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‘Incident linked to Bar’s forum’

Monday, 11 August 2008 10:56am

©The Star (Used by permission)

KOTA TINGGI: Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said the molotov cocktails thrown at Wanita Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil's house, formerly occupied by the family of Bar Council president Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, had something to do with Bar Council's Conversion to Islam forum.

“I think it was a new development in terms of actions taken following dissatisfaction with something that happened. It was an unhealthy development because we had advised and told Bar Council not to proceed with the forum,” he said.

Shahrizat's bungalow was hit by two petrol bombs on Saturday. No damage was reported.

Koh: Panel on conversion must meet soon

KUALA LUMPUR: Gerakan acting president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon has urged the joint committee of civil and syariah lawyers to meet soon to resolve religious conversion issues as the issues, if left unresolved, will continue to haunt the multi-religious society.

He said the Government should convene the joint committee as soon as possible to quickly discuss and recommend proper measures to be taken to formulate, clarify and rectify procedures related to marriage between Muslims and non-Muslims, conversion, custody of children and burial rituals after death.

“It is urgent to reconvene this committee which, I am told, has not met for quite some time,” he said in a statement yesterday.

The joint committee was formed to work out solutions following the emergence of several controversies related to Muslim converts after death or after the breakdown of marriages.

He said if left unresolved, controversy and conflicts over family matters related to religious conversion would persist.

He made the call while criticising Saturday’s rowdy demonstration by 300 people that almost turned violent as they protested against the Bar Council’s “embracing Islam” seminar.

Dr Koh specifically condemned the fire bombing of the former house of Bar Council president Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, which is now the house of Wanita Umno deputy chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.

“It is regrettable that some members of political parties such as PAS, PKR and Umno were involved in the almost violent demonstration,” said Dr Koh.

PKR mulls over action on MP who stormed forum

PETALING JAYA: PKR is expected to discuss action to be taken against its Kulim-Bandar Baharu MP Zulkifli Noordin for his behaviour during a protest against the Bar Council forum on “embracing Islam.”

Party deputy president Dr Syed Husin Ali said PKR condemned the “rough action” of a small band of the demonstrators who “shouted rude and uncivilised language” against the organisers and forum participants on Saturday.

“We regret that unfortunately the ‘fiercest’ among them was someone known to be a lawyer and Member of Parliament,” Dr Syed Husin said in a statement issued yesterday.

While the statement did not mention names, Dr Syed Husin, when asked if disciplinary action would be taken against Zulkifli who led protesters into the forum hall, said many PKR leaders and members wanted it to be raised.

“I assume it will be discussed at the party level although at the moment we have bigger things to focus on,” he said of PKR’s preparation for the Permatang Pauh by-election.

Dr Syed Husin said he had spoken to Zulkifli for his side of the story.

“We accept his right to demonstrate but not the distasteful language used and storming the venue. In principle, it is wrong to assert your rights by denying others theirs and doing it forcefully. It should have been done outside the hall peacefully.

“He was exercising his rights but I don’t agree with the way he did it,” he said.

He said PKR fully supported its adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s view that the seminar should be organised behind closed doors, in view of the sensitive reactions and wrong perception among a section of the Malay-Muslim population.

Meanwhile, police refuted rumours that Zulkifli has been detained under the Internal Security Act.

Zulkifli is said to have gone missing since Saturday and his family and friends have failed to contact him.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar, when contacted, urged the public not to believe the rumours.

PKR information chief Tian Chua and Kelana Jaya MP Loh Gwo Burne were both unable to get in touch with Zulkifli.

They said their contacts were also unable to get in touch with Zulkifli or say where he was.

On the Internet, a blog by Zainol Abideen (Mahaguru58) claimed that Zulkifli had called him from a policeman’s mobile phone saying he had been detained under the ISA.

Najib: Bar Council’s persistence caused extreme reaction

KUALA LUMPUR: The Bar Council’s persistence in going ahead with a forum on conversion to Islam has triggered extreme reaction from certain quarters, which in turn would threaten the country’s harmony.

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said he had expected the extreme reaction to occur as the council ignored advice to call off the forum.

“We had expected this to happen. I’ve already said this before, don’t make it an open forum, do it behind closed doors. There will surely be some form of extreme reaction that will occur (if it was held openly).

“We’ve expected the incident to happen because the issue that was to be discussed is sensitive,” he said after launching the Federation of Malay Economic Bodies (Gabem) exhibition and convention at the PWTC here yesterday.

Najib was commenting on the abrupt conclusion of the Bar Council’s controversial forum on conversion to Islam on Saturday, in which groups of protesters held a noisy gathering outside the Council’s headquarters demanding that the organisers stop the function.

Asked if the Internal Security Act would be used against the forum’s organisers, he said that would be up to the police and Home Ministry.

Najib also said that the basic pillars of the Constitution should be accorded full respect if Malaysians wanted to live peacefully and harmoniously.

He added that Malaysians of different races should respect the sensitivities of each racial group and the basic tenets of the Constitution.

“As a society comprising different races, Malaysians have displayed the spirit of tolerance and respect to the other races.

“If we try to dissect or argue against the basic terms that was agreed upon in the Constitution, then it will surely cause endless arguments which can affect our country’s peace and stability,” he added.