KOTA TINGGI: The Home Ministry will tread carefully before considering imposing
preventive laws such as the Internal Security Act (ISA) and the Sedition Act on
the Bar Council for holding the forum discussing Islamic issues.
Its minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said that such laws would be imposed
when there was a need to do so and after thorough investigation and
consideration.
"As minister I must be extra careful before imposing such laws.
"I know the forum has incited anger from the Muslim community but we cannot be
reckless in imposing such laws," he told pressmen Saturday after launching a
Parent Teacher Association seminar here.
However, he said that advising the organisers against holding the forum should
not be mistaken as an act of weakness.
He said the council should listen to the qualms of the Muslim community, which
forms the majority of the population in the country.
"They should respect the voice of the majority which has been quiet most of the
time.
"Muslims should voice their grievances when there are matters regarding Islam,"
he said, adding that the forum discussing Islamic issues is very sensitive to
the Muslim community.
Syed Hamid said he has not received any reports of any mishaps or unwanted
incidents at the forum where an estimated 200 people from various groups held a
demonstration outside the premises.
On the theft of syabu from the Johor police headquarters, Syed Hamid said
stringent drug tests would only be imposed on all police personnel where there
was a necessity.
He said the control system must be very good but it is more difficult when there
was a breach from within.
"There are those who try to influence our people on the promise of short term
gains. "The theft put us on notice that we must take extra care on keeping the
personnel in line," he said.
He added that police have discovered that the drugs have been delivered to those
who would distribute it.
"The police are working hard in solving the case as soon as possible," he said.
Protesters rally outside Bar Council
by Shaila Koshy, Zulklifli Abdul Rahman and Royce Cheah
KUALA LUMPUR: A large group of people demonstrating against the Bar Council's
forum on conversion to Islam forced the forum to end early after police told
organisers to wrap it up over safety concerns.
The group of about 300 people from various non-governmental organisations,
including two Opposition MPs, gathered at about 8.20am outside the Bar Council
building on Jalan Lebuh Pasar Besar here to protest the forum which they said
would undermine Islam.
The group threatened many times to storm into the building if the forum was not
stopped.
About 50 police and Federal Reserve Unit personnel lined themselves between the
crowd and the building entrance. The police also found two bottles of alcohol by
the building that were believed to be unlit Molotov cocktails.
At about 9.15am, Dang Wangi OCPD Asst Comm Zulkarnain Abdul Rahman, went into
the building to talk to Bar Council representatives to stop the forum by 10am in
the interest of safety.
The group eventually sent Kulim-Bandar Baru MP, Zulkifli Nordin, together with
Gabungan Pelajar Melayu Semenanjung and Umno representatives to ensure the forum
had ended. While this was going on, Kubang Kerian MP Salahuddin Ayub addressed
the crowd asking them to be patient.
When those who attended the forum made their way out of the building, they were
greeted with loud boos, obscenities and vulgar words.
Zulkifli later emerged from the building to tell the crowd that the forum had
indeed ended and to tell the crowd to disperse and make space for those who
wanted to leave.
He shouted "Shutup!" at one point to one particular demonstrator who kept
insisting that the Bar Council apologise for having held the forum.
Later, Zulkifli told reporters that asking for an apology was not the issue now
and that he had warned the Bar Council from ever holding such forums again.
Asst Comm Zulkarnain said the situation was controlled well by the police and
that it still could not be established if the two bottles that were found were
Molotovs.
When asked if it was fair to break up a function held in private premises, he
said: "We have to. It depends on the level of risk and if the threat is
increasing, then we have maintain public order."
Do I not share the same God like you, Mr Minister? written by Dara Waheda Mohd Rufin,
Saturday, August 09 2008 10:03 pm
Mr. Minister,
I'm a Muslim too, i pray and submit to the same God like you. In fact if you are a real believer of Islam, you would believe that all of us were created by and shared the same God (this was mentioned repeatedly in the Quran). But I was there at the forum listening to everyone's views in order for me to understand the real situation and get the first-hand facts rather then depending on hearsay.
I would say that the protest/anger was uncalled for and unnecessary. I believe most of the protestors were clueless and depended on wrong information disseminated by a bunch of immature, self-centered and irresponsible people which includes you know who lah....Now, is sending wrong perception or information not amounting to an act of sedition? mmmhh...
If only we could be patient for a little while and spend some of our precious time listening to other people's grouses, we could have narrowed the gap between Muslims and the non-Muslims in terms of misunderstanding and this world will be a better place for everyone as no religion in this world preaches violence against each other.
Dara Waheda Mohd Rufin
Well said Dara the protest was uncalled for and certainly unnecessary written by Ravindra P. Nanukuttan,
Monday, August 11 2008 08:25 pm
I totally agree with you!!!
Ravindra P. Nanukuttan
Ambiga, go lodge police report written by Annou Anselm a/l Joseph Xavier,
Tuesday, August 12 2008 12:15 pm
Dato' Ambiga,
Have you lodged a police report against Zulkifli Nordin and the extremists?
Following Minister Syed Hamid's logic (or tak logik) that Saiful cannot be charged as he is the complainant, then action cannot be taken against Bar Council for being the complainant too.
Annou Anselm a/l Joseph Xavier
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Mr. Minister,
I'm a Muslim too, i pray and submit to the same God like you. In fact if you are a real believer of Islam, you would believe that all of us were created by and shared the same God (this was mentioned repeatedly in the Quran). But I was there at the forum listening to everyone's views in order for me to understand the real situation and get the first-hand facts rather then depending on hearsay.
I would say that the protest/anger was uncalled for and unnecessary. I believe most of the protestors were clueless and depended on wrong information disseminated by a bunch of immature, self-centered and irresponsible people which includes you know who lah....Now, is sending wrong perception or information not amounting to an act of sedition? mmmhh...
If only we could be patient for a little while and spend some of our precious time listening to other people's grouses, we could have narrowed the gap between Muslims and the non-Muslims in terms of misunderstanding and this world will be a better place for everyone as no religion in this world preaches violence against each other.
Dara Waheda Mohd Rufin