the link above for more details.
Mediation Skills Training Course (29 Feb to 4 Mar 2012) Organised by Bar Council, the Mediation Skills Training Course will take place at 8:30 am to 5:30 pm, at Raja Aziz Addruse Auditorium, Bar Council, on 29 Feb to 4 Mar 2012 (Wednesday to Sunday). Deadline for registration and payment is 17 Feb 2012 (Friday). Click on the link above for more details.
Talk on “Land Fraud: An Australian Perspective” (13 Mar 2012) Organised by IGIL, GSGSG and UUM COLGIS, this free talk featuring Quintin George Rozario of Delta Law, Brisbane, Australia, will take place at 9:00 am, at Dewan Seminar A, Pusat Konvensyen, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Kedah, on 13 Mar 2012 (Tuesday). To RSVP, contact Mr Abutt (04-928 4397; abutt@uum.edu.my).
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"Even though there was already the first series of the forum and this will be the second, the silent majority among the Muslim community in Malaysia has not risen to show its protest.
"But don't make us do so," he said when opening the National Faraid and Hibah Convention yesterday.
We've read about this 'Silent Malaysian'. They are everywhere and mysteriously, they take many positions. We have silent Malaysians who are:-
1. UMNO supporters
2. PKR Supporters
3. Religious based groups
etc etc.
The most telling "Silent Malaysians" came out in force on MArch 8th 2008, when they almost voted out UMNO-led BN.. That would indicate the Silent majority is not happy with the policies of UMNO-led BN and all.
As for the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who made the statements above, it would be nice if UMNO stop appointing thugs and gangsters as Ministers. No one likes Ministers who go around giving threats as he did in the last quote above.
Richard Wee Thiam Seng