Subsequently, as reported in Malaysiakini, the Internal Security Ministry has confirmed that they have given a directive to all mainstream media not to publish any news on the issue of Malaysia being an Islamic state.
Publications Control & Al-Quran Texts Unit senior officer Che Din Yusof said, “Yes, we have given the directive to all mainstream newspapers. Islam is a sensitive issue. They cannot publish any news on whether the country is secular or Islam.”In light of the seriousness of the above two major development on a 'democratic', multi-racial and multi-cultural Malaysia, and the reluctance of other BN component parties to pick up the gauntlet, the DAP is organising a public forum to discuss the above issues:
However, he said newpapers can still publish statements from Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his deputy Najib Abdul Razak on the country being an Islamic state.
“Reaction from political parties and the public cannot be published especially the negative reactions,” he said.
Panel of Distinguished Speakers
- Lim Kit Siang, Parliamentary Opposition Leader
- Ambiga Sreenevasan, Malaysia Bar Council President
- Malik Imtiaz, Human Rights Lawyer
- Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, PKR Treasurer
- Rev Dr Hermen Shastri, General Secretary, Council of Churches*
- Lim Guan Eng, Secretary-General to DAP
Venue: KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly HallIf you feel strongly about the above issues, please bring friends and turn up in full force! Please forward this post to all concerned parties.
Date: 25th July 2007 (Wednesday)
Time: 7.30 pm
9 comments:
Hi Tony,
I was moved by your presentation at the forum, but can't find anything on Tung Ket Ming on the DAP website or here... I know it was covered in the Chinese dailies, but is there anything published elsewhere? Could you put a post up on the issue?
Ta,
Sonia
Hi Tony,
Just for your reference ... this is a good article...
http://harismibrahim.wordpress.com/2007/07/17/najib-bring-forth-your-proof/
I will publish the forum on my website and do proper promotion on it.
Regards,
http://sagaladoola.blogspot.com
The curiosity to be noted is that PM backed or do not care to check on Najib with this issue. Either way, its a sign the two leaders have much use of each other for the time being.
Najib is in a very comfortable position within UMNO.
Kind of curious, if we are an Islamic nation, can we have legalised gambling??
Are you sure you will get the permit for this forum to go ahead? Surely Najib will ask the police to stop issuing the permit to suppress any discussion on this issue.
Good luck.
Hey Anon 7.32,
Normally, we don't apply for police permit when we hold forums in KLSCAH.
However, for this forum, we made the effort to apply and we have received the police permit approval today.
;) Tony
I think our country is classified as neither Islamic nor secular. We are something else, hybrid or something.
Notice there is a difference between saying Malaysia is an Islamic State, Islamic country and Islamic nation. Islamic country and Islamic nation is where that particular country has majority of muslims with Islam as the symbolic religion of the country and that Syariah laws or Hudud laws are not the supreme law of the Constitution.
Malaysia being a member of the OIC is a Islamic country or Islamic nation. Example of such nations are Indonesia and Turkey and of course, Malaysia.
Islamic State is where a country makes Syariah laws and even Hudud laws as the supreme law of the Constitution. These countries not only called themselves as Islamic country or Islamic nation but Islamic State. Example of such nations are Pakistan, Iran and Afganistan before the fall of Taliban.
Najib chose to used the term Islamic State instead of Islamic country or Islamic nation to describe Malaysia. Do you know what Najib is actually saying? He is saying that Malaysia is an Islamic State, the same concept where PAS is so ambitious in turning Malaysia into. If non-Muslims are not afraid of with Najib's proclaimation, then they are either being ignorance or living under the coconut shell.
I believe UMNO, for all intends and purposes, desire to wrest Kelantan from PAS in the coming election. So Najib's declaration is not at all surprising, even at the expense of non-Muslims votes. And why are all the non-Muslims BN component parties are keeping silent about Najib's declaration? If they do not endorse this, they should have say something, right? But believe me, this is becoming real. Look at Lina Joy's case and other Islamisation policies in the last few years under Abdullah's leadership.
So tell your friends, colleages, family members and strangers alike that a vote for MCA, MIC, Gerakan, SUPP, PBS and etc is A VOTE FOR ISLAMIC STATE in the coming General Election.
A politician should not be saying things for selected audiences. A senior politician should mean what he says.
Najib, is just asking us Sabahans and Sarawakans to vote BN out of our states. We are majority Christians, we accept Islamic country but we reject Islamic State.
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