No Liquor? No Problem.

It seems that Pakatan is having a problem... Alcohol Ban!

Wow... must be something serious... But on the flipside, I think its a wonderful proposal. For one, if you flip through your newspaper on a daily basis, one can see that there are many licenses issued for the sale of liquor to individuals... I do not think that they cannot sell, but, there must be a place and location to do all these businesses.

How many times you come across a drunkard while having your dinner or supper at a coffee shop? I have... many times... and with kids around, its definitely not a pretty sight. And, is it good for the economy??? Well, making such stuff easily available certainly makes some money for some people.. but at the end of the day... is it good? I think not except for those people that sells and make money out of it.

While I am not a drinker, I do drink occasionally. Not beer but I love a good whiskey or red wine. Certainly I do not like to do this in a coffee shop. A pub or club or bar would be nice but definitely not a coffee shop. So was PAS really wrong in proposing that? I think they have done reasonable homework to come up with this. If we go through the BM version HERE... there are exclusion clauses..

Bagaimanapun, tambah sumber-sumber, semakan semula ini tidak melibatkan premis lain seperti hotel, kelab malam, kedai ubat Cina, pasaraya besar dan jualan oleh pemborong.

To a certain extent, I like that ruling... it makes sense. Bad news for drinkers though... a good rule to help them kick the habit... make the roads safer for all... and with that in mind, I also hope that the state government do something about the Mat Cemerlangs...

What else is important?

Anwar's motion on economy rejected.


"I am rejecting the motion to discuss, although it is specific and of public interest, it is not necessarily an immediate concern.

"Already during two different instances - the Trade Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on Oct 30 and the parliamentary committee on Nov 20 - have already dealt with this issue," said Kiandee.

See Kiandee, as long as it is being debated, I am sure the issue has not been dealt with comprehensively, and we are talking about an issue that will plague ALL Malaysians maybe with the exception of cronies.

What else is more important then???

Banning yoga... making tomboyism illegal... snooping on couples rather than catching criminals? Well maybe that is... in Murder is a Lesser Crime than Sodomy.

TIME: How does Islam perceive homosexuality?
Abdul Kadir: Homosexuality is forbidden in Islam. It is a crime worse than murder.

Wow.... I am speechless. So, blowing a person up with C4 is a lesser crime than playing with another consenting butt?

TIME: What about those who say that people have a right to choose who they want to be with?
Abdul Kadir: What right are you talking about? This is a sin, end of story.

This Kadir fler... playing God? But somehow from this interview, I get the feeling like he is talking pretty much like the Mamak Zam during his interview with Al Jazeera and that Al Botak in his interview with BBC Hardtalk...

TIME: What about gay women?
Abdul Kadir: We have never arrested lesbian women. There are no complaints, maybe because it is difficult to gauge who is a lesbian.

Now, who says Islam does not discriminate women? Maybe they do not understand them enough to not discriminate them.. maybe its an advantage eh?

Now for the jewel in the interview...

TIME: What happens when gay men are arrested?

Abdul Kadir: We charge them in court, but before that we put them through what we call Islamic counseling sessions. They recite the Koran everyday and we will tell them they have committed a grave sin.

TIME: Do these people change?

Abdul Kadir: It is difficult to make them change; it has to come from within. I know there is very little effect. Out of 100 people, only one will change.

TIME: If your approach is not working, then why not abandon it?

Abdul Kadir: No, we have to tell these people they are doing something very wrong in the eyes of Allah [God]. It is a major sin. Gay people think being gay is a fashion.

We can't change them, yet we are doing it.... what he is not telling them is that its money down the drain.

Secondly, these mofos do not have any other ideas to educate the people who are being "fashionable". Don't you think that this interview makes him look.... Utterly STUPID? Any word to describe?

Euphoria of Obama

With his win in the recently concluded US Presidential elections, many hailed it as a breath of hope. Indeed... the son of an immigrant who married a local is now the Chief Executive of the world's most powerful country. Ironic that many Malaysian leaders from both the divide hailed his victory. I hold no grudges against Obama, but, I think he comes on at the most challenging of times to lead the country and the world.

Interestingly too, the congratulatory message from McCain... who rallied his supporters to back Obama in his speech and called upon his association with Obama, the American which is most valuable and held in the highest esteem. Note that he did not relate Obama as an immigrant (Pendatang) nor as a Black but as an American. McCain being a staunch military man would know that he was well and truly beaten and his discipline held up in his respect for his opponent. I laud McCain for that.

Now... if only those buggers in the Ketuanan Melayu issue will take a leaf out of the events that happened in USA. Mind you, Obama isn't even the 3rd or 4th generation! He is ALL (100%) American. Yet some nincompoops here in Malaysia still regard others as pendatang even though we have been here for more than 3 generations. I wonder if these people know any shame.. while lauding Obama's victory.. wouldn't they at least look themselves in the mirror and question themselves if they have been even half of what McCain is?

Yes, Obama has transcended racism and religion... now... can Malaysia do the same?

Looks like the commentators in Malaysiakini has also commented in the same breath as I have and some has even given a good analogy of how much US has progressed and how much Malaysia has progressed or (regressed) in areas of racialism.

The Stakes are Getting.. Dirtier...

Can the fair minded Malaysians please stand up and tell these mofos that there is no place under the sun for such narrow minded talks about everything special... two muslim groups purportedly defended the arrest of Teresa Kok. To them its justified, because the request to lower the volume of the early morning lectures is akin to deprieving them of their rights to their religion. HERE.

Despite the fact that the Mosques concerned in Kota Damansara and the one in Kinrara has stated that Teresa Kok was not involved! Then you have two "groups" - PPIM and Pewaris making such incredulous statements...

“Matters such as these should be viewed seriously because, if ignored, they could incite hatred in the people, especially the Malays, because their special position has often been disputed by certain quarters,” PPIM secretary-general Dr Ma’amor Osman was quoted as saying yesterday.

“Azans are among the 'syiar' (symbols) of Islam, and she was trying to change or influence the this syiar of Islam,” he said.

When pointed out that the petition by the residents near Bandar Kinrara were not against the azans per se but the religious lectures, Ma’mor said this does not make a difference as both azans and religious lectures are “syiars” of Islam.

“Don’t touch the syiars of Islam at all,” he said.

Let me simplify all that....

You ask: Can touch?
They answer: Cannot...
You ask: this one can?
They answer: Cannot...
You ask: How bout that one? Can?
They answer: Cannot... All cannot touch!

Yet we have the mufti of Perlis, speak of this HERE.

So, do we trust a bunch of blood hounds? Since that they are in numbers, they seem more credible right? Or do we believe a Mufti.. a legal scholar of high standing? Who speaks of matters pretty much acceptable to a sane mind?

Ketika ditemui di Damansara Kim sebentar tadi, Dr Asri berkata, Islam dibina dari hujah dan dasar yang jelas, dan Islam juga tidak memerlukan ISA untuk membela ajarannya.

"Jadi tidak ada alasan untuk menahan orang dengan tidak memberi peluang membela diri. Ini adalah satu tindakan yang salah. Sekiranya orang itu mempunyai kesalahan dari segi hukum agama, buktikan dari segi dalil-dalil agama.

"Cara kita tangkap orang guna ISA atas kesalahan agama tidak akan menghilangkan salahfaham terhadap Islam. Seharusnya diperjelaskan dulu apa kesalahan itu. Kalau misalnya orang itu menghina Islam atau menyeleweng, buktikan dulu berdasarkan Quran dan hadis.

"Perlu diperdengarkan pertuduhan itu kepada orang yang dituduh itu. Mungkin juga, ia hanya satu salah faham. Yang penting perdengarkan dulu hujahnya," kata Mufti yang terkenal dengan kelantangannya mengeluarkan idea yang berani dan telus itu.

Kata Dr Asri lagi, "Islam bukan agama yang bacul. Perbuatan ISA kerana kesalahan agama seolah-olah menggambarkan orang Islam tidak mampu berhujah, terus tangkap orang. Mereka akan kata mereka benar kerana kita takut berhujah dengan dia."

Beliau juga turut mengingatkan betapa bahayanya tindakan ISA.

"Sekiranya ada aliran-aliran tertentu dalam kerajaan yang tidak setuju dengan pendapat satu aliran yang lain, adakah ruang ISA juga akan digunakan? Pernah berlaku dalam kerajaan Abbasiyah yang berpegang pada aliran Muktazilah ketika itu. Dia menghukum orang daripada aliran lain termasuk Imam-imam besar seperti Imam Ahmad juga turut dihukum.

"Kalau di zaman ini, mereka yang kendalikan agama itu dari aliran lain maka mereka yang dari aliran lain itu akan dihukum tanpa memberi peluang membela diri. Ini juga tidak sejajar dengan konsep keadilan dalam Islam," kata Dr Asri lagi.

I hope the people at Pewaris and PPIM who claimed themselves to be Muslims to re-confirm their thoughts with a Mufti on whether what they say is in line with what their religion is all about.

Uncouth or Brainless?

I don't know bout you guys, but I am pretty fed up with all the lame statements dished out by our politicians. PKR included.

My PC broke down on eve of Merdeka and wifey conveniently "told" me to stay off the box for the holidays... and with tail between my legs I quietly comply but not without keeping up with the news on my tiny box in hand. Then again I thought, its difficult to blog on those tiny buttons so I tried to be a good daddy and husband by giving my family a good weekend!

Still at the back of my head, I am deeply troubled. First was the PKR's Zulkifli Nordin issue. Yes, PKR disciplinary committee has issued him a letter but to date, no action has been taken nor an inquiry in place to get a statement out from him as to his "unruly" behaviour during the BAR Council forum on religious issue some time back. He disappeared and reappeared and till now no action has been taken. Rest assured, Zulkifli will NOT be getting the votes of my dad and all my friends back in Kulim next time round. If PKR chose inaction, I think it will be to the detriment of their image as it will make them looks just as UMNO as their UMNO counterparts. To a certain extent, it will be worse! As the composition of PKR being a Malaysian party, the other Malaysians would be seen doing nothing to punish a wayward member.

On the other hand, UMNO has this wonderful defender of Malay, by the name of Ahmad something ( I guess his name is not worth remembering as he makes truly stupid statements) who goes about during the past PP by-election calling non-Malays as SQUATTERS of this country. But suffice to say, the action by AAB is indeed deafening. "Please do not make these statements in future." hardly sound convincing that its an action. Then again, these are the statements we EXPECT to come out of UMNO and BN. We all know AAB is NOT a PM for all Malaysians... from long long ago. We EXPECTED these statements to come out from them. We expected BN to NOT take action. We expect them to continue to encourage these people from making uncouth gestures and statements. That is the reason we wanted to CHANGE... and if PKR and Anwar Ibrahim for that matter must be SEEN in action and not just to mouth rhethorics on a Malaysia that transcends racial and religious boundaries, they need to be seen ACTING and not mere lip service!

We have celebrated out 51st Anniversary as an Independent country, lets move forward and meet the global challenge as one race rather as fragmented group of people. I have hopes that our children will grow up and will still be able to have a country to call their own.

Lets do Maths

Malaysians are made up of about 55% Malays and 45% non-Malays. Some even dare to say that 90% of tax payers are non-Malays.

Read this news and do some maths. Its carried out in the Star's web portal today.

Parliament: RM428m to build mosques

By LEE YUK PENG and ZULKIFLI ABD RAHMAN

KUALA LUMPUR: The Government has allocated a total of RM428mil to build mosques and suraus, and RM8.1mil to build churches, kuils and temples, said Datuk Mohd Johari Baharom, deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department in his written reply to Nga Kor Ming (DAP - Taiping).

The Government spent RM3.93mil for kuils, RM3.16mil for temples and RM1.6mil for churches.

Such allocations for the years 2009 and 2010 would be determined by the Government later, he said.

Since 1991, he said the Prime Minister had allocated RM1mil for the physical development of churches and temples and RM1mil for kuils starting from the year 2000.

A co-ordinating unit under the Prime Minister's Department would approve the applications for non-Muslim projects, he explained.

Based on the allocation, Kuils, Churches and Temples get 1.86% of the allocation while Mosques takes up 98.14% of it. So, 45% of the population gets 1.86% of the allocation while 55% of the population benefit 98.14% of the allocation.

Since 90% of the tax contributors are non-Malays hence do we now want to determine if the tax money is HALAL? So is the use of taxpayers money to fund building of mosques and suraus are from HALAL money?

The maths just dont add up....but WE HAVE TO APPRECIATE AND BE GRATEFUL! So shut up and say Thank you....

Zahid on Conversion Notification

Zahid talked about it here.

KUALA LUMPUR, April 30 — Non-Muslims who are converting to Islam may only have to inform their family after their conversion and not before, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

While I laud Zahid for having that "foresight"

Can he say the same for Muslims wanting OUT? In that they need not go to any courts but just inform their family of their conversion AFTER? And that he guarantee that they need not make any declaration nor be hounded by the Islamic body for doing so? Can it flow both ways?

I really love his idea but if only it works both ways.

Please, we did not ask for Syariah Law...

When one nitwit suggested the following:



http://www.malaysiakini.com/
Religious scholar dismisses khalwat proposal for non-Muslims
Apr 5, 08 5:33pm
One of country's top religious scholars yesterday lashed out at comments by an Islamic judge that religious laws on close proximity affecting Muslims should be applied to non-Muslims.
The issue of syariah or Islamic law is sensitive among non-Muslims here who fear a growing "Islamisation" of the country.
On Thursday, Islamic Court of Appeal judge Mohammad Asri Abdullah told a local paper that a religious seminar was proposing that Islamic law on the issue of khalwat or close proximity should also be applied to non-Muslims through the civil courts.



I was thinking... its a joke eh? Then I was relieved when this was said....



http://www.malaysiakini.com/

'Utterly erroneous'
Now the head of the group organising the seminar has also condemned the suggestion.
"This is something utterly erroneous," said Syed Ali Tawfik Al-Attas, the head of the Malaysian Institute of Islamic Understanding.
"We are not in agreement with (Mohammad Asri) at all and because of this... our close friendship and important association with the non-Muslims... is now in jeopardy because ... people are now not going to trust us," he added.
"In Islam it says to you yours to us ours in terms of religion. For us to think that we can apply Islamic shariah law to non-Muslims, that is tantamount to (idolatry) because we are assuming we know better than God."
Rights group Suaram has also criticised the proposal as a violation of religious freedom.
"This is a clear infringement of freedom of religion and the rights of non-Muslims, which is enshrined in Article 11 of the federal constitution," group coordinator John Liu said.
Discussions on the issue of race and religion are tightly controlled in Malaysia, which is dominated by Muslim Malays living alongside ethnic Chinese and Indian communities.



I thought some decency have at last prevailed and was relieved. Yet the relief is shortlived! Came the bomb yesterday... now will this remain a joke that I was postulating? Hardly....



http://www.malaysiakini.com/
Syariah lawyers back action on khalwat against non-Muslims
Apr 7, 08 4:45pm
The Syariah Lawyers Association of Malaysia (PGSM) today threw its support behind a suggestion to charge non-Muslims for khalwat (close proximity) in the civil court, arguing this would be the moral thing to do.Using the fifth principle of the Rukunegara - good social behaviour and morality (Kesopanan dan Kesusilaan) - as the basis of its argument, PGSM said it was “double standards” that the proposal has drawn criticism just because it is linked to Islam.PGSM president Zainul Rijal Abu Bakar, in a statement, noted that the proposal is a resolution at the recent seminar to review syariah laws in Malaysia.“(It was) suggested that syariah crimes committed by Muslims and non-Muslims ought to be judged and sentenced with equal force,” he said.“This means that in cases of khalwat involving Muslims and non-Muslims, the non-Muslim party should also be charged and sentenced accordingly.”



He noted that other suggestions were put forward during the seminar, including reform of family law to ensure fairness for women, a garnishing order for husband’s wages for spousal maintenance and raising the sentencing jurisdiction of the Syariah Court.“(But) the media only picked up on the khalwat proposal by syariah judge Muhd Asri Abdullah,” said Zainul.“In truth, the question of punishing non-Muslims in Syariah Court does not arise as they would only be charged in civil courts. But isn’t this in line with our country’s fifth national principle (in Rukunegara)?”Historically, all laws, especially criminal-related ones, have their origin in moral laws which in turn is the result of religion-based rules, he said.“What would happen if laws governing moral behaviour were to be abolished? What would we then do if someone were to behave indecently in front of us and our children?“If we say that non-Muslims have the right to khalwat and commit adultery, are we saying that they have the right to break syariah law?“If they were to commit adultery with a Muslim, do they have the right to adultery until there is a child born out of wedlock and (still) escape legal repercussions?”‘Be fair’He also questioned the ‘double standards’ applied just because Islam is involved.“When it has nothing to do with Islam, we are quick to accept it but when the name of Islam is connected, people become restless and oppose it without fair justification towards Islam,” he said.Action against non-Muslims in this matter would be timely to avoid uneasiness among Muslims and has nothing to do with forcing non-Muslims to adopt Islam as their religion, he said.“The proposal does not touch on constitutional rights of non-Muslims as the action will be taken in a civil court and not Syariah Court,” said Zainul.He called on all parties to be fair in expressing their opinions and avoid unjustified attacks on the resolutions.Last Thursday, Mohd Asri created a stir when he said non-Muslims should be charged in civil court for khalwat.He was speaking at a two-day seminar organised by Institute of Islamic Understanding (Ikim) and the Syariah Judiciary Department.

I think it is hard enough trying to enforce your morality on people of the same religion, what more to force it on others. Why even talked about double standards? What double standards? The NEP that has been perverted to serve a "priviliged" group of people? The five states now out of BN's grasp? The sour puss of a Tourism Minister? What double standards??? I would suggest that before you even think about proposing such incredulous proposals, please think about the state of the current government. Are you for them or against them? If you are for them, please do something right to make them look good... will ya?

Creepy Crawlies of a Different Kind

Creeping Islamization? or Another Sandiwara?

From Malaysiakini.com
Khalwat: Bukan Islam juga dihukum?
Apr 2, 08 11:19pm
Dua badan Islam mencadangkan seorang bukan Islam yang terlibat dalam kes khalwat dengan pasangan Islamnya boleh dikenakan hukuman - langkah terbaru dan mengejutkan yang pasti mengundang kontroversi. Cadangan daripada Institut Kefahaman Islam Malaysia (Ikim) dan Jabatan Undang-undang Syariah Malaysia itu akan diserahkan kepada Jabatan Peguam Negara, lapor laman web The Star Online hari ini. Hakim mahkamah rayuan syariah Datuk Mohd Asri Abdullah berkata orang bukan Islam mungkin boleh dihukum di mahkamah sivil agar "lebih adil"."Orang Islam akan dihukum di mahkamah syariah... tetapi kami tidak ada kuasa menghukum bukan Islam," beliau dipetik sebagai berkata di seminar semakan undang-undang syariah anjuran dua badan itu. Cadangan tersebut terkandung dalam draf resolusi seminar dua hari yang berakhir Rabu.Dua badan itu juga mencadangkan hukuman lebih berat kepada orang Islam yang melakukan kesalahan berkhalwat, pelacuran, minum arak dan berjudi.

8th March 2008, was suppose to be the beginning of new things for Malaysia. While many voted against marginalization of various kinds, some voted against arrogance of UMNO, some against corruption, cronyism and excesses of the government. It has also been noted that cases relating to Lina Joy, Revathi, Subashini and many others have ruffled the solidarity amongst Malaysians and have also contributed to the "tsunami". Now we have THIS???? Isnt it further alienation? Since when is close proximity a crime? Sitting in a hotel room together having a private chat over coffee....

Or is this a Sandiwara for the current government to "prove" to the people that indeed they have at last "fully understood" the message by the people by turning down this "incredulous" request by two religious bodies and that we Malaysians are to be thankful to the government for making the "right" decision? Will this then exonerate the government from all their past misdeeds in religious affairs? And that we should now believe that the government is truly Malaysian in spirit? Or are we going to see more sandiwara after this?