Conscience needed for MPs
Should MPs be allowed to vote according to their conscience even if it means supporting an Opposition motion? Over 92% said yes while a paltry 1.9% said no in response to an online poll by The Star.
Nearly 3,000 readers participated in the poll, conducted in response to the resignation by Johor Baru MP Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad on May 4 as Chairman of the Backbenchers Club after he failed to get backing from his fellow members to support a DAP motion.
The Opposition party had moved to refer Jasin MP Datuk Mohd Said Yusof, over a New Straits Times report, to the Rights and Privileges Committee for asking the Customs department to “close one eye” over an illegal import of sawn timber from Indonesia. Mohd Said later admitted he owns the forwarding agency that imported the timber.
Following Shahrir’s resignation, the Prime Minister reminded all party members to stick to party rules, one of which is they cannot support Opposition motions.
He also said that since the Dewan Rakyat speaker has rejected the motion for Mohd Said to be investigated, the Umno Supreme Council did not discuss the matter at their meeting on May 8.
Pray for the PM and the government who have so often said it wanted to weed out corruption. Pray that God will sensitise their conscience and embolden them to do the righteous thing, as what Shahrir had done.
Lina Joy’s MyKad case
There’s hope yet for Lina Joy, who has been trying for years to delete the word “Islam” from her MyKad.Originally named Azlina Jailani, she managed to change her name (at the National Registration Department) to Lina Joy in 1988 after converting to Christianity.
The department (NRD) however refused her application to delete “Islam” from her identity card because it felt that would mean changing her religious status. and it had no jurisdiction to do so without proper advice from the Syariah Court or ther Islamic religious authorities.
Lina took her case to court and on April 13, the court granted leave for the Federal Court to decide whether the Syariah Court has the exclusive jurisdiction to hear cases on Muslims who renounced their religion. The apex court will also rule if a Muslim needs to produce a declaration from the Syariah Court before the NRD will delete the word “Islam” from an applicant’s identity card.
Chief Justice of the Federal Court Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim said leave was allowed because a novel issue of public importance was raised.
The appeal will be confined to three main issues:
- Whether the NRD was legally entitled to require someone to produce a certificate or a declaration or an order from the Syariah Court before deleting “Islam” from an applicant’s identity card;
- Whether the NRD has correctly construed its powers under the National Registration Regulations 1990 to impose the above requirement when it is not expressly provided for in the regulations;
- Whether the landmark case Soon Singh vs Perkim Kedah – which held that Syariah Courts have the authority over the civil courts to hear cases of Muslims renouncing their religion – was correctly decided. The court has yet to fix a date for the hearing.
Pray for the right judges to be appointed to hear Lina’s case. Pray that judges will uphold the supremacy of the secular law and have an open mind in interpreting the law. Pray for God to strengthen Joy that indeed, she will have unspeakable joy amidst her trial.
Expect more complicated race relations
Malaysians should expect race relations to get more complicated as mixed marriages and conversions become widespread in a multi-racial society, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said.
However, there is nothing to be alarmed about as long as all parties plan for it and consult each other in finding remedies, the New Straits Times reported on April 4.
The DPM cited the case of Everest climber M. Moorthy as a recent issue where racial tensions were heightened but in the end resolved calmly.
Echoing the PM’s stand, he said, “We will look at everything without having to amend the Constitution. This is the principle.”
Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has stated that the contentious Article 121(1A), which separates the jurisdiction of the Syariah court from civil courts, will not be amended.
Meanwhile, a minister has said that the Government may make it compulsory for non-Muslims who convert to Islam to inform their family to prevent a tussle for their remains after their death. This and the question of maintenance, custody and the division of assets involving converts were among several issues being scrutinised by the Attorney-General’s Chambers, which had been appointed to look into the relevant laws and make recommendations to the Government to ensure fair and just solutions for both the convert and his civil-law family.
Pray for the AG and his team who are “fine-tuning” measures to ensure justice for all parties in contentious issues involving Muslim and non-Muslim parties. Pray that God will grant them wisdom and a sense of urgency to speedily complete their delicate task.
Religious Sensitivities
The government will use the Sedition Act against non-Muslims who “incite the sentiments” of Muslims, warned Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz, according to a Malaysiakini report.
Speaking to reporters after receiving a memorandum in support of the amended Islamic Family Law (IFL) at the Parliament building on March 20, he said the government has however no plans to draft a law to prohibit non-Muslims from raising matters or questions related to Islam.
“This is a harmonious country and we respect one another, especially on religious matters....Non-Muslims should understand there are some matters that they cannot touch or utter,” he said.
He argued that Muslim Malaysians have never interfered in or ridiculed other religions, and that non-Muslims should therefore apply similar principles in matters involving Islam.
Pray that the minister’s remarks are not misinterpreted. Pray that those who are working towards improving the lives of people, including Muslims, will have the courage to continue speaking against injustice.
Mafias in Malaysia
An alternative governing system similar to the powerful Italian Mafia will one day replace the existing government if corruption continues to thrive, warned Megat Najmuddin Khas, president of Malaysian Institute of Corporate Governance and Federation of Public Listed Companies.
A Malaysiakini report on April 24 quoted him as saying the legitimate order of business will “be swallowed up” by a growing underground economy spurred by corruption.
“Gambling is among the top three industries within this alternative economy which competes with the real economy. During the last World Cup, Malaysia was the seventh biggest betting nation on the planet with illegal bookies making a kill, further enriching the local Mafia,” he said at a forum cum dialogue organised by the Malaysian Integrity Institute (MII) in Kuala Lumpur.
He also cited Malaysia’s notoriety as the biggest exporter of illegal CDs, video CDs and DVDs. “Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi...is trying hard to fight corruption. But he’s all alone and he can’t do it by himself.”
Pray there will be no let-up in the fight against corruption. Pray for the media to continue highlighting issues on corruption so that the anti-corruption battle continues to be visible and burn the conscience of politicians, civil servants, businessmen and everyone else.
Pastor commits suicide
Rev. Jayaraj Devadason Sundram, 43, coordinator of the Perak Pastors Fellowship, was found dead on April 6. Police ruled he committed suicide and found three notes that explained how he had stood guarantor for four men who took loans from loan sharks.
The late reverend was said to have suffered depression for some time. Pastors and leaders carry the weighty responsibility of caring for the flock. Managing people is a highly stressful vocation. The late Rev. Jayaraj’s case is a stern reminder to us that we need to continually uphold our pastors and leaders in prayer and affirmation.
Pray for God’s comfort and peace to be upon the family of the deceased, that they will stand firm in their faith and experience God’s unconditional love and loving Christian support during this time of grief.
Remove bad cops
The PM has directed the police force to get rid of “bad apples” or take action against them to regain the public’s trust and respect, The Sun reported on April 17. At the same time, he called for a stop to police bashing, saying it wasn’t fair to penalise the entire police force because of a few bad hats.
The public’s perception that the police is corrupted is not without substance. “Macam mana nak tolong?” (How can I help?) has often been spewed by policemen fishing for bribes that the phrase has become synonymous with the policeman.
Let us diligently pray for the police force as it attempts to purge itself of the toxin in its system. Pray that citizens will see that it is their duty to stop corruption by not giving bribes. Corruption is a two-way traffic. If there is no giver, the cycle will soon cease.
Wise spending
Malaysians were stunned when the PM called off the “scenic bridge” project three weeks after works begun.
The RM620 million-bridge was to replace the causeway linking Malaysia and Singapore. The Government now has to pay compensation, reported to be in the sum of RM100 million, to the contractor who has been awarded the road project from the CIQ (Customs, Immigration and Quarantine) complex to the current causeway.
Parliamentarians fear the government’s decision to scrap the bridge project would render the RM1.2 billion CIQ complex a white elephant. Pray for the Government to be prudent in spending taxpayers’ money.
Pray that God will place righteous people to be in charge of the nation’s finances.
|
