We need more intra-faith dialogue (© arte_ram / sxc.hu) DISCUSSIONS on religious issues, or a lack thereof, are increasingly defining public policy and society in Malaysia. A few key words are enough to jog memories — the cow-head protest, the whipping sentence on Muslims for drinking alcohol, Christians and the word “Allah”, concert banning, and […]
law
“Islamic focus on punishment misguided”
By Shanon ShahPERTH, 2 Nov 2009: The focus on punishment of personal sins in Islam is misguided, a professor of Islamic Studies said. SaeedProfessor Abdullah Saeed was partly referring to calls from certain Muslim groups to uphold the caning sentence on Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno in Malaysia for consuming alcohol. Saeed is currently the Sultan of Oman […]
Sodomy laws: A British import
By Shanon ShahPortrait of Henry VIII (public domain, Wiki Commons) TO understand the origins of Malaysia’s sodomy laws, a short trip down British history is required. Henry VIII (1491-1547), the most handsome man in all of Christendom, tried for some years to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon to marry Anne Boleyn. A spectacular and violent […]
Flipping on whipping
By Shanon Shah“The punishment must be more educational rather than causing hurt to a woman to make her reform… So far nobody, not even a male, has been whipped under the Syariah in Malaysia.” PAS central working committee member and Titiwangsa Member of Parliament Dr Lo’ Lo Mohamad Ghazali, on the Kuantan Syariah Court’s whipping sentence on […]
Why the EAIC is unconstitutional
By Andrew KhooTHE Enforcement Agencies Integrity Commission (EAIC) Bill 2009, passed by the Dewan Rakyat on 1 July and now on its way to the Dewan Negara, appears to be unconstitutional. The EAIC sets out to oversee the integrity of 21 law enforcement agencies, including the National Anti-Drugs Agency, Ikatan Relawan Rakyat Malaysia (Rela), the Road Transport […]
Nazri: IPCMC would have been “unconstitutional”
By Zedeck SiewKUALA LUMPUR, 30 June 2009: The government rejected the proposal to set up an Independent Police Complaints and Misconducts Commission (IPCMC) because its powers were “too broad” and unconstitutional. Nazri (File pic) “The IPCMC would have acted as investigator, prosecutor, judge, and executioner simultaneously,” de facto Law Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz told Parliament […]
Criminal justice system is the foundation of social order
By Ragunath KesavanIT is very clear, from the comments reported in the press in recent days, that the minister for home affairs, the inspector-general of police and the minister in the prime minister’s department, among others, have wholly misconstrued the position of the Malaysian Bar in respect of the arrests of Fadiah Nadwa Fikri (secretary), Murnie Hidayah […]
Govt mulls setting up law reform commission
KOTA KINABALU, 17 April 2009: The government is considering setting up a law reform commission, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk VK Liew said here today. “We (the Prime Minister’s Department) have been entrusted to look into this. The commission will be an independent body to conduct law reform in the country We […]
PAS lacks respect for law
KUALA LUMPUR, 2 April 2009: PAS saying it will ignore the police orders to political parties not to make seditious statements when campaigning for the three upcoming by-elections, shows the party lacks respect for the law, Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said today. Syed Hamid said the tendency of PAS to “do whatever […]
Human Rights Commission Bill tabled
KUALA LUMPUR, 24 March 2009: The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) (Amendment) Bill 2009, tabled for first reading in Dewan Rakyat today, will ensure more transparency in the appointment of members. The Suhakam bill was tabled by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz. It proposed that members appointed should […]
